Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in South Africa
South Africa: Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes was 5.50 million in 2023. ▲ Rising
Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in South Africa, 1989–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 5.50 million for enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in 2023. That is the highest value across all 29 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.2% on the previous year and up 13.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in South Africa peaked at 5.50 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 2.55 million, in 1989.
That places South Africa 23rd out of 219 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 29 years of available data.
Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 2.55 million | — |
| 1990 | 2.74 million | +7.4% |
| 1991 | 2.94 million | +7.2% |
| 1994 | 3.57 million | +21.5% |
| 1998 | 4.24 million | +18.8% |
| 1999 | 4.24 million | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 4.14 million | -2.3% |
| 2001 | 4.25 million | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 4.35 million | +2.4% |
| 2003 | 4.45 million | +2.1% |
| 2004 | 4.59 million | +3.3% |
| 2005 | 4.66 million | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 4.79 million | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 4.82 million | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 4.67 million | -3.0% |
| 2009 | 4.69 million | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 4.69 million | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 4.76 million | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 4.84 million | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 5.22 million | +7.8% |
| 2015 | 5.28 million | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 5.04 million | -4.5% |
| 2017 | 4.94 million | -2.1% |
| 2018 | 4.88 million | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 5.04 million | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 5.10 million | +1.3% |
| 2021 | 5.35 million | +5.0% |
| 2022 | 5.38 million | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 5.50 million | +2.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.55 million | 2.55 million | 2.55 million | 1 |
| 1990s | 3.55 million | 2.74 million | 4.24 million | 5 |
| 2000s | 4.54 million | 4.14 million | 4.82 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.96 million | 4.69 million | 5.28 million | 9 |
| 2020s | 5.33 million | 5.10 million | 5.50 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More education data for South Africa
- 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)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in South Africa?
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in South Africa was 5.50 million in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in secondary education, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 5.50 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest enrolment in secondary education, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.55 million in 1989.
- How does South Africa rank for enrolment in secondary education, both sexes?
- South Africa ranks 23rd out of 219 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in secondary education, both sexes rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.5%. 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 secondary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 29 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release