Duration of pre primary education in South Africa
South Africa: Duration of pre primary education was 4 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
4
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
1st
of 217 countries
All-time high
4
in 1999
All-time low
1
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Duration of pre primary education in South Africa, 1970–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, duration of pre primary education in South Africa stood at 4. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
That represents a change of unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, duration of pre primary education in South Africa peaked at 4 in 1999 and was at its lowest, 1, in 1970.
South Africa ranks 1st of 217 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Duration of pre primary education in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1 | — |
| 1971 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 4 | +300.0% |
| 2000 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 4 | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.3 | 1 | 4 | 10 |
| 2000s | 4 | 4 | 4 | 10 |
| 2010s | 4 | 4 | 4 | 10 |
| 2020s | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 1 Anguilla 2 compare
- 1 Bulgaria 4 compare
- 1 Cook Islands 2 compare
- 1 Croatia 4 compare
- 1 Estonia 4 compare
- 1 Finland 4 compare
- 1 French Guiana 4 compare
- 1 Gambia 4 compare
- 1 Georgia 4 compare
- 1 Guadeloupe 4 compare
- 1 Hungary 4 compare
- 1 Kyrgyzstan 4 compare
- 1 Latvia 4 compare
- 1 Lithuania 4 compare
- 1 Martinique 4 compare
- 1 Moldova 4 compare
- 1 Mongolia 4 compare
- 1 Montserrat 2 compare
- 1 Papua New Guinea 4 compare
- 1 Poland 4 compare
- 1 Reunion 4 compare
- 1 Russia 4 compare
- 1 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 4 compare
- 1 Serbia 4 compare
- 1 Sweden 4 compare
- 1 Tajikistan 4 compare
- 1 Tokelau 2 compare
- 1 Uzbekistan 4 compare
- 1 Zambia 4 compare
More education data for South Africa
- Theoretical duration of upper secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of secondary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), gaps filled 2,023 tertiary education (2023)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), annual growth 0.0495 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 287,310 (2023)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Official entrance age to pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 67.4% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 25.7% (2025)
- Lower secondary school starting age 14 years (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is duration of pre primary education in South Africa?
- Duration of pre primary education in South Africa was 4 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest duration of pre primary education recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 4 in 1999.
- What is the lowest duration of pre primary education recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1 in 1970.
- How does South Africa rank for duration of pre primary education?
- South Africa ranks 1st out of 217 countries with data for 2025.
- Is duration of pre primary education rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Duration of pre primary education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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