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 1.05 GPIA in 2024. ▲ Rising
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in GPIA.
Analysis
The most recent figure for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in South Africa is 1.05 GPIA, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 21 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.5% on the previous year and up 7.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in South Africa peaked at 1.05 GPIA in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.8342 GPIA, in 2003.
That places South Africa 55th out of 110 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in South Africa, year by year
| Year | GPIA | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.8722 GPIA | — |
| 2001 | 0.8464 GPIA | -2.9% |
| 2002 | 0.8478 GPIA | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 0.8342 GPIA | -1.6% |
| 2004 | 0.8431 GPIA | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 0.8681 GPIA | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 0.8438 GPIA | -2.8% |
| 2007 | 0.863 GPIA | +2.3% |
| 2011 | 0.9754 GPIA | +13.0% |
| 2013 | 0.9593 GPIA | -1.7% |
| 2014 | 0.9803 GPIA | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 1 GPIA | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 1 GPIA | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 1 GPIA | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 0.9948 GPIA | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 1.02 GPIA | +2.7% |
| 2020 | 0.9979 GPIA | -2.3% |
| 2021 | 0.9967 GPIA | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 1.03 GPIA | +3.5% |
| 2023 | 1.04 GPIA | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 1.05 GPIA | +1.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1.05 GPIA is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.05 GPIA, 1.0× the median. (35 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 1.05 GPIA is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.8468 GPIA, 1.2× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.8523 GPIA | 0.8342 GPIA | 0.8722 GPIA | 8 |
| 2010s | 0.9922 GPIA | 0.9593 GPIA | 1.02 GPIA | 8 |
| 2020s | 1.02 GPIA | 0.9967 GPIA | 1.05 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 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 1.05 GPIA 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 1.05 GPIA in 2024.
- What is the lowest participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.8342 GPIA in 2003.
- How does South Africa rank for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal?
- South Africa ranks 55th out of 110 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 up 7.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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, 15-64 years old, adjusted gender parity index (GPIA). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 21 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release