Percentage of enrolment in secondary education in private in South Africa
South Africa: Percentage of enrolment in secondary education in private was 50.0% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Percentage of enrolment in secondary education in private in South Africa, 1999–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, percentage of enrolment in secondary education in private in South Africa stood at 50.0%.
The figure is down 1.0% on the previous year and down 5.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, percentage of enrolment in secondary education in private in South Africa peaked at 54.2% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 49.1%, in 2018.
South Africa ranks 80th of 169 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.
Percentage of enrolment in secondary education in private in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 53.8% | — |
| 2000 | 54.2% | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 53.8% | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 53.1% | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 53.2% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 53.2% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 52.4% | -1.6% |
| 2006 | 52.8% | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 52.7% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 52.1% | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 52.8% | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 52.6% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 52.6% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 52.7% | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 50.2% | -4.7% |
| 2016 | 49.3% | -1.7% |
| 2017 | 49.2% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 49.1% | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 49.4% | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 53.5% | +8.3% |
| 2021 | 50.9% | -4.8% |
| 2022 | 50.5% | -0.8% |
| 2023 | 50.0% | -1.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 50.0% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 50.1%, 100% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 50.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 51.2%, 98% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 53.8% | 53.8% | 53.8% | 1 |
| 2000s | 53.0% | 52.1% | 54.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 50.6% | 49.1% | 52.7% | 8 |
| 2020s | 51.2% | 50.0% | 53.5% | 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 secondary education in private in South Africa?
- Percentage of enrolment in secondary education in private in South Africa was 50.0% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest percentage of enrolment in secondary education in private recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 54.2% in 2000.
- What is the lowest percentage of enrolment in secondary education in private recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 49.1% in 2018.
- How does South Africa rank for percentage of enrolment in secondary education in private?
- South Africa ranks 80th out of 169 countries with data for 2023.
- Is percentage of enrolment in secondary education in private rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Percentage of enrolment in 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