Average years of schooling, males vs. females in South Africa
South Africa: Average years of schooling, males vs. females was 11.72 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average years of schooling, males vs. females in South Africa, 1990–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 11.72 years for average years of schooling, males vs. females in 2023.
The figure is up 14.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling, males vs. females in South Africa peaked at 12.15 years in 2019 and was at its lowest, 6.76 years, in 1990.
That places South Africa 51st out of 191 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Average years of schooling, males vs. females in South Africa, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 6.76 years | — |
| 1991 | 7.09 years | +4.9% |
| 1992 | 7.42 years | +4.6% |
| 1993 | 7.84 years | +5.6% |
| 1994 | 8.08 years | +3.1% |
| 1995 | 8.41 years | +4.1% |
| 1996 | 8.36 years | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 8.15 years | -2.4% |
| 1998 | 8.03 years | -1.6% |
| 1999 | 7.9 years | -1.6% |
| 2000 | 7.77 years | -1.6% |
| 2001 | 7.95 years | +2.3% |
| 2002 | 8.79 years | +10.6% |
| 2003 | 9.09 years | +3.4% |
| 2004 | 9.06 years | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 9.23 years | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 9.28 years | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 9.37 years | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 9.56 years | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 9.88 years | +3.3% |
| 2010 | 9.95 years | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 9.88 years | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 10.17 years | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 10.26 years | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 10.34 years | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 10.45 years | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 10.37 years | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 10.28 years | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 11.21 years | +9.1% |
| 2019 | 12.15 years | +8.3% |
| 2020 | 10.66 years | -12.3% |
| 2021 | 11.72 years | +10.0% |
| 2022 | 11.72 years | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 11.72 years | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.8 years | 6.76 years | 8.41 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 9 years | 7.77 years | 9.88 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.51 years | 9.88 years | 12.15 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.45 years | 10.66 years | 11.72 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 48 Marshall Islands 11.83 years compare
- 49 Romania 11.82 years compare
- 50 Republic of Moldova 11.74 years compare
- 52 Andorra 11.7 years compare
- 53 Oman 11.69 years compare
- 54 Bosnia and Herzegovina 11.66 years compare
More education data for South Africa
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 181,739 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 339,638 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 410,708 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 407,696 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 5.50 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 7.52 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.119 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling, males vs. females in South Africa?
- Average years of schooling, males vs. females in South Africa was 11.72 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, males vs. females recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 12.15 years in 2019.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling, males vs. females recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.76 years in 1990.
- How does South Africa rank for average years of schooling, males vs. females?
- South Africa ranks 51st out of 191 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average years of schooling, males vs. females rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.3%. 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, males vs. females. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Average number of years (excluding years spent repeating individual grades) men over 25 years participated in formal education.