Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita in South Africa
South Africa: Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita was 0.119 units per person in 2023. ▼ Falling
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita in South Africa, 1970–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in units per person.
Analysis
In 2023, enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita in South Africa stood at 0.119 units per person. That is the lowest value across all 42 years on record.
That represents a change of down 2.7% on the previous year and down 7.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita in South Africa peaked at 0.1832 units per person in 1995 and was at its lowest, 0.119 units per person, in 2023.
That places South Africa 62nd out of 206 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 42 years of available data.
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita in South Africa, year by year
| Year | units per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.179 units per person | — |
| 1975 | 0.1804 units per person | +0.8% |
| 1977 | 0.1595 units per person | -11.6% |
| 1978 | 0.1486 units per person | -6.8% |
| 1979 | 0.1491 units per person | +0.3% |
| 1981 | 0.1467 units per person | -1.6% |
| 1982 | 0.14 units per person | -4.6% |
| 1986 | 0.1309 units per person | -6.5% |
| 1987 | 0.1318 units per person | +0.7% |
| 1988 | 0.1314 units per person | -0.3% |
| 1989 | 0.1705 units per person | +29.8% |
| 1990 | 0.1706 units per person | +0.1% |
| 1991 | 0.173 units per person | +1.4% |
| 1994 | 0.1812 units per person | +4.7% |
| 1995 | 0.1832 units per person | +1.1% |
| 1997 | 0.1772 units per person | -3.3% |
| 1998 | 0.173 units per person | -2.3% |
| 1999 | 0.1698 units per person | -1.9% |
| 2000 | 0.1579 units per person | -7.0% |
| 2001 | 0.1559 units per person | -1.3% |
| 2002 | 0.1555 units per person | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 0.154 units per person | -0.9% |
| 2004 | 0.1519 units per person | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 0.1478 units per person | -2.7% |
| 2006 | 0.1451 units per person | -1.8% |
| 2007 | 0.1447 units per person | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 0.1415 units per person | -2.2% |
| 2009 | 0.1378 units per person | -2.6% |
| 2010 | 0.1342 units per person | -2.6% |
| 2011 | 0.1314 units per person | -2.1% |
| 2012 | 0.1302 units per person | -0.9% |
| 2013 | 0.1292 units per person | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 0.1294 units per person | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 0.1332 units per person | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 0.1311 units per person | -1.5% |
| 2017 | 0.1307 units per person | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 0.1291 units per person | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 0.129 units per person | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 0.1274 units per person | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 0.1252 units per person | -1.8% |
| 2022 | 0.1223 units per person | -2.3% |
| 2023 | 0.119 units per person | -2.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.1633 units per person | 0.1486 units per person | 0.1804 units per person | 5 |
| 1980s | 0.1419 units per person | 0.1309 units per person | 0.1705 units per person | 6 |
| 1990s | 0.1754 units per person | 0.1698 units per person | 0.1832 units per person | 7 |
| 2000s | 0.1492 units per person | 0.1378 units per person | 0.1579 units per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.1308 units per person | 0.129 units per person | 0.1342 units per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.1235 units per person | 0.119 units per person | 0.1274 units per person | 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 primary education, both sexes (number), per capita in South Africa?
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita in South Africa was 0.119 units per person in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.1832 units per person in 1995.
- What is the lowest enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.119 units per person in 2023.
- How does South Africa rank for enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita?
- South Africa ranks 62nd out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 42 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) ÷ Population, total
Computed from
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes UNESCO Institute for Statistics
- Population, total World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.