Enrolment in upper secondary education, both sexes in South Africa
South Africa: Enrolment in upper secondary education, both sexes was 2.89 million number in 2018. ▲ Rising
Enrolment in upper secondary education, both sexes in South Africa, 1998–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in upper secondary education, both sexes in South Africa is 2.89 million number, measured in 2018.
That represents a change of down 5.8% on the previous year and up 1.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in upper secondary education, both sexes in South Africa peaked at 3.25 million number in 2015 and was at its lowest, 2.22 million number, in 2000.
That places South Africa 15th out of 188 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 19 years of available data.
Enrolment in upper secondary education, both sexes in South Africa, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 2.32 million number | — |
| 1999 | 2.29 million number | -1.3% |
| 2000 | 2.22 million number | -3.1% |
| 2001 | 2.27 million number | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 2.33 million number | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 2.57 million number | +10.3% |
| 2004 | 2.67 million number | +3.9% |
| 2005 | 2.67 million number | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 2.80 million number | +4.6% |
| 2007 | 2.93 million number | +4.6% |
| 2008 | 2.84 million number | -3.0% |
| 2009 | 2.77 million number | -2.5% |
| 2010 | 2.68 million number | -3.3% |
| 2011 | 2.70 million number | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 2.78 million number | +2.9% |
| 2015 | 3.25 million number | +17.0% |
| 2016 | 3.18 million number | -2.0% |
| 2017 | 3.07 million number | -3.6% |
| 2018 | 2.89 million number | -5.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.31 million number | 2.29 million number | 2.32 million number | 2 |
| 2000s | 2.61 million number | 2.22 million number | 2.93 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.94 million number | 2.68 million number | 3.25 million number | 7 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 12 Japan 3.61 million number compare
- 13 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 3.55 million number compare
- 14 Thailand 2.96 million number compare
- 16 Russian Federation 2.89 million number compare
- 17 Italy 2.85 million number compare
- 18 Philippines 2.74 million number compare
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 upper secondary education, both sexes in South Africa?
- Enrolment in upper secondary education, both sexes in South Africa was 2.89 million number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in upper secondary education, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 3.25 million number in 2015.
- What is the lowest enrolment in upper secondary education, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.22 million number in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for enrolment in upper secondary education, both sexes?
- South Africa ranks 15th out of 188 countries with data for 2018.
- Is enrolment in upper secondary education, both sexes rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.8%. 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 upper secondary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total number of students enrolled in public and private upper secondary education institutions regardless of age.