South Africa’s 2025 matric pass rate has reached a historic high of 88.4%, up from 87.3% in 2024, marking the highest National Senior Certificate (NSC) pass rate in the country’s history.
The results were announced in Randburg on Monday by Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube, who praised the collective effort behind the achievement.
“In 2025, more than 656,000 learners passed the National Senior Certificate. That figure reflects the dedication of teachers, learners and families in every corner of our country,” Gwarube said, before unveiling the provincial results.
KwaZulu-Natal emerged as the top-performing province with a pass rate of 90.6%, overtaking the Free State. Gauteng followed closely, completing the top three.
- Provincial Pass Rates (Lowest to Highest)
- Eastern Cape: 84.17%
- Limpopo: 86.15%
- Mpumalanga: 86.55%
- Northern Cape: 87.79% — the biggest improvement among all provinces
- Western Cape: 88.20%
- North West: 88.49%
- Gauteng: 89.06%
- Free State: 89.33%
- KwaZulu-Natal: 90.6%
Nationally, the NSC pass rate increased by approximately 0.7 percentage points from last year, reinforcing 2025 as a milestone year for basic education in South Africa.
