Percentage of enrolment in secondary education in public in South Africa
South Africa: Percentage of enrolment in secondary education in public was 48.6% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
48.6%
Change on year
up 0.7%
World rank
150th
of 180 countries
All-time high
49.2%
in 2008
All-time low
47.1%
in 1999
Years of data
23
1999–2023
Percentage of enrolment in secondary education in public in South Africa, 1999–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 48.6% for percentage of enrolment in secondary education in public in 2023.
The figure is up 0.7% on the previous year and down 0.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, percentage of enrolment in secondary education in public in South Africa peaked at 49.2% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 47.1%, in 1999.
South Africa ranks 150th of 180 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Percentage of enrolment in secondary education in public in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 47.1% | — |
| 2000 | 47.6% | +1.0% |
| 2001 | 47.9% | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 48.3% | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 48.6% | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 48.5% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 48.7% | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 48.8% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 49.1% | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 49.2% | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 49.0% | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 48.9% | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 49.0% | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 49.0% | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 48.0% | -2.1% |
| 2016 | 48.0% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 48.2% | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 48.5% | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 48.7% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 48.3% | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 48.3% | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 48.3% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 48.6% | +0.7% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 48.6% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 50.6%, 96% of the median. (51 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 48.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 50.3%, 97% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 47.1% | 47.1% | 47.1% | 1 |
| 2000s | 48.6% | 47.6% | 49.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 48.5% | 48.0% | 49.0% | 8 |
| 2020s | 48.4% | 48.3% | 48.6% | 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 public in South Africa?
- Percentage of enrolment in secondary education in public in South Africa was 48.6% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest percentage of enrolment in secondary education in public recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 49.2% in 2008.
- What is the lowest percentage of enrolment in secondary education in public recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.1% in 1999.
- How does South Africa rank for percentage of enrolment in secondary education in public?
- South Africa ranks 150th out of 180 countries with data for 2023.
- Is percentage of enrolment in secondary education in public rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.8%. 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 secondary education in public institutions, male (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release