Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in South Africa
South Africa: Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes was 824,169 number in 2018. ▲ Rising
Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in South Africa, 1994–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 824,169 number for enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in 2018.
That represents a change of down 4.4% on the previous year and up 41.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in South Africa peaked at 862,553 number in 2015 and was at its lowest, 207,123 number, in 1999.
That places South Africa 39th out of 199 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in South Africa, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 286,663 number | — |
| 1996 | 329,070 number | +14.8% |
| 1998 | 248,469 number | -24.5% |
| 1999 | 207,123 number | -16.6% |
| 2000 | 320,637 number | +54.8% |
| 2001 | 359,094 number | +12.0% |
| 2002 | 317,537 number | -11.6% |
| 2003 | 344,932 number | +8.6% |
| 2004 | 386,539 number | +12.1% |
| 2005 | 438,838 number | +13.5% |
| 2006 | 473,549 number | +7.9% |
| 2007 | 521,895 number | +10.2% |
| 2008 | 583,424 number | +11.8% |
| 2009 | 666,998 number | +14.3% |
| 2010 | 756,822 number | +13.5% |
| 2011 | 753,131 number | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 815,935 number | +8.3% |
| 2013 | 822,731 number | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 856,764 number | +4.1% |
| 2015 | 862,553 number | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 847,064 number | -1.8% |
| 2017 | 862,195 number | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 824,169 number | -4.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 267,831 number | 207,123 number | 329,070 number | 4 |
| 2000s | 441,344 number | 317,537 number | 666,998 number | 10 |
| 2010s | 822,374 number | 753,131 number | 862,553 number | 9 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 36 Nepal 958,127 number compare
- 37 Madagascar 901,960 number compare
- 38 Uzbekistan 874,385 number compare
- 40 Angola 784,381 number compare
- 41 Morocco 761,726 number compare
- 42 Iran, Islamic Republic of 706,093 number compare
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 enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in South Africa?
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in South Africa was 824,169 number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 862,553 number in 2015.
- What is the lowest enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 207,123 number in 1999.
- How does South Africa rank for enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes?
- South Africa ranks 39th out of 199 countries with data for 2018.
- Is enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 41.3%. 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 pre-primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total number of students enrolled in public and private pre-primary education institutions (ISCED 0.2) regardless of age. Within ISCED 0, early childhood educational development programmes are targeted at children aged 0 to 2 years; and pre-primary education programmes are targeted at children aged 3 years until the age to start ISCED 1.