Gross enrolment ratio, primary and lower secondary, male in South Africa
South Africa: Gross enrolment ratio, primary and lower secondary, male was 104.6% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Gross enrolment ratio, primary and lower secondary, male in South Africa, 1998–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 104.6% for gross enrolment ratio, primary and lower secondary, male in 2023.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 0.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross enrolment ratio, primary and lower secondary, male in South Africa peaked at 108.7% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 90.4%, in 2000.
That places South Africa 50th out of 199 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Gross enrolment ratio, primary and lower secondary, male in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 94.5% | — |
| 1999 | 94.0% | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 90.4% | -3.9% |
| 2001 | 91.0% | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 93.3% | +2.6% |
| 2003 | 93.1% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 94.6% | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 95.6% | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 97.0% | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 98.1% | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 98.6% | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 100.1% | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 102.1% | +2.0% |
| 2011 | 103.3% | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 104.9% | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 108.7% | +3.7% |
| 2016 | 103.2% | -5.1% |
| 2017 | 102.5% | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 102.2% | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 103.2% | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 104.0% | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 104.2% | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 104.7% | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 104.6% | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 94.3% | 94.0% | 94.5% | 2 |
| 2000s | 95.2% | 90.4% | 100.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 103.8% | 102.1% | 108.7% | 8 |
| 2020s | 104.4% | 104.0% | 104.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 47 Palau 105.1% compare
- 48 Cyprus 104.9% compare
- 49 Montserrat 104.7% compare
- 51 Russian Federation 104.6% compare
- 52 United Arab Emirates 104.4% compare
- 53 Montenegro 104.3% 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, primary and lower secondary, male in South Africa?
- Gross enrolment ratio, primary and lower secondary, male in South Africa was 104.6% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gross enrolment ratio, primary and lower secondary, male recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 108.7% in 2015.
- What is the lowest gross enrolment ratio, primary and lower secondary, male recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 90.4% in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for gross enrolment ratio, primary and lower secondary, male?
- South Africa ranks 50th out of 199 countries with data for 2023.
- Is gross enrolment ratio, primary and lower secondary, male rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.2%. 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, primary and lower secondary, male (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release