Primary education, pupils, per capita in South Africa
South Africa: Primary education, pupils, per capita was 0.119 units per person in 2023. ▼ Falling
Primary education, pupils, per capita in South Africa, 1970–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in units per person.
Analysis
In 2023, primary education, pupils, per capita in South Africa stood at 0.119 units per person. That is the lowest value across all 42 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.7% on the previous year and down 7.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary education, pupils, per capita in South Africa peaked at 0.1832 units per person in 1995 and was at its lowest, 0.119 units per person, in 2023.
South Africa ranks 62nd of 206 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 42 years of available data.
Primary education, pupils, per capita in South Africa, year by year
| Year | units per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.179 units per person | — |
| 1975 | 0.1804 units per person | +0.8% |
| 1977 | 0.1595 units per person | -11.6% |
| 1978 | 0.1486 units per person | -6.8% |
| 1979 | 0.1491 units per person | +0.3% |
| 1981 | 0.1467 units per person | -1.6% |
| 1982 | 0.14 units per person | -4.6% |
| 1986 | 0.1309 units per person | -6.5% |
| 1987 | 0.1318 units per person | +0.7% |
| 1988 | 0.1314 units per person | -0.3% |
| 1989 | 0.1705 units per person | +29.8% |
| 1990 | 0.1706 units per person | +0.1% |
| 1991 | 0.173 units per person | +1.4% |
| 1994 | 0.1812 units per person | +4.7% |
| 1995 | 0.1832 units per person | +1.1% |
| 1997 | 0.1772 units per person | -3.3% |
| 1998 | 0.173 units per person | -2.3% |
| 1999 | 0.1698 units per person | -1.9% |
| 2000 | 0.1579 units per person | -7.0% |
| 2001 | 0.1559 units per person | -1.3% |
| 2002 | 0.1555 units per person | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 0.154 units per person | -0.9% |
| 2004 | 0.1519 units per person | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 0.1478 units per person | -2.7% |
| 2006 | 0.1451 units per person | -1.8% |
| 2007 | 0.1447 units per person | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 0.1415 units per person | -2.2% |
| 2009 | 0.1378 units per person | -2.6% |
| 2010 | 0.1342 units per person | -2.6% |
| 2011 | 0.1314 units per person | -2.1% |
| 2012 | 0.1302 units per person | -0.9% |
| 2013 | 0.1292 units per person | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 0.1294 units per person | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 0.1332 units per person | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 0.1311 units per person | -1.5% |
| 2017 | 0.1307 units per person | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 0.1291 units per person | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 0.129 units per person | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 0.1274 units per person | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 0.1252 units per person | -1.8% |
| 2022 | 0.1223 units per person | -2.3% |
| 2023 | 0.119 units per person | -2.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.1633 units per person | 0.1486 units per person | 0.1804 units per person | 5 |
| 1980s | 0.1419 units per person | 0.1309 units per person | 0.1705 units per person | 6 |
| 1990s | 0.1754 units per person | 0.1698 units per person | 0.1832 units per person | 7 |
| 2000s | 0.1492 units per person | 0.1378 units per person | 0.1579 units per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.1308 units per person | 0.129 units per person | 0.1342 units per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.1235 units per person | 0.119 units per person | 0.1274 units per person | 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)
- 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)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate -1.31 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary education, pupils, per capita in South Africa?
- Primary education, pupils, per capita in South Africa was 0.119 units per person in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest primary education, pupils, per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.1832 units per person in 1995.
- What is the lowest primary education, pupils, per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.119 units per person in 2023.
- How does South Africa rank for primary education, pupils, per capita?
- South Africa ranks 62nd out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is primary education, pupils, per capita rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Primary education, pupils, per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 42 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Primary education, pupils divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Primary education, pupils ÷ Population, total
Computed from
- Primary education, pupils Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
- Population, total World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Primary education, pupils divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.