Education in Northern Cape, South Africa: official figures
87.8% of the 14,084 full-time candidates in Northern Cape passed the 2025 National Senior Certificate (matric) exams, up from 84.2% in 2024; 4th lowest of the nine provinces (South Africa: 88.0%).
How many matrics in Northern Cape qualify for university?
39.3% of Northern Cape's 2025 matric candidates (5,538) achieved a bachelor pass, the level needed for university, the lowest of the nine provinces (South Africa: 46.4%).
Source: Department of Basic Education · saved copyHow do Northern Cape learners do in maths?
19.5% of the 2,608 candidates in Northern Cape who wrote mathematics in 2025 scored 50% or more (2024: 25.8%), 2nd lowest of the nine provinces (South Africa: 25.1%).
Source: Department of Basic Education · saved copyHow educated are adults in Northern Cape?
4.0% of adults aged 20 and older in Northern Cape had no formal schooling in 2025 (South Africa: 2.6%), 29.6% had matric as their highest qualification, and 10.4% held a post-school diploma or degree, 3rd lowest of the nine provinces (South Africa: 14.8%).
Source: Statistics South Africa · saved copyHow much does Northern Cape spend on schools?
The Northern Cape education department spent R9.2 billion in 2025/26, 40% of all provincial spending (102.9% of its adjusted budget).
Source: National Treasury · saved copyHow Northern Cape compares with other provinces
Matric (NSC) pass rate (2025)
Northern Cape ranks 6 of 9, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Matric (NSC) pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Gauteng | 89.06% |
| 4 | North West | 88.49% |
| 5 | Western Cape | 88.20% |
| 6 | Northern Cape | 87.79% |
| 7 | Mpumalanga | 86.55% |
| 8 | Limpopo | 86.15% |
| 9 | Eastern Cape | 84.17% |
Matric candidates with a bachelor pass (2025)
Northern Cape ranks 9 of 9, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Matric candidates with a bachelor pass |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Gauteng | 48.2% |
| 4 | North West | 44.4% |
| 5 | Free State | 43.8% |
| 6 | Limpopo | 42.6% |
| 7 | Mpumalanga | 42.6% |
| 8 | Eastern Cape | 41.5% |
| 9 | Northern Cape | 39.3% |
More on Northern Cape: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · South Africa
Sources
- Statistics South Africa: General Household Survey 2025 (Statistical release P0318): Tables 2.2 and 14.1 and addendum tables by province (release as archived by DataFirst, UCT), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 69b5db681d83…)
- Department of Basic Education: 2025 National Senior Certificate Examination Report: Tables 6.1.1, 6.1.2, 6.1.3 and 6.3.8, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 786eb1c79f20…)
- National Treasury: Provincial budgets and expenditure, 4th quarter 2025/26 (Section 32 of the PFMA): statement of receipts and payments per province, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 87389aabde0c…)
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