Expected years of schooling vs. share in extreme poverty in South Africa
South Africa: Expected years of schooling vs. share in extreme poverty was 13.79 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Expected years of schooling vs. share in extreme poverty 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 vs. share in extreme poverty in South Africa stood at 13.79 years.
That represents a change of down 0.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expected years of schooling vs. share in extreme poverty in South Africa peaked at 14.61 years in 2015 and was at its lowest, 11.53 years, in 2002.
That places South Africa 91st 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 vs. share in extreme poverty in South Africa, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 11.99 years | — |
| 1991 | 12.47 years | +4.0% |
| 1992 | 12.7 years | +1.8% |
| 1993 | 12.93 years | +1.8% |
| 1994 | 13.16 years | +1.8% |
| 1995 | 12.95 years | -1.5% |
| 1996 | 12.75 years | -1.6% |
| 1997 | 12.55 years | -1.6% |
| 1998 | 12.34 years | -1.6% |
| 1999 | 12.14 years | -1.6% |
| 2000 | 11.94 years | -1.7% |
| 2001 | 11.73 years | -1.7% |
| 2002 | 11.53 years | -1.7% |
| 2003 | 11.64 years | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 11.85 years | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 11.85 years | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 11.97 years | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 12.32 years | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 12.48 years | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 12.64 years | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 12.84 years | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 13.11 years | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 13.54 years | +3.3% |
| 2013 | 13.91 years | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 14.28 years | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 14.61 years | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 14.24 years | -2.5% |
| 2017 | 14.27 years | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 14.08 years | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 14.21 years | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 13.98 years | -1.6% |
| 2021 | 14.11 years | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 13.79 years | -2.3% |
| 2023 | 13.79 years | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 12.6 years | 11.99 years | 13.16 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.99 years | 11.53 years | 12.64 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.91 years | 12.84 years | 14.61 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.92 years | 13.79 years | 14.11 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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 expected years of schooling vs. share in extreme poverty in South Africa?
- Expected years of schooling vs. share in extreme poverty in South Africa was 13.79 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 vs. share in extreme poverty recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 14.61 years in 2015.
- What is the lowest expected years of schooling vs. share in extreme poverty recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.53 years in 2002.
- How does South Africa rank for expected years of schooling vs. share in extreme poverty?
- South Africa ranks 91st out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is expected years of schooling vs. share in extreme poverty rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.9%. 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 vs. share in extreme poverty. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Number of years a child of school-entrance-age can expect to receive if the current age-specific enrollment rates persist throughout the child's life.