Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, rural in South Africa
South Africa: Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, rural was 0.5777 GPIA in 2024. ▼ Falling
Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, rural in South Africa, 2016–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in GPIA.
Analysis
In 2024, out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, rural in South Africa stood at 0.5777 GPIA. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.
The figure is down 19.6% on the previous year and down 19.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, rural in South Africa peaked at 1.38 GPIA in 2021 and was at its lowest, 0.5777 GPIA, in 2024.
South Africa ranks 27th of 34 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, rural in South Africa, year by year
| Year | GPIA | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 0.7201 GPIA | — |
| 2020 | 1.1 GPIA | +52.2% |
| 2021 | 1.38 GPIA | +26.3% |
| 2022 | 1.18 GPIA | -15.1% |
| 2023 | 0.7187 GPIA | -38.9% |
| 2024 | 0.5777 GPIA | -19.6% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.5777 GPIA is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.68 GPIA, 85% of the median. (11 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 0.5777 GPIA is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.02 GPIA, 57% of the median. (15 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 0.7201 GPIA | 0.7201 GPIA | 0.7201 GPIA | 1 |
| 2020s | 0.9905 GPIA | 0.5777 GPIA | 1.38 GPIA | 5 |
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 out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, rural in South Africa?
- Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, rural in South Africa was 0.5777 GPIA in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, rural recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.38 GPIA in 2021.
- What is the lowest out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, rural recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.5777 GPIA in 2024.
- How does South Africa rank for out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, rural?
- South Africa ranks 27th out of 34 countries with data for 2024.
- Is out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, rural rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.8%. 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, published as part of Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, rural, adjusted gender parity index (household survey data) (GPIA). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 6 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release