Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in South Africa
South Africa: Population of compulsory school age, both sexes was 9.51 million in 2025. ▼ Falling
Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in South Africa, 1998–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population of compulsory school age, both sexes in South Africa is 9.51 million, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 5.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population of compulsory school age, both sexes in South Africa peaked at 10.46 million in 1999 and was at its lowest, 8.74 million, in 2012.
South Africa ranks 28th of 197 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 28 years of available data.
Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 10.43 million | — |
| 1999 | 10.46 million | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 10.41 million | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 10.32 million | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 10.17 million | -1.5% |
| 2003 | 10.06 million | -1.1% |
| 2004 | 9.92 million | -1.3% |
| 2005 | 9.76 million | -1.7% |
| 2006 | 9.59 million | -1.7% |
| 2007 | 9.44 million | -1.5% |
| 2008 | 9.25 million | -2.0% |
| 2009 | 9.08 million | -1.8% |
| 2010 | 8.91 million | -1.9% |
| 2011 | 8.82 million | -1.0% |
| 2012 | 8.74 million | -0.9% |
| 2013 | 8.79 million | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 8.89 million | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 8.99 million | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 9.17 million | +2.1% |
| 2017 | 9.28 million | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 9.43 million | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 9.56 million | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 9.65 million | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 9.67 million | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 9.60 million | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 9.56 million | -0.4% |
| 2024 | 9.52 million | -0.4% |
| 2025 | 9.51 million | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 10.44 million | 10.43 million | 10.46 million | 2 |
| 2000s | 9.80 million | 9.08 million | 10.41 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.06 million | 8.74 million | 9.56 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.59 million | 9.51 million | 9.67 million | 6 |
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 population of compulsory school age, both sexes in South Africa?
- Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in South Africa was 9.51 million in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population of compulsory school age, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 10.46 million in 1999.
- What is the lowest population of compulsory school age, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.74 million in 2012.
- How does South Africa rank for population of compulsory school age, both sexes?
- South Africa ranks 28th out of 197 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population of compulsory school age, both sexes rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.8%. 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 Population of compulsory school age, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 28 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release