Enrolment in primary education, female in South Africa
South Africa: Enrolment in primary education, female was 3.65 million in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
3.65 million
Change on year
down 1.3%
World rank
21st
of 216 countries
All-time high
4.03 million
in 1995
All-time low
1.98 million
in 1970
Years of data
36
1970–2023
Enrolment in primary education, female in South Africa, 1970–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2023, enrolment in primary education, female in South Africa stood at 3.65 million.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.3% on the previous year and up 6.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in primary education, female in South Africa peaked at 4.03 million in 1995 and was at its lowest, 1.98 million, in 1970.
That places South Africa 21st out of 216 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Enrolment in primary education, female in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1.98 million | — |
| 1986 | 2.34 million | +18.0% |
| 1987 | 2.43 million | +3.8% |
| 1988 | 2.49 million | +2.7% |
| 1989 | 3.35 million | +34.5% |
| 1990 | 3.45 million | +2.9% |
| 1991 | 3.57 million | +3.6% |
| 1994 | 3.91 million | +9.3% |
| 1995 | 4.03 million | +3.1% |
| 1997 | 3.98 million | -1.2% |
| 1998 | 3.93 million | -1.1% |
| 1999 | 3.90 million | -1.0% |
| 2000 | 3.62 million | -7.2% |
| 2001 | 3.62 million | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 3.65 million | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 3.65 million | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 3.63 million | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 3.56 million | -1.7% |
| 2006 | 3.54 million | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 3.57 million | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 3.53 million | -1.1% |
| 2009 | 3.47 million | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 3.42 million | -1.7% |
| 2011 | 3.38 million | -1.0% |
| 2012 | 3.40 million | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 3.42 million | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 3.49 million | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 3.61 million | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 3.65 million | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 3.66 million | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 3.67 million | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 3.74 million | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 3.74 million | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 3.74 million | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 3.70 million | -0.9% |
| 2023 | 3.65 million | -1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.98 million | 1.98 million | 1.98 million | 1 |
| 1980s | 2.65 million | 2.34 million | 3.35 million | 4 |
| 1990s | 3.82 million | 3.45 million | 4.03 million | 7 |
| 2000s | 3.58 million | 3.47 million | 3.65 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.54 million | 3.38 million | 3.74 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.71 million | 3.65 million | 3.74 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 18 Kenya 3.93 million compare
- 19 Mozambique 3.72 million compare
- 20 Russian Federation 3.68 million compare
- 22 Afghanistan 3.20 million compare
- 23 Japan 3.04 million compare
- 24 Angola 2.69 million compare
More education data for South Africa
- 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)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 7.52 million (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -1.44 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita 0.119 units per person (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 3.65 million (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in primary education, female in South Africa?
- Enrolment in primary education, female in South Africa was 3.65 million in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in primary education, female recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 4.03 million in 1995.
- What is the lowest enrolment in primary education, female recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.98 million in 1970.
- How does South Africa rank for enrolment in primary education, female?
- South Africa ranks 21st out of 216 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in primary education, female rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.7%. 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 primary education, female (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release