Population of the official entrance age to secondary general in South Africa
South Africa: Population of the official entrance age to secondary general was 541,925 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
541,925
Change on year
down 0.7%
World rank
24th
of 220 countries
All-time high
603,389
in 2000
All-time low
257,863
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Population of the official entrance age to secondary general in South Africa, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 541,925 for population of the official entrance age to secondary general in 2025.
The figure is down 0.7% on the previous year and up 11.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population of the official entrance age to secondary general in South Africa peaked at 603,389 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 257,863, in 1970.
That places South Africa 24th out of 220 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Population of the official entrance age to secondary general in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 257,863 | — |
| 1971 | 265,605 | +3.0% |
| 1972 | 272,913 | +2.8% |
| 1973 | 278,639 | +2.1% |
| 1974 | 285,570 | +2.5% |
| 1975 | 293,713 | +2.9% |
| 1976 | 301,839 | +2.8% |
| 1977 | 310,820 | +3.0% |
| 1978 | 319,300 | +2.7% |
| 1979 | 328,094 | +2.8% |
| 1980 | 342,579 | +4.4% |
| 1981 | 352,572 | +2.9% |
| 1982 | 361,008 | +2.4% |
| 1983 | 370,146 | +2.5% |
| 1984 | 381,130 | +3.0% |
| 1985 | 386,407 | +1.4% |
| 1986 | 390,738 | +1.1% |
| 1987 | 400,165 | +2.4% |
| 1988 | 408,531 | +2.1% |
| 1989 | 416,079 | +1.8% |
| 1990 | 417,162 | +0.3% |
| 1991 | 413,827 | -0.8% |
| 1992 | 420,299 | +1.6% |
| 1993 | 440,582 | +4.8% |
| 1994 | 461,380 | +4.7% |
| 1995 | 506,920 | +9.9% |
| 1996 | 545,105 | +7.5% |
| 1997 | 549,930 | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 576,812 | +4.9% |
| 1999 | 594,117 | +3.0% |
| 2000 | 603,389 | +1.6% |
| 2001 | 602,866 | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 598,111 | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 590,873 | -1.2% |
| 2004 | 580,327 | -1.8% |
| 2005 | 564,001 | -2.8% |
| 2006 | 566,357 | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 554,980 | -2.0% |
| 2008 | 554,483 | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 527,538 | -4.9% |
| 2010 | 544,734 | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 530,951 | -2.5% |
| 2012 | 508,274 | -4.3% |
| 2013 | 500,977 | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 501,577 | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 485,930 | -3.1% |
| 2016 | 482,593 | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 470,375 | -2.5% |
| 2018 | 484,670 | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 504,471 | +4.1% |
| 2020 | 523,990 | +3.9% |
| 2021 | 538,031 | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 542,479 | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 545,427 | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 545,963 | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 541,925 | -0.7% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 541,925 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 59,702, 9.1× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 541,925 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 192,946, 2.8× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 291,436 | 257,863 | 328,094 | 10 |
| 1980s | 380,936 | 342,579 | 416,079 | 10 |
| 1990s | 492,613 | 413,827 | 594,117 | 10 |
| 2000s | 574,292 | 527,538 | 603,389 | 10 |
| 2010s | 501,455 | 470,375 | 544,734 | 10 |
| 2020s | 539,636 | 523,990 | 545,963 | 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 the official entrance age to secondary general in South Africa?
- Population of the official entrance age to secondary general in South Africa was 541,925 in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population of the official entrance age to secondary general recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 603,389 in 2000.
- What is the lowest population of the official entrance age to secondary general recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 257,863 in 1970.
- How does South Africa rank for population of the official entrance age to secondary general?
- South Africa ranks 24th out of 220 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population of the official entrance age to secondary general rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.5%. 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 Population of the official entrance age to secondary general education, male (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release