Average years of schooling in South Africa
South Africa: Average years of schooling was 10.47 years in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
10.47 years
World rank
41st
of 111 countries
All-time high
10.47 years
in 2020
All-time low
0.68 years
in 1870
Years of data
31
1870–2020
Average years of schooling in South Africa, 1870–2020
Source: Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 10.47 years for average years of schooling in 2020. That is the highest value across all 31 years on record.
That represents a change of up 5.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling in South Africa peaked at 10.47 years in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.68 years, in 1870.
That places South Africa 41st out of 111 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Average years of schooling in South Africa, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 0.68 years | — |
| 1875 | 0.8 years | +17.6% |
| 1880 | 0.96 years | +20.0% |
| 1885 | 1.15 years | +19.8% |
| 1890 | 1.3 years | +13.0% |
| 1895 | 1.3 years | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 1.22 years | -6.2% |
| 1905 | 1.24 years | +1.6% |
| 1910 | 1.28 years | +3.2% |
| 1915 | 1.61 years | +25.8% |
| 1920 | 2.38 years | +47.8% |
| 1925 | 2.75 years | +15.5% |
| 1930 | 3.09 years | +12.4% |
| 1935 | 3.42 years | +10.7% |
| 1940 | 3.7 years | +8.2% |
| 1945 | 3.98 years | +7.6% |
| 1950 | 4.2 years | +5.5% |
| 1955 | 4.4 years | +4.8% |
| 1960 | 4.47 years | +1.6% |
| 1965 | 4.55 years | +1.8% |
| 1970 | 4.7 years | +3.3% |
| 1975 | 4.9 years | +4.3% |
| 1980 | 5.18 years | +5.7% |
| 1985 | 5.21 years | +0.6% |
| 1990 | 6.89 years | +32.2% |
| 1995 | 8.37 years | +21.5% |
| 2000 | 7.92 years | -5.4% |
| 2005 | 8.86 years | +11.9% |
| 2010 | 9.89 years | +11.6% |
| 2015 | 10.15 years | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 10.47 years | +3.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 0.74 years | 0.68 years | 0.8 years | 2 |
| 1880s | 1.05 years | 0.96 years | 1.15 years | 2 |
| 1890s | 1.3 years | 1.3 years | 1.3 years | 2 |
| 1900s | 1.23 years | 1.22 years | 1.24 years | 2 |
| 1910s | 1.45 years | 1.28 years | 1.61 years | 2 |
| 1920s | 2.56 years | 2.38 years | 2.75 years | 2 |
| 1930s | 3.25 years | 3.09 years | 3.42 years | 2 |
| 1940s | 3.84 years | 3.7 years | 3.98 years | 2 |
| 1950s | 4.3 years | 4.2 years | 4.4 years | 2 |
| 1960s | 4.51 years | 4.47 years | 4.55 years | 2 |
| 1970s | 4.8 years | 4.7 years | 4.9 years | 2 |
| 1980s | 5.2 years | 5.18 years | 5.21 years | 2 |
| 1990s | 7.63 years | 6.89 years | 8.37 years | 2 |
| 2000s | 8.39 years | 7.92 years | 8.86 years | 2 |
| 2010s | 10.02 years | 9.89 years | 10.15 years | 2 |
| 2020s | 10.47 years | 10.47 years | 10.47 years | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More education data for South Africa
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.68 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 2.97 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 818,404 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 3.28 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 1.19 million (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) -2.55 % change on previous year (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 225,583 (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 61,727 (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 748,573 (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) -1.43 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling in South Africa?
- Average years of schooling in South Africa was 10.47 years in 2020, according to Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average years of schooling recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 10.47 years in 2020.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.68 years in 1870.
- How does South Africa rank for average years of schooling?
- South Africa ranks 41st out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
- Is average years of schooling rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average years of schooling. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 31 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Average years of formal education for individuals aged 15-64.