Gross intake ratio to the last grade of primary education, female in South Africa
South Africa: Gross intake ratio to the last grade of primary education, female was 94.5% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Gross intake ratio to the last grade of primary education, female in South Africa, 1991–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 94.5% for gross intake ratio to the last grade of primary education, female in 2023.
That represents a change of down 0.4% on the previous year and up 3.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross intake ratio to the last grade of primary education, female in South Africa peaked at 95.6% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 73.5%, in 1999.
South Africa ranks 104th of 194 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Gross intake ratio to the last grade of primary education, female in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 88.7% | — |
| 1998 | 78.6% | -11.4% |
| 1999 | 73.5% | -6.6% |
| 2000 | 74.1% | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 81.8% | +10.3% |
| 2003 | 85.8% | +4.9% |
| 2004 | 90.2% | +5.1% |
| 2015 | 91.1% | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 91.9% | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 94.7% | +3.1% |
| 2019 | 94.5% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 93.9% | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 95.6% | +1.9% |
| 2022 | 94.8% | -0.8% |
| 2023 | 94.5% | -0.4% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 94.5% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 96.5%, 98% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 94.5% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 72.7%, 1.3× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 80.3% | 73.5% | 88.7% | 3 |
| 2000s | 83.0% | 74.1% | 90.2% | 4 |
| 2010s | 93.1% | 91.1% | 94.7% | 4 |
| 2020s | 94.7% | 93.9% | 95.6% | 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 intake ratio to the last grade of primary education, female in South Africa?
- Gross intake ratio to the last grade of primary education, female in South Africa was 94.5% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gross intake ratio to the last grade of primary education, female recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 95.6% in 2021.
- What is the lowest gross intake ratio to the last grade of primary education, female recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 73.5% in 1999.
- How does South Africa rank for gross intake ratio to the last grade of primary education, female?
- South Africa ranks 104th out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is gross intake ratio to the last grade of primary education, female rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.7%. 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 primary education, female (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release