Expected years of schooling, males vs. females in South Africa
South Africa: Expected years of schooling, males vs. females was 13.2 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Expected years of schooling, males vs. females in South Africa, 1990–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
In 2023, expected years of schooling, males vs. females in South Africa stood at 13.2 years.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expected years of schooling, males vs. females in South Africa peaked at 14.55 years in 2015 and was at its lowest, 11.49 years, in 2002.
That places South Africa 96th out of 194 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Expected years of schooling, males vs. females in South Africa, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 11.59 years | — |
| 1991 | 12.11 years | +4.4% |
| 1992 | 12.39 years | +2.3% |
| 1993 | 12.67 years | +2.3% |
| 1994 | 12.95 years | +2.2% |
| 1995 | 12.77 years | -1.4% |
| 1996 | 12.59 years | -1.4% |
| 1997 | 12.4 years | -1.5% |
| 1998 | 12.22 years | -1.5% |
| 1999 | 12.04 years | -1.5% |
| 2000 | 11.85 years | -1.5% |
| 2001 | 11.67 years | -1.5% |
| 2002 | 11.49 years | -1.6% |
| 2003 | 11.6 years | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 11.79 years | +1.6% |
| 2005 | 11.73 years | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 11.84 years | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 12.17 years | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 12.32 years | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 12.46 years | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 12.65 years | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 12.9 years | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 13.29 years | +3.0% |
| 2013 | 13.57 years | +2.1% |
| 2014 | 13.85 years | +2.1% |
| 2015 | 14.55 years | +5.0% |
| 2016 | 13.74 years | -5.6% |
| 2017 | 13.8 years | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 13.66 years | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 13.78 years | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 13.52 years | -1.9% |
| 2021 | 13.57 years | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 13.2 years | -2.7% |
| 2023 | 13.2 years | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 12.37 years | 11.59 years | 12.95 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.89 years | 11.49 years | 12.46 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.58 years | 12.65 years | 14.55 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.37 years | 13.2 years | 13.57 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 93 Brunei Darussalam 13.25 years compare
- 94 Egypt 13.24 years compare
- 95 Turkmenistan 13.23 years compare
- 97 Cuba 13.16 years compare
- 98 Russian Federation 13.15 years compare
- 99 Palau 13.13 years 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 expected years of schooling, males vs. females in South Africa?
- Expected years of schooling, males vs. females in South Africa was 13.2 years in 2023, according to UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest expected years of schooling, males vs. females recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 14.55 years in 2015.
- What is the lowest expected years of schooling, males vs. females recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.49 years in 2002.
- How does South Africa rank for expected years of schooling, males vs. females?
- South Africa ranks 96th out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is expected years of schooling, males vs. females rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Expected years of schooling, males vs. females. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of years a boy of school-entrance-age can expect to receive if the current age-specific enrollment rates persist throughout the child's life.