SDG: Least Developed Countries vs South Africa: Percentage of pupils enrolled in lower secondary general education

SDG: Least Developed Countries
21.3%
in 2024
South Africa
10.0%
in 2023
SDG: Least Developed Countries rank
60th
South Africa rank
59th

Percentage of pupils enrolled in lower secondary general education over time

  • SDG: Least Developed Countries
  • South Africa
1015202530199720102024

How they compare

SDG: Least Developed Countries currently reports 21.3% against 10.0% in South Africa, a difference of 11.3%.

That makes SDG: Least Developed Countries's figure about 2.1 times South Africa's.

The two have swapped places 5 times across 12 shared years of data; in 1998 it was South Africa ahead.

SDG: Least Developed Countries ranks 60th and South Africa ranks 59th of 214 groups.

Across the 4 decades both report, SDG: Least Developed Countries averaged higher in 3 and South Africa in 1.

Head to head by decade

Decade SDG: Least Developed Countries South Africa Difference Ahead
1990s 24.3% 28.3% 4.0% South Africa
2000s 25.1% 21.9% 3.2% SDG: Least Developed Countries
2010s 22.9% 19.7% 3.2% SDG: Least Developed Countries
2020s 19.6% 14.8% 4.9% SDG: Least Developed Countries

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher percentage of pupils enrolled in lower secondary general education, SDG: Least Developed Countries or South Africa?
SDG: Least Developed Countries, at 21.3% against 10.0% in South Africa as of 2024.
What is the difference in percentage of pupils enrolled in lower secondary general education between SDG: Least Developed Countries and South Africa?
11.3%, with SDG: Least Developed Countries ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for SDG: Least Developed Countries and South Africa?
12 years are reported by both, from 1998 to 2023.
How do SDG: Least Developed Countries and South Africa rank globally for percentage of pupils enrolled in lower secondary general education?
SDG: Least Developed Countries ranks 60th and South Africa ranks 59th of 214 groups.
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, female (%). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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SDG: Least Developed Countries vs South Africa: Percentage of pupils enrolled in lower secondary general education. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/percentage-of-pupils-enrolled-in-lower-secondary-general-education-who-are-at-least-2-6/sdg-least-developed-countries/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Percentage of pupils enrolled in lower secondary general education who are at least 2 years over-age for their current grade, female (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
398 places, 6,556 data points, 1997–2025
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release