Percentage of enrolment in upper secondary education in public in South Africa
South Africa: Percentage of enrolment in upper secondary education in public was 53.2% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
53.2%
Change on year
down 0.4%
World rank
28th
of 179 countries
All-time high
53.7%
in 1999
All-time low
51.6%
in 2009
Years of data
22
1999–2023
Percentage of enrolment in upper secondary education in public 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 public in South Africa is 53.2%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 0.4% on the previous year and up 1.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, percentage of enrolment in upper secondary education in public in South Africa peaked at 53.7% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 51.6%, in 2009.
South Africa ranks 28th of 179 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Percentage of enrolment in upper secondary education in public in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 53.7% | — |
| 2000 | 53.2% | -1.1% |
| 2001 | 52.9% | -0.5% |
| 2002 | 52.2% | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 51.7% | -1.1% |
| 2004 | 51.8% | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 51.9% | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 51.9% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 51.9% | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 51.7% | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 51.6% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 52.0% | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 52.1% | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 52.2% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 52.7% | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 52.6% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 52.2% | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 52.3% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 53.2% | +1.8% |
| 2021 | 53.4% | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 53.4% | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 53.2% | -0.4% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 53.2% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 50.4%, 1.1× the median. (49 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 53.2% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 48.7%, 1.1× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 53.7% | 53.7% | 53.7% | 1 |
| 2000s | 52.1% | 51.6% | 53.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 52.3% | 52.0% | 52.7% | 7 |
| 2020s | 53.3% | 53.2% | 53.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 25 Morocco 53.5% compare
- 26 Costa Rica 53.3% compare
- 27 Finland 53.3% compare
- 29 Jordan 53.1% compare
- 30 Cook Islands 52.9% compare
- 31 Timor-Leste 52.7% 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 upper secondary education in public in South Africa?
- Percentage of enrolment in upper secondary education in public in South Africa was 53.2% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest percentage of enrolment in upper secondary education in public recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 53.7% in 1999.
- What is the lowest percentage of enrolment in upper secondary education in public recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 51.6% in 2009.
- How does South Africa rank for percentage of enrolment in upper secondary education in public?
- South Africa ranks 28th out of 179 countries with data for 2023.
- Is percentage of enrolment in upper secondary education in public rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.8%. 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 upper secondary education in public institutions, female (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release