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 55.4% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
55.4%
Change on year
down 0.8%
World rank
56th
of 110 countries
All-time high
59.8%
in 2021
All-time low
50.6%
in 2011
Years of data
21
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
South Africa recorded 55.4% for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in 2024.
The figure is down 0.8% on the previous year and down 2.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in South Africa peaked at 59.8% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 50.6%, in 2011.
South Africa ranks 56th of 110 countries on this measure, 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 | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 56.3% | — |
| 2001 | 54.0% | -4.2% |
| 2002 | 53.4% | -1.1% |
| 2003 | 53.2% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 53.7% | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 54.4% | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 54.8% | +0.8% |
| 2007 | 54.8% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 50.6% | -7.7% |
| 2013 | 56.1% | +10.9% |
| 2014 | 57.0% | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 57.0% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 57.1% | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 57.3% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 57.2% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 57.1% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 59.5% | +4.2% |
| 2021 | 59.8% | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 55.4% | -7.3% |
| 2023 | 55.8% | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 55.4% | -0.8% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 55.4% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 52.6%, 1.1× the median. (35 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 55.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 44.0%, 1.3× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 54.3% | 53.2% | 56.3% | 8 |
| 2010s | 56.2% | 50.6% | 57.3% | 8 |
| 2020s | 57.2% | 55.4% | 59.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 53 Brunei Darussalam 55.6% compare
- 54 Bhutan 55.5% compare
- 55 Kyrgyzstan 55.4% compare
- 57 Armenia 55.2% compare
- 58 Montenegro 55.1% compare
- 59 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 55.1% compare
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 55.4% 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 59.8% in 2021.
- What is the lowest participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 50.6% in 2011.
- How does South Africa rank for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal?
- South Africa ranks 56th 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 2.9%. 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, 15-24 years old, both sexes (%). 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