Percentage of enrolment in upper secondary education in public in South Africa
South Africa: Percentage of enrolment in upper secondary education in public was 46.8% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
46.8%
Change on year
up 0.5%
World rank
152nd
of 179 countries
All-time high
48.4%
in 2009
All-time low
46.3%
in 1999
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
In 2023, percentage of enrolment in upper secondary education in public in South Africa stood at 46.8%.
That represents a change of up 0.5% on the previous year and down 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, percentage of enrolment in upper secondary education in public in South Africa peaked at 48.4% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 46.3%, in 1999.
That places South Africa 152nd out of 179 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Percentage of enrolment in upper secondary education in public in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 46.3% | — |
| 2000 | 46.8% | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 47.1% | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 47.8% | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 48.3% | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 48.2% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 48.1% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 48.1% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 48.1% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 48.3% | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 48.4% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 48.0% | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 47.9% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 47.8% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 47.3% | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 47.4% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 47.8% | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 47.7% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 46.8% | -1.9% |
| 2021 | 46.6% | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 46.6% | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 46.8% | +0.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 46.8% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 49.6%, 94% of the median. (49 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 46.8% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 51.3%, 91% of the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 46.3% | 46.3% | 46.3% | 1 |
| 2000s | 47.9% | 46.8% | 48.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 47.7% | 47.3% | 48.0% | 7 |
| 2020s | 46.7% | 46.6% | 46.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 149 Timor-Leste 47.3% compare
- 150 Cook Islands 47.1% compare
- 151 Jordan 46.9% compare
- 153 Finland 46.7% compare
- 154 Costa Rica 46.7% compare
- 155 Morocco 46.5% 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 46.8% 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 48.4% in 2009.
- What is the lowest percentage of enrolment in upper secondary education in public recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 46.3% in 1999.
- How does South Africa rank for percentage of enrolment in upper secondary education in public?
- South Africa ranks 152nd 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 down 2.0%. 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 upper 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