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 3.0% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Latest (2024)
3.0%
Change on year
down 6.2%
World rank
55th
of 103 countries
All-time high
3.8%
in 2015
All-time low
2.6%
in 2006
Years of data
20
2000–2024
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 3.0%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.2% on the previous year and down 17.5% 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 2015 and was at its lowest, 2.6%, in 2006.
That places South Africa 55th out of 103 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 3.7% | — |
| 2001 | 3.3% | -9.8% |
| 2002 | 3.0% | -8.8% |
| 2003 | 3.1% | +1.7% |
| 2004 | 2.7% | -10.9% |
| 2005 | 2.7% | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 2.6% | -2.5% |
| 2007 | 3.5% | +30.9% |
| 2013 | 3.3% | -3.7% |
| 2014 | 3.6% | +8.4% |
| 2015 | 3.8% | +4.4% |
| 2016 | 3.6% | -5.8% |
| 2017 | 3.5% | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 3.2% | -10.9% |
| 2019 | 3.4% | +7.8% |
| 2020 | 3.0% | -12.6% |
| 2021 | 2.7% | -10.3% |
| 2022 | 3.2% | +20.2% |
| 2023 | 3.2% | -0.7% |
| 2024 | 3.0% | -6.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 3.0% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2.7%, 1.1× the median. (32 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 3.0% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.8%, 1.6× the median. (18 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.1% | 2.6% | 3.7% | 8 |
| 2010s | 3.5% | 3.2% | 3.8% | 7 |
| 2020s | 3.0% | 2.7% | 3.2% | 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 3.0% 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 2015.
- What is the lowest participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.6% in 2006.
- How does South Africa rank for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal?
- South Africa ranks 55th out of 103 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 17.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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, female (%). 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