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 15.8% 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
In 2024, participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in South Africa stood at 15.8%. That is the lowest value across all 21 years on record.
The figure is down 1.5% on the previous year and down 14.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in South Africa peaked at 19.8% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 15.8%, in 2024.
That places South Africa 50th 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 of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 19.8% | — |
| 2001 | 18.3% | -7.8% |
| 2002 | 17.9% | -2.0% |
| 2003 | 17.6% | -1.6% |
| 2004 | 17.6% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 18.0% | +2.3% |
| 2006 | 17.7% | -1.3% |
| 2007 | 18.1% | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 19.5% | +8.1% |
| 2013 | 18.0% | -8.1% |
| 2014 | 18.4% | +2.1% |
| 2015 | 18.4% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 18.1% | -1.6% |
| 2017 | 17.7% | -1.7% |
| 2018 | 17.3% | -2.2% |
| 2019 | 17.3% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 17.4% | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 16.9% | -2.6% |
| 2022 | 16.1% | -4.9% |
| 2023 | 16.0% | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 15.8% | -1.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 15.8% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 13.7%, 1.2× the median. (35 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 15.8% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 15.1%, 1.0× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 18.1% | 17.6% | 19.8% | 8 |
| 2010s | 18.1% | 17.3% | 19.5% | 8 |
| 2020s | 16.4% | 15.8% | 17.4% | 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 15.8% 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 19.8% 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 15.8% in 2024.
- How does South Africa rank for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal?
- South Africa ranks 50th 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 down 14.1%. 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, 15-64 years old, female (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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