Percentage of enrolment in primary education in private institutions in South Africa
South Africa: Percentage of enrolment in primary education in private institutions was 50.0% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
50.0%
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
48th
of 189 countries
All-time high
50.6%
in 2005
All-time low
49.7%
in 2017
Years of data
24
1999–2023
Percentage of enrolment in primary education in private institutions in South Africa, 1999–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, percentage of enrolment in primary education in private institutions in South Africa stood at 50.0%.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 0.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, percentage of enrolment in primary education in private institutions in South Africa peaked at 50.6% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 49.7%, in 2017.
That places South Africa 48th out of 189 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
Percentage of enrolment in primary education in private institutions in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 50.0% | — |
| 2000 | 49.9% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 50.0% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 50.1% | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 50.0% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 49.9% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 50.6% | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 50.1% | -0.9% |
| 2007 | 49.9% | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 50.0% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 50.4% | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 50.3% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 50.4% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 50.2% | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 50.0% | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 50.1% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 50.1% | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 49.7% | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 49.9% | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 49.8% | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 50.0% | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 50.0% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 50.0% | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 50.0% | +0.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 50.0% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 48.6%, 1.0× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 50.0% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 50.0%, 1.0× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 50.0% | 50.0% | 50.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 50.1% | 49.9% | 50.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 50.1% | 49.7% | 50.4% | 9 |
| 2020s | 50.0% | 50.0% | 50.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 45 Ecuador 50.1% compare
- 46 Nigeria 50.0% compare
- 47 Tanzania, United Republic of 50.0% compare
- 49 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 50.0% compare
- 50 Cape Verde 50.0% compare
- 51 Nicaragua 50.0% 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 percentage of enrolment in primary education in private institutions in South Africa?
- Percentage of enrolment in primary education in private institutions in South Africa was 50.0% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest percentage of enrolment in primary education in private institutions recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 50.6% in 2005.
- What is the lowest percentage of enrolment in primary education in private institutions recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 49.7% in 2017.
- How does South Africa rank for percentage of enrolment in primary education in private institutions?
- South Africa ranks 48th out of 189 countries with data for 2023.
- Is percentage of enrolment in primary education in private institutions rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.0%. 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 primary education in private institutions, female (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release