South Africa vs UNICEF: West and Central Africa: Percentage of pupils enrolled in lower secondary general education
South Africa
17.5%
in 2023
UNICEF: West and Central Africa
27.6%
in 2024
South Africa rank
42nd
UNICEF: West and Central Africa rank
41st
Percentage of pupils enrolled in lower secondary general education over time
- South Africa
- UNICEF: West and Central Africa
How they compare
UNICEF: West and Central Africa currently reports 27.6% against 17.5% in South Africa, a difference of 10.1%.
That makes UNICEF: West and Central Africa's figure about 1.6 times South Africa's.
The two have swapped places 2 times across 10 shared years of data; in 2002 it was UNICEF: West and Central Africa ahead.
South Africa ranks 42nd and UNICEF: West and Central Africa ranks 41st of 185 countries.
UNICEF: West and Central Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | South Africa | UNICEF: West and Central Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 24.9% | 38.0% | 13.1% | UNICEF: West and Central Africa |
| 2010s | 24.8% | 32.6% | 7.8% | UNICEF: West and Central Africa |
| 2020s | 22.1% | 29.9% | 7.8% | UNICEF: West and Central Africa |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher percentage of pupils enrolled in lower secondary general education, South Africa or UNICEF: West and Central Africa?
- UNICEF: West and Central Africa, at 27.6% against 17.5% in South Africa as of 2024.
- What is the difference in percentage of pupils enrolled in lower secondary general education between South Africa and UNICEF: West and Central Africa?
- 10.1%, with UNICEF: West and Central Africa ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and UNICEF: West and Central Africa?
- 10 years are reported by both, from 2002 to 2023.
- How do South Africa and UNICEF: West and Central Africa rank globally for percentage of pupils enrolled in lower secondary general education?
- South Africa ranks 42nd and UNICEF: West and Central Africa ranks 41st of 185 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Percentage of pupils enrolled in lower secondary general education who are at least 2 years over-age for their current grade, both sexes (%). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
February 2026 Data Release