Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in South Africa
South Africa: Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region was 448,146 children in 2023. ▼ Falling
Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in South Africa, 1991–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in children.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 448,146 children for primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in 2023.
That represents a change of up 4.1% on the previous year and down 33.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in South Africa peaked at 1.49 million children in 1998 and was at its lowest, 288,480 children, in 2021.
South Africa ranks 23rd of 196 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 19 years of available data.
Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in South Africa, year by year
| Year | children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 989,742 children | — |
| 1994 | 1.28 million children | +29.7% |
| 1995 | 1.45 million children | +12.8% |
| 1998 | 1.49 million children | +3.0% |
| 1999 | 1.38 million children | -7.7% |
| 2000 | 1.43 million children | +3.9% |
| 2001 | 1.33 million children | -7.4% |
| 2002 | 1.18 million children | -10.9% |
| 2003 | 1.08 million children | -8.4% |
| 2004 | 1.01 million children | -6.2% |
| 2005 | 976,269 children | -3.7% |
| 2015 | 676,716 children | -30.7% |
| 2017 | 761,156 children | +12.5% |
| 2018 | 701,278 children | -7.9% |
| 2019 | 630,820 children | -10.0% |
| 2020 | 620,737 children | -1.6% |
| 2021 | 288,480 children | -53.5% |
| 2022 | 430,540 children | +49.2% |
| 2023 | 448,146 children | +4.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 448,146 children is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 21,241 children, 21.1× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 448,146 children is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 235,313 children, 1.9× the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.32 million children | 989,742 children | 1.49 million children | 5 |
| 2000s | 1.17 million children | 976,269 children | 1.43 million children | 6 |
| 2010s | 692,492 children | 630,820 children | 761,156 children | 4 |
| 2020s | 446,976 children | 288,480 children | 620,737 children | 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 primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in South Africa?
- Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in South Africa was 448,146 children in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.49 million children in 1998.
- What is the lowest primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 288,480 children in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region?
- South Africa ranks 23rd out of 196 countries with data for 2023.
- Is primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Children in the official primary school age range who are not enrolled in either primary or secondary education.