Percentage of teachers in pre-primary education who are female in South Africa
South Africa: Percentage of teachers in pre-primary education who are female was 78.6% in 2014. ▼ Falling
Percentage of teachers in pre-primary education who are female in South Africa, 1994–2014
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for percentage of teachers in pre-primary education who are female in South Africa is 78.6%, measured in 2014.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.4% on the previous year and up 3.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, percentage of teachers in pre-primary education who are female in South Africa peaked at 99.0% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 74.4%, in 2003.
That places South Africa 181st out of 195 countries with data for 2014, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 17 years of available data.
Percentage of teachers in pre-primary education who are female in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 98.0% | — |
| 1996 | 99.0% | +1.0% |
| 1999 | 78.1% | -21.1% |
| 2000 | 75.2% | -3.8% |
| 2001 | 77.8% | +3.5% |
| 2002 | 79.8% | +2.6% |
| 2003 | 74.4% | -6.8% |
| 2004 | 76.2% | +2.5% |
| 2005 | 75.5% | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 76.4% | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 76.5% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 76.9% | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 77.2% | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 78.6% | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 79.0% | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 78.9% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 78.6% | -0.4% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 78.6% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 97.9%, 80% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 78.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 90.2%, 87% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 91.7% | 78.1% | 99.0% | 3 |
| 2000s | 76.6% | 74.4% | 79.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 78.8% | 78.6% | 79.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 178 Micronesia, Federated States of 83.0%
- 179 Zimbabwe 82.1% compare
- 180 Guatemala 79.9% compare
- 182 Ireland 78.5%
- 183 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 78.0% compare
- 184 Senegal 77.3% 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 pre-primary education who are female in South Africa?
- Percentage of teachers in pre-primary education who are female in South Africa was 78.6% in 2014, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest percentage of teachers in pre-primary education who are female recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 99.0% in 1996.
- What is the lowest percentage of teachers in pre-primary education who are female recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 74.4% in 2003.
- How does South Africa rank for percentage of teachers in pre-primary education who are female?
- South Africa ranks 181st out of 195 countries with data for 2014.
- Is percentage of teachers in pre-primary education who are female rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Percentage of teachers in pre-primary education who are female (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release