Over-age students, primary in South Africa
South Africa: Over-age students, primary was 5.8% in 2017. ◆ Volatile
Over-age students, primary in South Africa, 1970–2017
Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of enrollment.
Analysis
The most recent figure for over-age students, primary in South Africa is 5.8%, measured in 2017.
That represents a change of up 68.0% on the previous year.
Over the whole period, over-age students, primary in South Africa peaked at 32.2% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 3.4%, in 2015.
South Africa ranks 98th of 191 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Over-age students, primary in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of enrollment | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 32.2% | — |
| 1991 | 15.4% | -52.1% |
| 1994 | 18.3% | +19.1% |
| 1995 | 19.1% | +4.0% |
| 1998 | 12.0% | -36.8% |
| 2015 | 3.4% | -71.4% |
| 2017 | 5.8% | +68.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 32.2% | 32.2% | 32.2% | 1 |
| 1990s | 16.2% | 12.0% | 19.1% | 4 |
| 2010s | 4.6% | 3.4% | 5.8% | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More education data for South Africa
- 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)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 7.52 million (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -1.44 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita 0.119 units per person (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 3.65 million (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is over-age students, primary in South Africa?
- Over-age students, primary in South Africa was 5.8% in 2017, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest over-age students, primary recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 32.2% in 1970.
- What is the lowest over-age students, primary recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.4% in 2015.
- How does South Africa rank for over-age students, primary?
- South Africa ranks 98th out of 191 countries with data for 2017.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Over-age students, primary (% of enrollment). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Over-age students are the percentage of those enrolled who are older than the official school-age range for primary education.