Labor force with advanced education, male in South Africa

South Africa: Labor force with advanced education, male was 83.7% in 2024. ▬ Flat

Latest (2024)
83.7%
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
54th
of 125 countries
All-time high
90.0%
in 2008
All-time low
81.5%
in 2020
Years of data
24
2000–2024

Labor force with advanced education, male in South Africa, 2000–2024

0204060801002000201220242000: 86.9 % of male working-age population with advanced education2001: 87.2 % of male working-age population with advanced education2002: 88.3 % of male working-age population with advanced education2003: 89.2 % of male working-age population with advanced education2004: 86 % of male working-age population with advanced education2005: 83.1 % of male working-age population with advanced education2006: 85.6 % of male working-age population with advanced education2007: 87.6 % of male working-age population with advanced education2008: 90 % of male working-age population with advanced education2009: 89.1 % of male working-age population with advanced education2010: 88.1 % of male working-age population with advanced education2011: 88.3 % of male working-age population with advanced education2013: 89.2 % of male working-age population with advanced education2014: 88.1 % of male working-age population with advanced education2015: 86.9 % of male working-age population with advanced education2016: 84.4 % of male working-age population with advanced education2017: 87.3 % of male working-age population with advanced education2018: 87 % of male working-age population with advanced education2019: 85.5 % of male working-age population with advanced education2020: 81.5 % of male working-age population with advanced education2021: 84.1 % of male working-age population with advanced education2022: 84.3 % of male working-age population with advanced education2023: 83.9 % of male working-age population with advanced education2024: 83.7 % of male working-age population with advanced education

Source: Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO). Measured in % of male working-age population with advanced education.

Analysis

The most recent figure for labor force with advanced education, male in South Africa is 83.7%, measured in 2024.

That represents a change of down 0.2% on the previous year and down 5.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force with advanced education, male in South Africa peaked at 90.0% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 81.5%, in 2020.

That places South Africa 54th out of 125 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.

Labor force with advanced education, male in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Labor force with advanced education, male (% of male working-age population with advanced education) in South Africa, 2000 to 2024.
Year % of male working-age population with advanced education Change
2000 86.9%
2001 87.2% +0.4%
2002 88.3% +1.3%
2003 89.2% +1.0%
2004 86.0% -3.6%
2005 83.1% -3.3%
2006 85.6% +3.0%
2007 87.6% +2.3%
2008 90.0% +2.8%
2009 89.1% -1.0%
2010 88.1% -1.1%
2011 88.3% +0.2%
2013 89.2% +1.0%
2014 88.1% -1.2%
2015 86.9% -1.4%
2016 84.4% -2.8%
2017 87.3% +3.4%
2018 87.0% -0.4%
2019 85.5% -1.7%
2020 81.5% -4.7%
2021 84.1% +3.3%
2022 84.3% +0.2%
2023 83.9% -0.4%
2024 83.7% -0.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 87.3% 83.1% 90.0% 10
2010s 87.2% 84.4% 89.2% 9
2020s 83.5% 81.5% 84.3% 5

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 51 Grenada 84.1% compare
  2. 52 Brunei Darussalam 84.1% compare
  3. 53 Cambodia 84.0% compare
  4. 55 Montenegro 83.5% compare
  5. 56 Armenia 83.2% compare
  6. 57 Bosnia and Herzegovina 82.9% compare

See the full ranking of 144 places →

More work & labour data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is labor force with advanced education, male in South Africa?
Labor force with advanced education, male in South Africa was 83.7% in 2024, according to Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest labor force with advanced education, male recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 90.0% in 2008.
What is the lowest labor force with advanced education, male recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 81.5% in 2020.
How does South Africa rank for labor force with advanced education, male?
South Africa ranks 54th out of 125 countries with data for 2024.
Is labor force with advanced education, male rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 5.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force with advanced education, male (% of male working-age population with advanced education). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labor force with advanced education, male in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 12 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-force-with-advanced-education-male-percent-of-male-working-age-population-with/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor force with advanced education, male (% of male working-age population with advanced education)
Unit
% of male working-age population with advanced education
Source
Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
144 places, 2,660 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

The ratio of the labor force with advanced education to the working-age population with advanced education. 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).