Percentage of enrolment in upper secondary education in private in South Africa
South Africa: Percentage of enrolment in upper secondary education in private was 51.0% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Percentage of enrolment in upper 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 upper secondary education in private in South Africa is 51.0%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 1.7% on the previous year and up 9.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, percentage of enrolment in upper secondary education in private in South Africa peaked at 52.1% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 44.7%, in 2000.
That places South Africa 62nd out of 168 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Percentage of enrolment in upper secondary education in private in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 45.0% | — |
| 2000 | 44.7% | -0.7% |
| 2001 | 45.0% | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 46.1% | +2.5% |
| 2003 | 46.1% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 45.8% | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 46.1% | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 46.4% | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 46.6% | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 47.0% | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 46.9% | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 47.0% | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 47.1% | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 46.8% | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 51.6% | +10.4% |
| 2017 | 52.1% | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 52.1% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 51.6% | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 45.6% | -11.7% |
| 2021 | 49.8% | +9.1% |
| 2022 | 50.1% | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 51.0% | +1.7% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 51.0% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 48.8%, 1.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 51.0% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 48.3%, 1.1× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 45.0% | 45.0% | 45.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 46.1% | 44.7% | 47.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 49.7% | 46.8% | 52.1% | 7 |
| 2020s | 49.1% | 45.6% | 51.0% | 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 upper secondary education in private in South Africa?
- Percentage of enrolment in upper secondary education in private in South Africa was 51.0% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest percentage of enrolment in upper secondary education in private recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 52.1% in 2018.
- What is the lowest percentage of enrolment in upper secondary education in private recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 44.7% in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for percentage of enrolment in upper secondary education in private?
- South Africa ranks 62nd out of 168 countries with data for 2023.
- Is percentage of enrolment in upper secondary education in private rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Percentage of enrolment in upper 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