Completion rate, primary education, both sexes in South Africa
South Africa: Completion rate, primary education, both sexes was 97.6% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Latest (2024)
97.6%
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
43rd
of 88 countries
All-time high
98.0%
in 2021
All-time low
93.0%
in 2011
Years of data
7
2011–2024
Completion rate, primary education, both sexes in South Africa, 2011–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, completion rate, primary education, both sexes in South Africa stood at 97.6%.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 1.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, completion rate, primary education, both sexes in South Africa peaked at 98.0% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 93.0%, in 2011.
That places South Africa 43rd out of 88 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
Completion rate, primary education, both sexes in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 93.0% | — |
| 2016 | 96.5% | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 97.8% | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 98.0% | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 97.5% | -0.5% |
| 2023 | 97.8% | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 97.6% | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 94.7% | 93.0% | 96.5% | 2 |
| 2020s | 97.7% | 97.5% | 98.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More education data for South Africa
- 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)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 2.82 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.53 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.68 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 2.97 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 818,404 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 3.28 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is completion rate, primary education, both sexes in South Africa?
- Completion rate, primary education, both sexes in South Africa was 97.6% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest completion rate, primary education, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 98.0% in 2021.
- What is the lowest completion rate, primary education, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 93.0% in 2011.
- How does South Africa rank for completion rate, primary education, both sexes?
- South Africa ranks 43rd out of 88 countries with data for 2024.
- Is completion rate, primary education, both sexes rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.1%. 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, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release