Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number) (pre-primary) in South Africa
South Africa: Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number) (pre-primary) was 407,696 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Enrolment in pre-primary education, female in South Africa, 1994–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2023, enrolment in pre-primary education, female in South Africa stood at 407,696.
The figure is up 3.4% on the previous year and up 0.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in pre-primary education, female in South Africa peaked at 427,041 in 2015 and was at its lowest, 103,387, in 1999.
South Africa ranks 41st of 208 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number) (pre-primary) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 142,635 | — |
| 1996 | 166,060 | +16.4% |
| 1998 | 122,969 | -25.9% |
| 1999 | 103,387 | -15.9% |
| 2000 | 160,014 | +54.8% |
| 2012 | 405,392 | +153.3% |
| 2015 | 427,041 | +5.3% |
| 2016 | 418,812 | -1.9% |
| 2017 | 426,889 | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 408,859 | -4.2% |
| 2019 | 414,832 | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 409,466 | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 398,434 | -2.7% |
| 2022 | 394,125 | -1.1% |
| 2023 | 407,696 | +3.4% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 407,696 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 82,178, 5.0× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 407,696 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 92,723, 4.4× the median. (43 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number) (pre-primary) in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | +153.3% | 160,014 | 405,392 |
| 2000 | +54.8% | 103,387 | 160,014 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 133,763 | 103,387 | 166,060 | 4 |
| 2000s | 160,014 | 160,014 | 160,014 | 1 |
| 2010s | 416,971 | 405,392 | 427,041 | 6 |
| 2020s | 402,430 | 394,125 | 409,466 | 4 |
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 enrolment in pre-primary education, female in South Africa?
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female in South Africa was 407,696 in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in pre-primary education, female recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 427,041 in 2015.
- What is the lowest enrolment in pre-primary education, female recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 103,387 in 1999.
- How does South Africa rank for enrolment in pre-primary education, female?
- South Africa ranks 41st out of 208 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in pre-primary education, female rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.6%. 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, female (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 15 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release