Gross enrolment ratio, lower secondary, both sexes in South Africa
South Africa: Gross enrolment ratio, lower secondary, both sexes was 103.8% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Gross enrolment ratio, lower secondary, both sexes in South Africa, 1998–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gross enrolment ratio, lower secondary, both sexes in South Africa is 103.8%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.4% on the previous year and up 2.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross enrolment ratio, lower secondary, both sexes in South Africa peaked at 106.3% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 80.0%, in 2003.
That places South Africa 53rd out of 199 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Gross enrolment ratio, lower secondary, both sexes in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 86.5% | — |
| 1999 | 84.2% | -2.7% |
| 2000 | 81.2% | -3.5% |
| 2001 | 83.3% | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 85.4% | +2.5% |
| 2003 | 80.0% | -6.3% |
| 2004 | 83.3% | +4.1% |
| 2005 | 87.8% | +5.5% |
| 2006 | 89.3% | +1.7% |
| 2007 | 85.3% | -4.5% |
| 2008 | 83.5% | -2.0% |
| 2009 | 89.8% | +7.5% |
| 2010 | 95.1% | +5.8% |
| 2011 | 97.0% | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 100.9% | +4.0% |
| 2015 | 104.2% | +3.3% |
| 2016 | 103.5% | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 106.3% | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 104.9% | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 105.5% | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 105.8% | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 103.9% | -1.8% |
| 2022 | 102.4% | -1.5% |
| 2023 | 103.8% | +1.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 85.3% | 84.2% | 86.5% | 2 |
| 2000s | 84.9% | 80.0% | 89.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 102.2% | 95.1% | 106.3% | 8 |
| 2020s | 104.0% | 102.4% | 105.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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 gross enrolment ratio, lower secondary, both sexes in South Africa?
- Gross enrolment ratio, lower secondary, both sexes in South Africa was 103.8% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gross enrolment ratio, lower secondary, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 106.3% in 2017.
- What is the lowest gross enrolment ratio, lower secondary, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 80.0% in 2003.
- How does South Africa rank for gross enrolment ratio, lower secondary, both sexes?
- South Africa ranks 53rd out of 199 countries with data for 2023.
- Is gross enrolment ratio, lower secondary, both sexes rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.9%. 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 Gross enrolment ratio, lower secondary, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release