Completion rate, primary education, rural, both sexes in South Africa
South Africa: Completion rate, primary education, rural, both sexes was 97.2% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Completion rate, primary education, rural, both sexes in South Africa, 2011–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 97.2% for completion rate, primary education, rural, both sexes in 2024.
That represents a change of down 0.4% on the previous year and up 2.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, completion rate, primary education, rural, both sexes in South Africa peaked at 97.5% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 90.6%, in 2011.
That places South Africa 39th out of 84 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
Completion rate, primary education, rural, both sexes in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 90.6% | — |
| 2016 | 94.5% | +4.3% |
| 2020 | 96.8% | +2.4% |
| 2021 | 97.0% | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 97.3% | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 97.5% | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 97.2% | -0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 92.6% | 90.6% | 94.5% | 2 |
| 2020s | 97.2% | 96.8% | 97.5% | 5 |
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 completion rate, primary education, rural, both sexes in South Africa?
- Completion rate, primary education, rural, both sexes in South Africa was 97.2% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest completion rate, primary education, rural, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 97.5% in 2023.
- What is the lowest completion rate, primary education, rural, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 90.6% in 2011.
- How does South Africa rank for completion rate, primary education, rural, both sexes?
- South Africa ranks 39th out of 84 countries with data for 2024.
- Is completion rate, primary education, rural, both sexes rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Completion rate, primary education, rural, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release