Share enrolled in private institutions at the primary education level in South Africa
South Africa: Share enrolled in private institutions at the primary education level was 5.8% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Share enrolled in private institutions at the primary education level in South Africa, 1986–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, share enrolled in private institutions at the primary education level in South Africa stood at 5.8%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 50.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share enrolled in private institutions at the primary education level in South Africa peaked at 5.8% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 0.6%, in 1986.
That places South Africa 150th out of 212 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share enrolled in private institutions at the primary education level in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 0.6% | — |
| 1987 | 1.0% | +54.4% |
| 1988 | 0.9% | -2.1% |
| 1989 | 0.8% | -14.5% |
| 1990 | 0.8% | -0.8% |
| 1991 | 0.8% | -2.1% |
| 1994 | 1.1% | +35.5% |
| 1995 | 1.0% | -2.9% |
| 1999 | 1.7% | +63.9% |
| 2000 | 1.7% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 2.0% | +17.6% |
| 2002 | 1.9% | -3.5% |
| 2003 | 2.0% | +5.7% |
| 2004 | 2.0% | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 2.2% | +5.7% |
| 2006 | 2.5% | +13.8% |
| 2007 | 2.5% | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 2.7% | +8.3% |
| 2009 | 2.9% | +7.4% |
| 2010 | 3.3% | +14.8% |
| 2011 | 3.5% | +6.2% |
| 2012 | 3.7% | +5.9% |
| 2013 | 3.8% | +3.2% |
| 2014 | 4.1% | +6.0% |
| 2016 | 4.5% | +10.5% |
| 2017 | 3.1% | -29.9% |
| 2018 | 4.8% | +51.1% |
| 2019 | 5.0% | +5.2% |
| 2020 | 5.3% | +5.9% |
| 2021 | 5.5% | +4.0% |
| 2022 | 5.8% | +5.1% |
| 2023 | 5.8% | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.8% | 0.6% | 1.0% | 4 |
| 1990s | 1.1% | 0.8% | 1.7% | 5 |
| 2000s | 2.2% | 1.7% | 2.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.0% | 3.1% | 5.0% | 9 |
| 2020s | 5.6% | 5.3% | 5.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More education data for South Africa
- 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)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 7.52 million (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -1.44 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita 0.119 units per person (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 3.65 million (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share enrolled in private institutions at the primary education level in South Africa?
- Share enrolled in private institutions at the primary education level in South Africa was 5.8% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share enrolled in private institutions at the primary education level recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 5.8% in 2022.
- What is the lowest share enrolled in private institutions at the primary education level recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.6% in 1986.
- How does South Africa rank for share enrolled in private institutions at the primary education level?
- South Africa ranks 150th out of 212 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share enrolled in private institutions at the primary education level rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 50.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share enrolled in private institutions at the primary education level. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Private primary institutions are managed by private entities, such as NGOs, religious groups, or businesses, rather than public authorities, regardless of profit motive.