Gross intake ratio to the last grade of lower secondary general in South Africa
South Africa: Gross intake ratio to the last grade of lower secondary general was 88.3% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Gross intake ratio to the last grade of lower secondary general in South Africa, 1991–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 88.3% for gross intake ratio to the last grade of lower secondary general in 2023.
That represents a change of up 1.6% on the previous year and up 9.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross intake ratio to the last grade of lower secondary general in South Africa peaked at 93.7% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 56.2%, in 1991.
That places South Africa 100th out of 192 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.
Gross intake ratio to the last grade of lower secondary general in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 56.2% | — |
| 1999 | 67.0% | +19.1% |
| 2000 | 63.8% | -4.8% |
| 2002 | 80.2% | +25.8% |
| 2003 | 70.0% | -12.8% |
| 2004 | 68.1% | -2.6% |
| 2016 | 80.5% | +18.2% |
| 2018 | 82.8% | +2.8% |
| 2019 | 83.1% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 86.7% | +4.3% |
| 2021 | 93.7% | +8.2% |
| 2022 | 86.9% | -7.3% |
| 2023 | 88.3% | +1.6% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 88.3% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 90.4%, 98% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 88.3% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 45.0%, 2.0× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 61.6% | 56.2% | 67.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 70.5% | 63.8% | 80.2% | 4 |
| 2010s | 82.1% | 80.5% | 83.1% | 3 |
| 2020s | 88.9% | 86.7% | 93.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 97 Cuba 89.2% compare
- 98 Mongolia 89.1% compare
- 99 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 88.5% compare
- 101 Timor-Leste 88.3% compare
- 102 India 88.0% compare
- 103 Tajikistan 88.0% 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 intake ratio to the last grade of lower secondary general in South Africa?
- Gross intake ratio to the last grade of lower secondary general in South Africa was 88.3% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gross intake ratio to the last grade of lower secondary general recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 93.7% in 2021.
- What is the lowest gross intake ratio to the last grade of lower secondary general recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 56.2% in 1991.
- How does South Africa rank for gross intake ratio to the last grade of lower secondary general?
- South Africa ranks 100th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is gross intake ratio to the last grade of lower secondary general rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.7%. 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 intake ratio to the last grade of lower secondary general education, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release