Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in South Africa
South Africa: Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling was 11.61 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in South Africa, 1990–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
The most recent figure for average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in South Africa is 11.61 years, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 15.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in South Africa peaked at 11.61 years in 2021 and was at its lowest, 6.7 years, in 1990.
South Africa ranks 51st of 192 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.75 years | 6.7 years | 8.49 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.7 years | 7.46 years | 9.6 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.22 years | 9.67 years | 11.37 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.35 years | 10.55 years | 11.61 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 48 Antigua and Barbuda 11.65 years compare
- 49 Serbia 11.64 years compare
- 50 Marshall Islands 11.64 years compare
- 51 Andorra 11.61 years compare
- 53 Saudi Arabia 11.61 years compare
- 54 Greece 11.55 years compare
More education data for South Africa
- Duration of pre-primary education 4 years (2025)
- Official entrance age to pre-primary education 3 years (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 67.4% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 25.7% (2025)
- Lower secondary school starting age 14 years (2025)
- Primary school starting age 7 years (2025)
- School enrollment, primary 101.8% (2023)
- Primary education, teachers 287,310 (2023)
- Fertility rate vs. average years of schooling 2.21 live births per woman (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, female 99.2% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in South Africa?
- Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in South Africa was 11.61 years in 2023, according to UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 11.61 years in 2021.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.7 years in 1990.
- How does South Africa rank for average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling?
- South Africa ranks 51st out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Average number of years (excluding years spent repeating individual grades) adults over 25 years participated in formal education.