Enrolment in primary education, female in South Africa
South Africa: Enrolment in primary education, female was 3.67 million number in 2018. ▲ Rising
Latest (2018)
3.67 million number
Change on year
down 0.5%
World rank
19th
of 203 countries
All-time high
4.03 million number
in 1995
All-time low
1.98 million number
in 1970
Years of data
31
1970–2018
Enrolment in primary education, female in South Africa, 1970–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
In 2018, enrolment in primary education, female in South Africa stood at 3.67 million number.
That represents a change of down 0.5% on the previous year and up 3.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in primary education, female in South Africa peaked at 4.03 million number in 1995 and was at its lowest, 1.98 million number, in 1970.
South Africa ranks 19th of 203 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 31 years of available data.
Enrolment in primary education, female in South Africa, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1.98 million number | — |
| 1986 | 2.34 million number | +18.0% |
| 1987 | 2.43 million number | +3.8% |
| 1988 | 2.49 million number | +2.7% |
| 1989 | 3.35 million number | +34.5% |
| 1990 | 3.45 million number | +2.9% |
| 1991 | 3.57 million number | +3.6% |
| 1994 | 3.91 million number | +9.3% |
| 1995 | 4.03 million number | +3.1% |
| 1997 | 3.98 million number | -1.2% |
| 1998 | 3.93 million number | -1.1% |
| 1999 | 3.90 million number | -1.0% |
| 2000 | 3.62 million number | -7.2% |
| 2001 | 3.62 million number | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 3.65 million number | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 3.65 million number | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 3.63 million number | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 3.56 million number | -1.7% |
| 2006 | 3.54 million number | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 3.57 million number | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 3.53 million number | -1.1% |
| 2009 | 3.47 million number | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 3.42 million number | -1.7% |
| 2011 | 3.38 million number | -1.1% |
| 2012 | 3.40 million number | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 3.42 million number | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 3.49 million number | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 3.61 million number | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 3.69 million number | +2.0% |
| 2017 | 3.69 million number | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 3.67 million number | -0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.98 million number | 1.98 million number | 1.98 million number | 1 |
| 1980s | 2.65 million number | 2.34 million number | 3.35 million number | 4 |
| 1990s | 3.82 million number | 3.45 million number | 4.03 million number | 7 |
| 2000s | 3.58 million number | 3.47 million number | 3.65 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.53 million number | 3.38 million number | 3.69 million number | 9 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 16 Kenya 4.12 million number compare
- 17 Iran, Islamic Republic of 4.10 million number compare
- 18 Viet Nam 4.06 million number compare
- 20 Russian Federation 3.36 million number compare
- 21 Mozambique 3.35 million number compare
- 22 Japan 3.17 million number 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 3.67 million number in 2018, 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 number in 1995.
- What is the lowest enrolment in primary education, female recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.98 million number in 1970.
- How does South Africa rank for enrolment in primary education, female?
- South Africa ranks 19th out of 203 countries with data for 2018.
- Is enrolment in primary education, female rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.9%. 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
Total number of female students enrolled in public and private primary education institutions regardless of age.