12 answers, 5 from South Africa's own official bodies, with a link to each figure.
The National Senior Certificate (matric) pass rate for the class of 2025 was 87.98%, up from 87.26% in 2024, according to the Department of Basic Education's 2025 NSC Examination Report. 656,415 of the 746,110 full-time candidates who wrote passed. KwaZulu-Natal had the highest provincial pass rate, at 90.60%.
The pass rate covers learners who wrote the examinations, not all learners who started school in the same year, so it does not measure dropout.
345,857 candidates in the class of 2025 passed matric with admission to bachelor's degree studies, the highest number since 1996, according to the Department of Basic Education's 2025 NSC Examination Report. The figure was 337,158 in 2024.
A bachelor pass meets the minimum requirement to apply to university; universities set their own entry requirements, so it does not guarantee a place. Other candidates passed with admission to diploma or higher certificate studies. The overall pass rate was 87.98%.
65.1% of learners aged five and older in South Africa attended schools that charged no tuition fees in 2025, according to the Stats SA General Household Survey 2025. The share ranged from 90.1% in Limpopo to 48.4% in the Western Cape and 54.0% in Gauteng.
No-fee schools are public schools serving poorer communities that receive more state funding and do not charge fees. 78.2% of learners in public schools benefited from school feeding schemes in 2025, up from 63.1% in 2009. The 2026 Budget says the National School Nutrition Programme provides meals to over 9.9 million learners.
52.9% of South Africans aged 20 and older had at least completed Grade 12 (matric) in 2025, up from 30.5% in 2002, according to the Stats SA General Household Survey 2025. 16.7% had some post-school qualification, and 2.6% had no schooling, down from 11.4% in 2002.
Post-school qualifications were most common in Gauteng (22.0%) and the Western Cape (21.0%) and least common in the Free State (11.9%) and North West (12.2%). The figures are self-reported in a household survey.
78.2% of learners in South African public schools benefited from a school nutrition programme in 2025, up from 63.1% in 2009, according to the Stats SA General Household Survey 2025. Coverage was highest in Limpopo (92.5%) and the Eastern Cape (88.9%) and lowest in the Western Cape (55.2%) and Gauteng (60.2%).
The National School Nutrition Programme provides meals at schools in poorer communities. The 2026 Budget Speech said increased allocations would align the programme with food inflation and continue meals for over 9.9 million learners in almost 20,000 schools.
The figures below use one definition for every country, so they can differ from national figures.
The latest figure from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, for 2017, is 87.0%. In 2005 the figure was 88.6%. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 85.4%, and South Africa placed 13th highest of 28. Of 134 countries with 2017 data, 103rd highest.
104.1%: that is gross secondary school enrolment in South Africa for 2023, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Since 2005 it has ranged from 80.4% (2005) to 106.4% (2021). Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 46.9%, and South Africa placed 1st highest of 19. World rank, highest first: 34th of 138.
23.5%: that is gross tertiary enrolment in South Africa for 2023, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Its high point since 2012 was 2022, at 23.7%; its low point was 2012, at 17.9%. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 11.0%; South Africa is 2nd highest of 16. World rank, highest first: 93rd of 120.
The latest figure from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, for 2024, is 91.2%. Its high point since 2007 was 2019, at 95.0%; its low point was 2007, at 88.7%. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 77.0%; South Africa is 1st highest of 7.
In 2024, government spending on education in South Africa was 6.0% of GDP, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Since 2005 it has ranged from 4.4% of GDP (2008) to 6.6% of GDP (2021). It is 5th highest of 11 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 4.6% of GDP. Of 36 countries with 2024 data, 9th highest.
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, the number of primary pupils per teacher in South Africa was 30 in 2015. The peak was 34 in 2009 and the low 30 in 2010. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 39; South Africa is 29th highest of 35. Of 136 countries with 2015 data, 35th highest.
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics puts the primary completion rate in South Africa at 95.3% in 2023. Its high point since 2015 was 2022, at 97.1%; its low point was 2016, at 90.3%. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 74.0%; South Africa is 3rd highest of 24. Of 131 countries with 2023 data, 70th highest.
Read on 14 October 2026. Definitions · Report an error