Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, female in South Africa

South Africa: Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, female was 82.0% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
82.0%
Change on year
down 2.1%
World rank
85th
of 173 countries
All-time high
84.5%
in 2016
All-time low
72.0%
in 1989
Years of data
9
1989–2018

Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, female in South Africa, 1989–2018

0204060801989200320181989: 72 %1990: 73 %1991: 74.6 %1994: 78.7 %2012: 78.3 %2014: 82.9 %2016: 84.5 %2017: 83.7 %2018: 82 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 82.0% for gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, female in 2018.

The figure is down 2.1% on the previous year and up 4.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, female in South Africa peaked at 84.5% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 72.0%, in 1989.

That places South Africa 85th out of 173 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.

Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, female in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, female (%) in South Africa, 1989 to 2018.
Year % Change
1989 72.0%
1990 73.0% +1.4%
1991 74.6% +2.2%
1994 78.7% +5.5%
2012 78.3% -0.6%
2014 82.9% +5.9%
2016 84.5% +1.9%
2017 83.7% -1.0%
2018 82.0% -2.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 72.0% 72.0% 72.0% 1
1990s 75.5% 73.0% 78.7% 3
2010s 82.3% 78.3% 84.5% 5

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 82 Jamaica 83.2% compare
  2. 83 Romania 83.1% compare
  3. 84 Algeria 82.6% compare
  4. 86 Sri Lanka 81.6% compare
  5. 87 Gibraltar 81.6% compare
  6. 88 Armenia 81.4% compare

See the full ranking of 218 places →

More education data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, female in South Africa?
Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, female in South Africa was 82.0% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, female recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 84.5% in 2016.
What is the lowest gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, female recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 72.0% in 1989.
How does South Africa rank for gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, female?
South Africa ranks 85th out of 173 countries with data for 2018.
Is gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, female rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 4.7%. 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, female (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, female in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/gross-enrolment-ratio-primary-to-tertiary-female-percent/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, female (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
218 places, 4,835 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Total female enrollment in primary, secondary and tertiary education, regardless of age, expressed as a percentage of the total female 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.