Barro-Lee: Percentage of female population age 25+ with primary in South Africa

South Africa: Barro-Lee: Percentage of female population age 25+ with primary was 19.1% in 2010. ▬ Flat

Latest (2010)
19.1%
World rank
81st
of 144 countries
All-time high
47.3%
in 1990
All-time low
19.1%
in 2010
Years of data
11
1960–2010

Barro-Lee: Percentage of female population age 25+ with primary in South Africa, 1960–2010

010203040501960198520101960: 23 Incomplete and Completed Primary1965: 24.3 Incomplete and Completed Primary1970: 26.4 Incomplete and Completed Primary1975: 32.2 Incomplete and Completed Primary1980: 38.7 Incomplete and Completed Primary1985: 45.3 Incomplete and Completed Primary1990: 47.3 Incomplete and Completed Primary1995: 43.8 Incomplete and Completed Primary2000: 23.8 Incomplete and Completed Primary2005: 22.2 Incomplete and Completed Primary2010: 19.1 Incomplete and Completed Primary

Source: Robert J. Barro and Jong-Wha Lee: http://www.barrolee.com/. Measured in Incomplete and Completed Primary.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 19.1% for barro-lee: percentage of female population age 25+ with primary in 2010. That is the lowest value across all 11 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 19.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, barro-lee: percentage of female population age 25+ with primary in South Africa peaked at 47.3% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 19.1%, in 2010.

South Africa ranks 81st of 144 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Barro-Lee: Percentage of female population age 25+ with primary in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Barro-Lee: Percentage of female population age 25+ with primary schooling. Total (Incomplete and Completed Primary) in South Africa, 1960 to 2010.
Year Incomplete and Completed Primary Change
1960 23.0%
1965 24.3% +5.7%
1970 26.4% +8.7%
1975 32.2% +22.0%
1980 38.7% +20.0%
1985 45.3% +17.1%
1990 47.3% +4.5%
1995 43.8% -7.4%
2000 23.8% -45.6%
2005 22.2% -7.0%
2010 19.1% -13.9%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 19.1% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 30.7%, 62% of the median. (40 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 19.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 28.9%, 66% of the median. (32 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 23.6% 23.0% 24.3% 2
1970s 29.3% 26.4% 32.2% 2
1980s 42.0% 38.7% 45.3% 2
1990s 45.6% 43.8% 47.3% 2
2000s 23.0% 22.2% 23.8% 2
2010s 19.1% 19.1% 19.1% 1

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 78 Hong Kong, China 20.5% compare
  2. 79 Sri Lanka 19.9% compare
  3. 80 Bangladesh 19.3% compare
  4. 82 Congo 17.7% compare
  5. 83 Ireland 17.6% compare
  6. 84 United Arab Emirates 17.6% compare

See the full ranking of 144 places →

More education data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is barro-lee: percentage of female population age 25+ with primary in South Africa?
Barro-lee: percentage of female population age 25+ with primary in South Africa was 19.1% in 2010, according to Robert J. Barro and Jong-Wha Lee: http://www.barrolee.com/.
What is the highest barro-lee: percentage of female population age 25+ with primary recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 47.3% in 1990.
What is the lowest barro-lee: percentage of female population age 25+ with primary recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 19.1% in 2010.
How does South Africa rank for barro-lee: percentage of female population age 25+ with primary?
South Africa ranks 81st out of 144 countries with data for 2010.
Is barro-lee: percentage of female population age 25+ with primary rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 19.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from Robert J. Barro and Jong-Wha Lee: http://www.barrolee.com/, published as part of Barro-Lee: Percentage of female population age 25+ with primary schooling. Total (Incomplete and Completed Primary). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Barro-Lee: Percentage of female population age 25+ with primary in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Robert J. Barro and Jong-Wha Lee: http://www.barrolee.com/. Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/barro-lee-percentage-of-female-population-age-25-with-primary-schooling-total-incomplete/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Barro-Lee: Percentage of female population age 25+ with primary schooling. Total (Incomplete and Completed Primary)
Unit
Incomplete and Completed Primary
Source
Robert J. Barro and Jong-Wha Lee: http://www.barrolee.com/
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
144 places, 1,584 data points, 1960–2010
Last refreshed

Percentage of female population age 25+ with primary schooling. Total (Incomplete and Completed Primary)