Enrolment in lower secondary education, male in South Africa

South Africa: Enrolment in lower secondary education, male was 1.15 million in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
1.15 million
Change on year
up 3.3%
World rank
32nd
of 199 countries
All-time high
1.15 million
in 2023
All-time low
918,388
in 2003
Years of data
24
1998–2023

Enrolment in lower secondary education, male in South Africa, 1998–2023

0250.0k500.0k750.0k1.0M1.2M1998201020231998: 925.3k1999: 937.6k2000: 932.1k2001: 966.1k2002: 992.6k2003: 918.4k2004: 941.9k2005: 980.0k2006: 990.7k2007: 952.0k2008: 924.8k2009: 957.1k2010: 1.0M2011: 1.0M2012: 1.0M2015: 1.0M2016: 942.5k2017: 950.0k2018: 982.3k2019: 1.0M2020: 1.1M2021: 1.1M2022: 1.1M2023: 1.2M

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

In 2023, enrolment in lower secondary education, male in South Africa stood at 1.15 million. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.

The figure is up 3.3% on the previous year and up 10.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, enrolment in lower secondary education, male in South Africa peaked at 1.15 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 918,388, in 2003.

South Africa ranks 32nd of 199 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.

Enrolment in lower secondary education, male in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Enrolment in lower secondary education, male (number) in South Africa, 1998 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1998 925,253
1999 937,605 +1.3%
2000 932,101 -0.6%
2001 966,110 +3.6%
2002 992,583 +2.7%
2003 918,388 -7.5%
2004 941,892 +2.6%
2005 979,997 +4.0%
2006 990,701 +1.1%
2007 951,974 -3.9%
2008 924,809 -2.9%
2009 957,141 +3.5%
2010 1.01 million +5.0%
2011 1.04 million +3.1%
2012 1.05 million +0.9%
2015 1.02 million -2.7%
2016 942,544 -7.4%
2017 949,973 +0.8%
2018 982,328 +3.4%
2019 1.04 million +5.4%
2020 1.08 million +4.5%
2021 1.11 million +2.2%
2022 1.11 million +0.7%
2023 1.15 million +3.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 931,429 925,253 937,605 2
2000s 955,570 918,388 992,583 10
2010s 1.00 million 942,544 1.05 million 8
2020s 1.11 million 1.08 million 1.15 million 4

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 29 Argentina 1.22 million compare
  2. 30 Tanzania, United Republic of 1.20 million compare
  3. 31 Morocco 1.19 million compare
  4. 33 Thailand 1.15 million compare
  5. 34 Ukraine 1.02 million compare
  6. 35 Ghana 1.01 million compare

See the full ranking of 420 places →

More education data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is enrolment in lower secondary education, male in South Africa?
Enrolment in lower secondary education, male in South Africa was 1.15 million in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest enrolment in lower secondary education, male recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 1.15 million in 2023.
What is the lowest enrolment in lower secondary education, male recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 918,388 in 2003.
How does South Africa rank for enrolment in lower secondary education, male?
South Africa ranks 32nd out of 199 countries with data for 2023.
Is enrolment in lower secondary education, male rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 10.0%. 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 Enrolment in lower secondary education, male (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Enrolment in lower secondary education, male in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 03 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-lower-secondary-education-male-number-2/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Enrolment in lower secondary education, male (number)
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
420 places, 10,955 data points, 1980–2025
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release