Participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training in South Africa
South Africa: Participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training was 15.3% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training in South Africa stood at 15.3%. That is the lowest value across all 21 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.3% on the previous year and down 17.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training in South Africa peaked at 21.2% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 15.3%, in 2024.
That places South Africa 54th out of 110 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 21 years of available data.
Participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 21.2% | — |
| 2001 | 19.9% | -6.3% |
| 2002 | 19.5% | -2.1% |
| 2003 | 19.3% | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 19.1% | -0.9% |
| 2005 | 19.3% | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 19.3% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 19.5% | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 19.8% | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 18.4% | -7.3% |
| 2014 | 18.5% | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 18.4% | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 18.0% | -1.9% |
| 2017 | 17.7% | -1.6% |
| 2018 | 17.4% | -1.9% |
| 2019 | 17.1% | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 17.4% | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 17.0% | -2.6% |
| 2022 | 15.9% | -6.5% |
| 2023 | 15.7% | -1.1% |
| 2024 | 15.3% | -2.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 19.6% | 19.1% | 21.2% | 8 |
| 2010s | 18.2% | 17.1% | 19.8% | 8 |
| 2020s | 16.3% | 15.3% | 17.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More education data for South Africa
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 3.65 million (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate -1.31 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), per capita 0.0578 units per person (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 3.87 million (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate -1.55 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), per capita 0.0612 units per person (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 5.50 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 2.22 % change on previous year (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 287,310 (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 13.45 % change on previous year (2015)
Frequently asked questions
- What is participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training in South Africa?
- Participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training in South Africa was 15.3% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 21.2% in 2000.
- What is the lowest participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.3% in 2024.
- How does South Africa rank for participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training?
- South Africa ranks 54th out of 110 countries with data for 2024.
- Is participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.3%. 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 – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training, by sex (%).