Gross enrolment ratio, primary, both sexes in South Africa
South Africa: Gross enrolment ratio, primary, both sexes was 101.8% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Gross enrolment ratio, primary, both sexes in South Africa, 1970–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gross enrolment ratio, primary, both sexes in South Africa is 101.8%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.6% on the previous year and down 2.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross enrolment ratio, primary, both sexes in South Africa peaked at 107.3% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 79.1%, in 1986.
That places South Africa 95th out of 217 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 42 years of available data.
Gross enrolment ratio, primary, both sexes in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 100.1% | — |
| 1975 | 100.4% | +0.3% |
| 1977 | 88.2% | -12.2% |
| 1978 | 82.0% | -7.1% |
| 1979 | 82.1% | +0.1% |
| 1981 | 82.5% | +0.5% |
| 1982 | 80.3% | -2.6% |
| 1986 | 79.1% | -1.5% |
| 1987 | 80.4% | +1.7% |
| 1988 | 80.8% | +0.5% |
| 1989 | 105.3% | +30.2% |
| 1990 | 104.7% | -0.6% |
| 1991 | 103.9% | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 102.5% | -1.4% |
| 1995 | 101.3% | -1.1% |
| 1997 | 98.3% | -3.0% |
| 1998 | 97.5% | -0.8% |
| 1999 | 97.4% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 92.6% | -5.0% |
| 2001 | 93.4% | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 95.7% | +2.6% |
| 2003 | 96.9% | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 97.8% | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 97.5% | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 98.6% | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 101.2% | +2.6% |
| 2008 | 102.4% | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 102.6% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 103.4% | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 104.0% | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 104.7% | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 104.1% | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 104.2% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 107.3% | +3.0% |
| 2016 | 103.4% | -3.6% |
| 2017 | 101.6% | -1.8% |
| 2018 | 100.4% | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 101.1% | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 101.3% | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 101.7% | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 102.4% | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 101.8% | -0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 90.6% | 82.0% | 100.4% | 5 |
| 1980s | 84.7% | 79.1% | 105.3% | 6 |
| 1990s | 100.8% | 97.4% | 104.7% | 7 |
| 2000s | 97.9% | 92.6% | 102.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 103.4% | 100.4% | 107.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 101.8% | 101.3% | 102.4% | 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, both sexes in South Africa?
- Gross enrolment ratio, primary, both sexes in South Africa was 101.8% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gross enrolment ratio, primary, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 107.3% in 2015.
- What is the lowest gross enrolment ratio, primary, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 79.1% in 1986.
- How does South Africa rank for gross enrolment ratio, primary, both sexes?
- South Africa ranks 95th out of 217 countries with data for 2023.
- Is gross enrolment ratio, primary, both sexes rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.2%. 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, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release