Completion rate, primary education, adjusted … modelled data gender in South Africa
South Africa: Completion rate, primary education, adjusted … modelled data gender was 1.02 modelled data in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
1.02 modelled data
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
59th
of 165 countries
All-time high
1.06 modelled data
in 2001
All-time low
1.01 modelled data
in 1981
Years of data
45
1981–2025
Completion rate, primary education, adjusted gender parity index in South Africa, 1981–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in modelled data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for completion rate, primary education, adjusted gender parity index in South Africa is 1.02 modelled data, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, completion rate, primary education, adjusted gender parity index in South Africa peaked at 1.06 modelled data in 2001 and was at its lowest, 1.01 modelled data, in 1981.
That places South Africa 59th out of 165 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Completion rate, primary education, adjusted … modelled data gender in South Africa, year by year
| Year | modelled data | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 1.01 modelled data | — |
| 1982 | 1.01 modelled data | +0.4% |
| 1983 | 1.02 modelled data | +0.3% |
| 1984 | 1.02 modelled data | +0.4% |
| 1985 | 1.02 modelled data | +0.5% |
| 1986 | 1.03 modelled data | +0.6% |
| 1987 | 1.04 modelled data | +0.5% |
| 1988 | 1.04 modelled data | +0.3% |
| 1989 | 1.04 modelled data | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 1.04 modelled data | +0.1% |
| 1991 | 1.04 modelled data | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 1.05 modelled data | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 1.05 modelled data | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 1.05 modelled data | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 1.05 modelled data | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 1.05 modelled data | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 1.05 modelled data | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 1.05 modelled data | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 1.05 modelled data | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 1.05 modelled data | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 1.06 modelled data | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 1.05 modelled data | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 1.05 modelled data | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 1.05 modelled data | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 1.05 modelled data | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 1.05 modelled data | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 1.04 modelled data | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 1.04 modelled data | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 1.04 modelled data | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 1.04 modelled data | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 1.04 modelled data | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 1.04 modelled data | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 1.04 modelled data | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 1.03 modelled data | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 1.03 modelled data | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 1.03 modelled data | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 1.03 modelled data | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 1.03 modelled data | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 1.03 modelled data | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 1.03 modelled data | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 1.03 modelled data | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 1.03 modelled data | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 1.03 modelled data | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 1.02 modelled data | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 1.02 modelled data | -0.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1.02 modelled data is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.01 modelled data, 1.0× the median. (50 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 1.02 modelled data is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.09 modelled data, 94% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.03 modelled data | 1.01 modelled data | 1.04 modelled data | 9 |
| 1990s | 1.05 modelled data | 1.04 modelled data | 1.05 modelled data | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.05 modelled data | 1.04 modelled data | 1.06 modelled data | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.03 modelled data | 1.03 modelled data | 1.04 modelled data | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.03 modelled data | 1.02 modelled data | 1.03 modelled data | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More education data for South Africa
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 94.05 (2023)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 93.94 (2023)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is completion rate, primary education, adjusted gender parity index in South Africa?
- Completion rate, primary education, adjusted gender parity index in South Africa was 1.02 modelled data in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest completion rate, primary education, adjusted gender parity index recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.06 modelled data in 2001.
- What is the lowest completion rate, primary education, adjusted gender parity index recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.01 modelled data in 1981.
- How does South Africa rank for completion rate, primary education, adjusted gender parity index?
- South Africa ranks 59th out of 165 countries with data for 2025.
- Is completion rate, primary education, adjusted gender parity index rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Completion rate, primary education, adjusted gender parity index (GPIA) (modelled data). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 45 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release