Average years of schooling vs. GDP per capita in South Africa
South Africa: Average years of schooling vs. GDP per capita was 11.61 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average years of schooling vs. GDP per capita in South Africa, 1990–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
In 2023, average years of schooling vs. gdp per capita in South Africa stood at 11.61 years. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
That represents a change of up 15.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling vs. gdp per capita in South Africa peaked at 11.61 years in 2021 and was at its lowest, 6.7 years, in 1990.
That places South Africa 51st out of 192 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 vs. GDP per capita in South Africa, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 6.7 years | — |
| 1991 | 7.06 years | +5.3% |
| 1992 | 7.41 years | +5.1% |
| 1993 | 7.77 years | +4.8% |
| 1994 | 8.13 years | +4.6% |
| 1995 | 8.49 years | +4.4% |
| 1996 | 8.28 years | -2.4% |
| 1997 | 8.08 years | -2.5% |
| 1998 | 7.87 years | -2.5% |
| 1999 | 7.67 years | -2.6% |
| 2000 | 7.46 years | -2.7% |
| 2001 | 7.67 years | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 8.52 years | +11.1% |
| 2003 | 8.76 years | +2.8% |
| 2004 | 8.82 years | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 8.9 years | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 8.95 years | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 9.08 years | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 9.22 years | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 9.6 years | +4.1% |
| 2010 | 9.67 years | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 9.69 years | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 9.93 years | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 10.04 years | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 10.15 years | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 10.23 years | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 10.19 years | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 10.14 years | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 10.76 years | +6.1% |
| 2019 | 11.37 years | +5.7% |
| 2020 | 10.55 years | -7.2% |
| 2021 | 11.61 years | +10.0% |
| 2022 | 11.61 years | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 11.61 years | +0.0% |
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
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 3.65 million (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate -1.31 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), per capita 0.0578 units per person (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 3.87 million (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate -1.55 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), per capita 0.0612 units per person (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 5.50 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 2.22 % change on previous year (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 287,310 (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 13.45 % change on previous year (2015)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling vs. gdp per capita in South Africa?
- Average years of schooling vs. gdp per capita 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. gdp per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 11.61 years in 2021.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling vs. gdp per capita 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. gdp per capita?
- South Africa ranks 51st out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average years of schooling vs. gdp per capita 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. GDP per capita. 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) adults over 25 years participated in formal education.