Gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes in South Africa
South Africa: Gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes was 99.3% in 2018. ▲ Rising
Gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes in South Africa, 1989–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 99.3% for gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes in 2018.
The figure is down 3.0% on the previous year and down 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes in South Africa peaked at 107.1% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 90.3%, in 1989.
South Africa ranks 79th of 197 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 90.3% | — |
| 1990 | 91.3% | +1.2% |
| 1991 | 93.2% | +2.0% |
| 1994 | 98.6% | +5.8% |
| 1998 | 99.3% | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 98.0% | -1.3% |
| 2000 | 93.1% | -5.0% |
| 2001 | 93.5% | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 94.9% | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 96.0% | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 97.6% | +1.6% |
| 2005 | 97.9% | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 99.4% | +1.6% |
| 2007 | 101.2% | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 100.3% | -0.9% |
| 2009 | 100.4% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 100.0% | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 100.4% | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 101.4% | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 104.8% | +3.4% |
| 2015 | 107.1% | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 104.8% | -2.2% |
| 2017 | 102.4% | -2.3% |
| 2018 | 99.3% | -3.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 90.3% | 90.3% | 90.3% | 1 |
| 1990s | 96.1% | 91.3% | 99.3% | 5 |
| 2000s | 97.4% | 93.1% | 101.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 102.5% | 99.3% | 107.1% | 8 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 76 Kuwait 100.0% compare
- 77 Germany 99.4% compare
- 78 Timor-Leste 99.4% compare
- 80 Nicaragua 99.3% compare
- 81 Iran, Islamic Republic of 99.2% compare
- 82 Uzbekistan 99.2% 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, primary and secondary, both sexes in South Africa?
- Gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes in South Africa was 99.3% in 2018, 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 107.1% in 2015.
- What is the lowest gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 90.3% in 1989.
- How does South Africa rank for gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes?
- South Africa ranks 79th out of 197 countries with data for 2018.
- Is gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.0%. 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
Total enrollment in primary and secondary education, regardless of age, expressed as a percentage of the total population of official primary and secondary education age. GER can exceed 100% due to the inclusion of over-aged and under-aged students because of early or late school entrance and grade repetition.