Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in South Africa
South Africa: Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes was 80.0% in 2018. ▲ Rising
Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in South Africa, 1989–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 80.0% for gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in 2018.
That represents a change of down 1.8% on the previous year and up 3.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in South Africa peaked at 82.3% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 71.1%, in 1989.
That places South Africa 86th out of 181 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.
Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 71.1% | — |
| 1990 | 71.9% | +1.2% |
| 1991 | 73.3% | +1.9% |
| 1994 | 77.9% | +6.2% |
| 1998 | 78.8% | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 77.4% | -1.7% |
| 2012 | 77.1% | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 80.9% | +4.9% |
| 2016 | 82.3% | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 81.5% | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 80.0% | -1.8% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 80.0% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 82.4%, 97% of the median. (51 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 80.0% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 64.5%, 1.2× the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 71.1% | 71.1% | 71.1% | 1 |
| 1990s | 75.9% | 71.9% | 78.8% | 5 |
| 2010s | 80.4% | 77.1% | 82.3% | 5 |
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 to tertiary, both sexes in South Africa?
- Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in South Africa was 80.0% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 82.3% in 2016.
- What is the lowest gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 71.1% in 1989.
- How does South Africa rank for gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes?
- South Africa ranks 86th out of 181 countries with data for 2018.
- Is gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.8%. 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 to tertiary, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total enrollment in primary, secondary and tertiary education, regardless of age, expressed as a percentage of the total population of primary school age, secondary school age, and the five-year age group following on from secondary school leaving. 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.