Out-of-school adolescents of lower secondary school age, both sexes in South Africa

South Africa: Out-of-school adolescents of lower secondary school age, both sexes was 281,608 number in 2018. ▬ Flat

Latest (2018)
281,608 number
Change on year
down 23.8%
World rank
21st
of 150 countries
All-time high
369,399 number
in 2017
All-time low
182,833 number
in 2005
Years of data
10
1994–2018

Out-of-school adolescents of lower secondary school age, both sexes in South Africa, 1994–2018

0100.0k200.0k300.0k400.0k1994200620181994: 366.7k number1999: 271.9k number2000: 303.6k number2001: 344.7k number2002: 317.3k number2003: 278.4k number2004: 221.4k number2005: 182.8k number2017: 369.4k number2018: 281.6k number

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.

Analysis

In 2018, out-of-school adolescents of lower secondary school age, both sexes in South Africa stood at 281,608 number.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 23.8% on the previous year and up 54.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, out-of-school adolescents of lower secondary school age, both sexes in South Africa peaked at 369,399 number in 2017 and was at its lowest, 182,833 number, in 2005.

That places South Africa 21st out of 150 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top quarter.

Out-of-school adolescents of lower secondary school age, both sexes in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Out-of-school adolescents of lower secondary school age, both sexes (number) in South Africa, 1994 to 2018.
Year number Change
1994 366,705 number
1999 271,919 number -25.8%
2000 303,627 number +11.7%
2001 344,666 number +13.5%
2002 317,338 number -7.9%
2003 278,421 number -12.3%
2004 221,367 number -20.5%
2005 182,833 number -17.4%
2017 369,399 number +102.0%
2018 281,608 number -23.8%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 281,608 number is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 19,244 number, 14.6× the median. (47 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 281,608 number is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 208,105 number, 1.4× the median. (27 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 319,312 number 271,919 number 366,705 number 2
2000s 274,709 number 182,833 number 344,666 number 6
2010s 325,504 number 281,608 number 369,399 number 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 18 Guatemala 385,857 number compare
  2. 19 Malawi 341,691 number compare
  3. 20 Türkiye 334,401 number compare
  4. 22 Jordan 256,730 number compare
  5. 23 Burundi 256,543 number compare
  6. 24 Central African Republic 243,477 number compare

See the full ranking of 195 places →

More education data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is out-of-school adolescents of lower secondary school age, both sexes in South Africa?
Out-of-school adolescents of lower secondary school age, both sexes in South Africa was 281,608 number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest out-of-school adolescents of lower secondary school age, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 369,399 number in 2017.
What is the lowest out-of-school adolescents of lower secondary school age, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 182,833 number in 2005.
How does South Africa rank for out-of-school adolescents of lower secondary school age, both sexes?
South Africa ranks 21st out of 150 countries with data for 2018.
Is out-of-school adolescents of lower secondary school age, both sexes rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 54.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Out-of-school adolescents of lower secondary school age, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Out-of-school adolescents of lower secondary school age, both sexes in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 17 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/out-of-school-adolescents-of-lower-secondary-school-age-both-sexes-number/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Out-of-school adolescents of lower secondary school age, both sexes (number)
Unit
number
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
195 places, 3,686 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Total number of lower secondary school age adolescents who are not enrolled in lower secondary education.