Gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, female in South Africa
South Africa: Gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, female was 102.6% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, female in South Africa, 1989–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, female in South Africa stood at 102.6%.
That represents a change of down 0.7% on the previous year and up 2.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, female in South Africa peaked at 105.8% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 86.1%, in 2000.
South Africa ranks 59th of 206 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, female in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 92.3% | — |
| 1990 | 94.0% | +1.8% |
| 1991 | 95.8% | +1.9% |
| 1994 | 99.8% | +4.2% |
| 1998 | 93.7% | -6.1% |
| 1999 | 92.0% | -1.8% |
| 2000 | 86.1% | -6.4% |
| 2001 | 86.4% | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 87.6% | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 88.5% | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 90.1% | +1.9% |
| 2005 | 90.8% | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 92.9% | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 95.0% | +2.3% |
| 2008 | 94.9% | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 96.0% | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 96.7% | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 97.9% | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 99.8% | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 104.2% | +4.5% |
| 2015 | 104.3% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 105.8% | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 102.7% | -2.8% |
| 2018 | 101.3% | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 102.5% | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 102.7% | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 104.0% | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 103.4% | -0.6% |
| 2023 | 102.6% | -0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 92.3% | 92.3% | 92.3% | 1 |
| 1990s | 95.0% | 92.0% | 99.8% | 5 |
| 2000s | 90.8% | 86.1% | 96.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 101.7% | 96.7% | 105.8% | 9 |
| 2020s | 103.2% | 102.6% | 104.0% | 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, female in South Africa?
- Gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, female in South Africa was 102.6% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, female recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 105.8% in 2016.
- What is the lowest gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, female recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 86.1% in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, female?
- South Africa ranks 59th out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, female 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, primary and secondary, female (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release