Gross enrolment ratio, post-secondary non-tertiary, both sexes in South Africa
South Africa: Gross enrolment ratio, post-secondary non-tertiary, both sexes was 16.3% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Gross enrolment ratio, post-secondary non-tertiary, both sexes in South Africa, 1999–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, gross enrolment ratio, post-secondary non-tertiary, both sexes in South Africa stood at 16.3%.
The figure is up 11.9% on the previous year and up 32.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross enrolment ratio, post-secondary non-tertiary, both sexes in South Africa peaked at 18.5% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 6.4%, in 2005.
South Africa ranks 53rd of 126 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Gross enrolment ratio, post-secondary non-tertiary, both sexes in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 7.9% | — |
| 2000 | 8.1% | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 7.0% | -14.3% |
| 2002 | 7.8% | +12.9% |
| 2003 | 7.8% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 7.9% | +1.5% |
| 2005 | 6.4% | -19.0% |
| 2009 | 6.6% | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 6.5% | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 7.2% | +11.0% |
| 2012 | 9.7% | +34.7% |
| 2013 | 12.4% | +27.3% |
| 2014 | 14.5% | +17.0% |
| 2015 | 16.2% | +12.2% |
| 2016 | 16.5% | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 18.5% | +12.2% |
| 2018 | 18.1% | -2.0% |
| 2019 | 18.4% | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 10.5% | -42.8% |
| 2021 | 15.7% | +49.0% |
| 2022 | 14.6% | -6.6% |
| 2023 | 16.3% | +11.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.9% | 7.9% | 7.9% | 1 |
| 2000s | 7.4% | 6.4% | 8.1% | 7 |
| 2010s | 13.8% | 6.5% | 18.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.3% | 10.5% | 16.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 50 Switzerland 18.7% compare
- 51 Philippines 18.6% compare
- 52 Botswana 18.1% compare
- 54 Tanzania, United Republic of 15.8% compare
- 55 Estonia 15.5% compare
- 56 Morocco 15.2% 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 gross enrolment ratio, post-secondary non-tertiary, both sexes in South Africa?
- Gross enrolment ratio, post-secondary non-tertiary, both sexes in South Africa was 16.3% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gross enrolment ratio, post-secondary non-tertiary, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 18.5% in 2017.
- What is the lowest gross enrolment ratio, post-secondary non-tertiary, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.4% in 2005.
- How does South Africa rank for gross enrolment ratio, post-secondary non-tertiary, both sexes?
- South Africa ranks 53rd out of 126 countries with data for 2023.
- Is gross enrolment ratio, post-secondary non-tertiary, both sexes rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 32.2%. 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, post-secondary non-tertiary, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release