Gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes in South Africa
South Africa: Gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes was 102.8% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes in South Africa, 1989–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes in South Africa stood at 102.8%.
The figure is down 0.5% on the previous year and up 3.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes in South Africa peaked at 106.2% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 85.1%, in 2000.
South Africa ranks 58th of 211 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 29 years of available data.
Gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 89.4% | — |
| 1990 | 90.7% | +1.5% |
| 1991 | 92.3% | +1.8% |
| 1994 | 97.1% | +5.2% |
| 1998 | 91.8% | -5.5% |
| 1999 | 90.2% | -1.8% |
| 2000 | 85.1% | -5.6% |
| 2001 | 85.2% | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 86.6% | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 87.7% | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 89.3% | +1.9% |
| 2005 | 90.1% | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 92.1% | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 94.3% | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 94.3% | -0.0% |
| 2009 | 95.3% | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 96.0% | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 97.3% | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 99.2% | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 102.9% | +3.7% |
| 2015 | 106.2% | +3.2% |
| 2016 | 102.6% | -3.4% |
| 2017 | 102.2% | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 100.8% | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 102.2% | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 102.2% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 103.6% | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 103.3% | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 102.8% | -0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 89.4% | 89.4% | 89.4% | 1 |
| 1990s | 92.4% | 90.2% | 97.1% | 5 |
| 2000s | 90.0% | 85.1% | 95.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 101.0% | 96.0% | 106.2% | 9 |
| 2020s | 103.0% | 102.2% | 103.6% | 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, primary and secondary, both sexes in South Africa?
- Gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes in South Africa was 102.8% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 106.2% in 2015.
- What is the lowest gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 85.1% in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes?
- South Africa ranks 58th out of 211 countries with data for 2023.
- Is gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.6%. 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 secondary, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release