Percentage of teachers in lower secondary education who are female in South Africa
South Africa: Percentage of teachers in lower secondary education who are female was 61.0% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
61.0%
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
92nd
of 156 countries
All-time high
61.1%
in 2022
All-time low
53.6%
in 2010
Years of data
5
2010–2023
Percentage of teachers in lower secondary education who are female in South Africa, 2010–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 61.0% for percentage of teachers in lower secondary education who are female in 2023.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 13.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, percentage of teachers in lower secondary education who are female in South Africa peaked at 61.1% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 53.6%, in 2010.
South Africa ranks 92nd of 156 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Percentage of teachers in lower secondary education who are female in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 53.6% | — |
| 2019 | 60.0% | +12.0% |
| 2020 | 60.6% | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 61.1% | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 61.0% | -0.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 61.0% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 65.2%, 94% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 61.0% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 28.2%, 2.2× the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 56.8% | 53.6% | 60.0% | 2 |
| 2020s | 60.9% | 60.6% | 61.1% | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 89 Bahrain 61.9% compare
- 90 North Macedonia 61.7% compare
- 91 Bahamas 61.2% compare
- 93 Denmark 60.9% compare
- 94 Liechtenstein 60.6% compare
- 95 Macau, China 60.2% 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 teachers in lower secondary education who are female in South Africa?
- Percentage of teachers in lower secondary education who are female in South Africa was 61.0% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest percentage of teachers in lower secondary education who are female recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 61.1% in 2022.
- What is the lowest percentage of teachers in lower secondary education who are female recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 53.6% in 2010.
- How does South Africa rank for percentage of teachers in lower secondary education who are female?
- South Africa ranks 92nd out of 156 countries with data for 2023.
- Is percentage of teachers in lower secondary education who are female rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.9%. 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 teachers in lower secondary education who are female (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release