Percentage of enrolment in pre-primary education in private in South Africa
South Africa: Percentage of enrolment in pre-primary education in private was 49.5% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
49.5%
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
145th
of 171 countries
All-time high
50.5%
in 2015
All-time low
49.4%
in 2021
Years of data
11
1999–2023
Percentage of enrolment in pre-primary education in private in South Africa, 1999–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, percentage of enrolment in pre-primary education in private in South Africa stood at 49.5%.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 1.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, percentage of enrolment in pre-primary education in private in South Africa peaked at 50.5% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 49.4%, in 2021.
South Africa ranks 145th of 171 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Percentage of enrolment in pre-primary education in private in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 50.1% | — |
| 2000 | 50.0% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 50.5% | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 49.9% | -1.1% |
| 2017 | 50.0% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 49.8% | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 50.4% | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 49.9% | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 49.4% | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 49.6% | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 49.5% | -0.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 49.5% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 50.8%, 97% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 49.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 49.9%, 99% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 50.1% | 50.1% | 50.1% | 1 |
| 2000s | 50.0% | 50.0% | 50.0% | 1 |
| 2010s | 50.1% | 49.8% | 50.5% | 5 |
| 2020s | 49.6% | 49.4% | 49.9% | 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 pre-primary education in private in South Africa?
- Percentage of enrolment in pre-primary education in private in South Africa was 49.5% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest percentage of enrolment in pre-primary education in private recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 50.5% in 2015.
- What is the lowest percentage of enrolment in pre-primary education in private recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 49.4% in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for percentage of enrolment in pre-primary education in private?
- South Africa ranks 145th out of 171 countries with data for 2023.
- Is percentage of enrolment in pre-primary education in private rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.9%. 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 pre-primary education in private institutions, male (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 11 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release