South Africa vs WB: North America: School life expectancy, primary and lower secondary, both sexes

South Africa
9.22 years
in 2023
WB: North America
8.77 years
in 2023
South Africa rank
81st
WB: North America rank
84th

School life expectancy, primary and lower secondary, both sexes over time

  • South Africa
  • WB: North America
0246810199820102023

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 9.22 years against 8.77 years in WB: North America, a difference of 0.45 years.

That makes South Africa's figure about 1.1 times WB: North America's.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 23 shared years of data; in 1999 it was WB: North America ahead.

South Africa ranks 81st and WB: North America ranks 84th of 200 countries.

Across the 4 decades both report, South Africa averaged higher in 2 and WB: North America in 2.

Head to head by decade

Decade South Africa WB: North America Difference Ahead
1990s 8.66 years 9.11 years 0.4473 years WB: North America
2000s 8.56 years 9.05 years 0.4843 years WB: North America
2010s 9.27 years 9.05 years 0.2171 years South Africa
2020s 9.25 years 8.9 years 0.3483 years South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher school life expectancy, primary and lower secondary, both sexes, South Africa or WB: North America?
South Africa, at 9.22 years against 8.77 years in WB: North America as of 2023.
What is the difference in school life expectancy, primary and lower secondary, both sexes between South Africa and WB: North America?
0.45 years, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and WB: North America?
23 years are reported by both, from 1999 to 2023.
How do South Africa and WB: North America rank globally for school life expectancy, primary and lower secondary, both sexes?
South Africa ranks 81st and WB: North America ranks 84th of 200 countries.
Where does this data come from?
UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as School life expectancy, primary and lower secondary, both sexes (years). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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South Africa vs WB: North America: School life expectancy, primary and lower secondary, both sexes. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/school-life-expectancy-primary-and-lower-secondary-both-sexes-years-2/south-africa/wb-north-america/

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About this data

Indicator
School life expectancy, primary and lower secondary, both sexes (years)
Unit
years
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
421 places, 10,349 data points, 1981–2025
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release