Percentage of enrolment in lower secondary education in private in South Africa
South Africa: Percentage of enrolment in lower secondary education in private was 48.4% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
48.4%
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
141st
of 180 countries
All-time high
51.8%
in 2015
All-time low
47.5%
in 2000
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
The most recent figure for percentage of enrolment in lower secondary education in private in South Africa is 48.4%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 0.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, percentage of enrolment in lower secondary education in private in South Africa peaked at 51.8% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 47.5%, in 2000.
That places South Africa 141st out of 180 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Percentage of enrolment in lower secondary education in private in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 48.0% | — |
| 2000 | 47.5% | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 48.0% | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 48.0% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 47.9% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 48.2% | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 49.7% | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 48.2% | -3.0% |
| 2007 | 48.4% | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 49.2% | +1.6% |
| 2009 | 47.6% | -3.2% |
| 2010 | 47.9% | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 48.0% | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 48.3% | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 51.8% | +7.3% |
| 2016 | 48.7% | -6.0% |
| 2017 | 48.2% | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 48.6% | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 48.9% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 48.5% | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 48.0% | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 48.5% | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 48.4% | -0.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 48.4% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 51.3%, 94% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 48.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 48.4%, 100% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 48.0% | 48.0% | 48.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 48.3% | 47.5% | 49.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 48.8% | 47.9% | 51.8% | 8 |
| 2020s | 48.3% | 48.0% | 48.5% | 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 48.4% 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 51.8% in 2015.
- What is the lowest percentage of enrolment in lower secondary education in private recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.5% in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for percentage of enrolment in lower secondary education in private?
- South Africa ranks 141st 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 up 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, male (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release