Percentage of enrolment in lower secondary education in private in South Africa
South Africa: Percentage of enrolment in lower secondary education in private was 51.6% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
51.6%
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
40th
of 180 countries
All-time high
52.5%
in 2000
All-time low
48.2%
in 2015
Years of data
23
1999–2023
Percentage of enrolment in lower secondary education in private in South Africa, 1999–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, percentage of enrolment in lower secondary education in private in South Africa stood at 51.6%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and down 0.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, percentage of enrolment in lower secondary education in private in South Africa peaked at 52.5% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 48.2%, in 2015.
South Africa ranks 40th of 180 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Percentage of enrolment in lower secondary education in private in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 52.0% | — |
| 2000 | 52.5% | +1.0% |
| 2001 | 52.0% | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 52.0% | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 52.1% | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 51.8% | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 50.3% | -3.0% |
| 2006 | 51.8% | +3.0% |
| 2007 | 51.6% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 50.8% | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 52.4% | +3.1% |
| 2010 | 52.1% | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 52.0% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 51.7% | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 48.2% | -6.8% |
| 2016 | 51.3% | +6.4% |
| 2017 | 51.8% | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 51.4% | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 51.1% | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 51.5% | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 52.0% | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 51.5% | -1.0% |
| 2023 | 51.6% | +0.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 51.6% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 48.7%, 1.1× the median. (50 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 51.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 51.6%, 1.0× the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 52.0% | 52.0% | 52.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 51.7% | 50.3% | 52.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 51.2% | 48.2% | 52.1% | 8 |
| 2020s | 51.7% | 51.5% | 52.0% | 4 |
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 percentage of enrolment in lower secondary education in private in South Africa?
- Percentage of enrolment in lower secondary education in private in South Africa was 51.6% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest percentage of enrolment in lower secondary education in private recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 52.5% in 2000.
- What is the lowest percentage of enrolment in lower secondary education in private recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.2% in 2015.
- How does South Africa rank for percentage of enrolment in lower secondary education in private?
- South Africa ranks 40th out of 180 countries with data for 2023.
- Is percentage of enrolment in lower secondary education in private rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.2%. 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 Percentage of enrolment in lower secondary education in private institutions, female (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release