Europe & Central Asia vs South Africa: Unemployment with advanced education

Europe & Central Asia
4.8%
in 2024
South Africa
12.8%
in 2024
Europe & Central Asia rank
9th
South Africa rank
12th

Unemployment with advanced education over time

  • Europe & Central Asia
  • South Africa
2.557.51012.515200020122024

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 12.8% against 4.8% in Europe & Central Asia, a difference of 8.0%.

That makes South Africa's figure about 2.7 times Europe & Central Asia's.

The two have swapped places 3 times across 18 shared years of data; in 2005 it was Europe & Central Asia ahead.

Europe & Central Asia ranks 9th and South Africa ranks 12th of 19 groups.

Across the 3 decades both report, Europe & Central Asia averaged higher in 1 and South Africa in 2.

Head to head by decade

Decade Europe & Central Asia South Africa Difference Ahead
2000s 6.0% 4.8% 1.2% Europe & Central Asia
2010s 7.8% 8.7% 0.9% South Africa
2020s 5.8% 13.3% 7.6% South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher unemployment with advanced education, Europe & Central Asia or South Africa?
South Africa, at 12.8% against 4.8% in Europe & Central Asia as of 2024.
What is the difference in unemployment with advanced education between Europe & Central Asia and South Africa?
8.0%, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Europe & Central Asia and South Africa?
18 years are reported by both, from 2005 to 2024.
How do Europe & Central Asia and South Africa rank globally for unemployment with advanced education?
Europe & Central Asia ranks 9th and South Africa ranks 12th of 19 groups.
Where does this data come from?
Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as Unemployment with advanced education (% of total labor force with advanced education). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Europe & Central Asia vs South Africa: Unemployment with advanced education. Statizoid, drawing on Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/compare/unemployment-with-advanced-education-percent-of-total-labor-force-with-advanced-education/europe-and-central-asia/south-africa/

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<a href="https://labour.statizoid.com/compare/unemployment-with-advanced-education-percent-of-total-labor-force-with-advanced-education/europe-and-central-asia/south-africa/">Europe & Central Asia vs South Africa: Unemployment with advanced education</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator
Unemployment with advanced education (% of total labor force with advanced education)
Unit
% of total labor force with advanced education
Source
Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
149 places, 2,654 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

The percentage of the labor force with an advanced level of education who are unemployed. Advanced education comprises short-cycle tertiary education, a bachelor’s degree or equivalent education level, a master’s degree or equivalent education level, or doctoral degree or equivalent education level according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).