Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled in South Africa
South Africa: Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled was 3.65 million in 2023. ▲ Rising
Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled in South Africa, 1970–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived).
Analysis
In 2023, enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 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 (number), gaps filled in South Africa peaked at 4.03 million in 1995 and was at its lowest, 1.98 million, in 1970.
South Africa ranks 21st of 216 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 39 years of available data.
Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 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% |
| 1992 | 3.68 million | +3.1% |
| 1993 | 3.80 million | +3.0% |
| 1994 | 3.91 million | +2.9% |
| 1995 | 4.03 million | +3.1% |
| 1996 | 4.00 million | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 3.98 million | -0.6% |
| 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 | 10 |
| 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
- 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, female (number), gaps filled in South Africa?
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled in South Africa was 3.65 million in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 4.03 million in 1995.
- What is the lowest enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 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 (number), gaps filled?
- South Africa ranks 21st out of 216 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 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 Statizoid (derived), published as part of Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 39 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Enrolment in primary education, female (number) with 663 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.
Computed from
- Enrolment in primary education, female UNESCO Institute for Statistics
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, female (number) with 663 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.