Net enrollment rate of boys vs. girls in pre-primary education in South Africa
South Africa: Net enrollment rate of boys vs. girls in pre-primary education was 78.6% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Net enrollment rate of boys vs. girls in pre-primary education in South Africa, 2000–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for net enrollment rate of boys vs. girls in pre-primary education in South Africa is 78.6%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 1.8% on the previous year and up 1.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net enrollment rate of boys vs. girls in pre-primary education in South Africa peaked at 80.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 36.5%, in 2000.
That places South Africa 104th out of 162 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
Net enrollment rate of boys vs. girls in pre-primary education in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 36.5% | — |
| 2015 | 77.5% | +112.2% |
| 2018 | 76.0% | -2.0% |
| 2019 | 75.8% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 80.0% | +5.6% |
| 2021 | 77.3% | -3.3% |
| 2022 | 77.2% | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 78.6% | +1.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 36.5% | 36.5% | 36.5% | 1 |
| 2010s | 76.4% | 75.8% | 77.5% | 3 |
| 2020s | 78.3% | 77.2% | 80.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More education data for South Africa
- 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)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 444,590 (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) -4.38 % change on previous year (2023)
- Theoretical duration of primary education (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of pre-primary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (pre-primary to post-secondary non) 0.0494 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net enrollment rate of boys vs. girls in pre-primary education in South Africa?
- Net enrollment rate of boys vs. girls in pre-primary education in South Africa was 78.6% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest net enrollment rate of boys vs. girls in pre-primary education recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 80.0% in 2020.
- What is the lowest net enrollment rate of boys vs. girls in pre-primary education recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.5% in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for net enrollment rate of boys vs. girls in pre-primary education?
- South Africa ranks 104th out of 162 countries with data for 2023.
- Is net enrollment rate of boys vs. girls in pre-primary education rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.4%. 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 – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Net enrollment rate of boys vs. girls in pre-primary education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Participation rate in organized learning (one year before the official primary entry age), by sex (%).