Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in South Africa
South Africa: Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal was 2.4% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in South Africa is 2.4%, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 6.0% on the previous year and down 24.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in South Africa peaked at 3.8% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 2.4%, in 2021.
That places South Africa 59th out of 105 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 20 years of available data.
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 3.8% | — |
| 2001 | 3.4% | -11.5% |
| 2002 | 3.1% | -6.7% |
| 2003 | 3.1% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 2.7% | -13.2% |
| 2005 | 2.7% | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 2.7% | -1.8% |
| 2007 | 3.2% | +18.6% |
| 2013 | 3.1% | -4.2% |
| 2014 | 3.2% | +4.9% |
| 2015 | 3.3% | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 3.1% | -6.6% |
| 2017 | 3.0% | -3.1% |
| 2018 | 2.9% | -4.1% |
| 2019 | 2.9% | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 2.8% | -4.6% |
| 2021 | 2.4% | -14.7% |
| 2022 | 2.7% | +14.7% |
| 2023 | 2.6% | -5.8% |
| 2024 | 2.4% | -6.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 2.4% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2.3%, 1.0× the median. (32 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 2.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.8%, 1.4× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.1% | 2.7% | 3.8% | 8 |
| 2010s | 3.1% | 2.9% | 3.3% | 7 |
| 2020s | 2.6% | 2.4% | 2.8% | 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 participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in South Africa?
- Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in South Africa was 2.4% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 3.8% in 2000.
- What is the lowest participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.4% in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal?
- South Africa ranks 59th out of 105 countries with data for 2024.
- Is participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.6%. 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 Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal education and training in the previous 12 months, 25-54 years old, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 20 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release