Children out of school, male in South Africa
South Africa: Children out of school, male was 6.2% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Children out of school, male in South Africa, 1970–2023
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of male primary school age.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 6.2% for children out of school, male in 2023.
That represents a change of up 4.3% on the previous year and down 30.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, children out of school, male in South Africa peaked at 33.8% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 5.9%, in 2022.
That places South Africa 80th out of 177 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 19 years of available data.
Children out of school, male in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of male primary school age | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 33.8% | — |
| 1991 | 16.7% | -50.5% |
| 1994 | 17.9% | +7.1% |
| 1995 | 19.3% | +8.0% |
| 1998 | 20.0% | +3.6% |
| 1999 | 18.8% | -6.3% |
| 2000 | 19.2% | +2.1% |
| 2001 | 18.4% | -3.9% |
| 2002 | 17.0% | -7.8% |
| 2003 | 15.6% | -8.1% |
| 2004 | 14.7% | -5.7% |
| 2005 | 14.4% | -1.8% |
| 2017 | 8.9% | -38.6% |
| 2018 | 10.3% | +16.5% |
| 2019 | 9.3% | -10.3% |
| 2020 | 9.0% | -2.6% |
| 2021 | 7.3% | -19.5% |
| 2022 | 5.9% | -18.5% |
| 2023 | 6.2% | +4.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 6.2% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.2%, 1.2× the median. (50 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 6.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 19.2%, 32% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 33.8% | 33.8% | 33.8% | 1 |
| 1990s | 18.5% | 16.7% | 20.0% | 5 |
| 2000s | 16.5% | 14.4% | 19.2% | 6 |
| 2010s | 9.5% | 8.9% | 10.3% | 3 |
| 2020s | 7.1% | 5.9% | 9.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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 children out of school, male in South Africa?
- Children out of school, male in South Africa was 6.2% in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest children out of school, male recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 33.8% in 1970.
- What is the lowest children out of school, male recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.9% in 2022.
- How does South Africa rank for children out of school, male?
- South Africa ranks 80th out of 177 countries with data for 2023.
- Is children out of school, male rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Children out of school, male (% of male primary school age). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Children out of school are the percentage of primary-school-age children who are not enrolled in primary or secondary school. Children in the official primary age group that are in preprimary education should be considered out of school.