Primary education, pupils, per square kilometre in South Africa
South Africa: Primary education, pupils, per square kilometre was 6.2 units per square kilometre in 2023. ▲ Rising
Primary education, pupils, per square kilometre in South Africa, 1970–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in units per square kilometre.
Analysis
In 2023, primary education, pupils, per square kilometre in South Africa stood at 6.2 units per square kilometre.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.4% on the previous year and up 6.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary education, pupils, per square kilometre in South Africa peaked at 6.73 units per square kilometre in 1995 and was at its lowest, 3.29 units per square kilometre, in 1970.
South Africa ranks 126th of 206 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 42 years of available data.
Primary education, pupils, per square kilometre in South Africa, year by year
| Year | units per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 3.29 units per square kilometre | — |
| 1975 | 3.82 units per square kilometre | +16.2% |
| 1977 | 3.57 units per square kilometre | -6.7% |
| 1978 | 3.41 units per square kilometre | -4.2% |
| 1979 | 3.52 units per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 1981 | 3.69 units per square kilometre | +5.0% |
| 1982 | 3.65 units per square kilometre | -1.2% |
| 1986 | 3.91 units per square kilometre | +7.0% |
| 1987 | 4.06 units per square kilometre | +3.9% |
| 1988 | 4.17 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 1989 | 5.57 units per square kilometre | +33.7% |
| 1990 | 5.73 units per square kilometre | +2.9% |
| 1991 | 5.94 units per square kilometre | +3.7% |
| 1994 | 6.57 units per square kilometre | +10.6% |
| 1995 | 6.73 units per square kilometre | +2.4% |
| 1997 | 6.67 units per square kilometre | -0.8% |
| 1998 | 6.59 units per square kilometre | -1.1% |
| 1999 | 6.54 units per square kilometre | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 6.14 units per square kilometre | -6.2% |
| 2001 | 6.11 units per square kilometre | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 6.15 units per square kilometre | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 6.16 units per square kilometre | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 6.14 units per square kilometre | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 6.03 units per square kilometre | -1.7% |
| 2006 | 5.98 units per square kilometre | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 6.03 units per square kilometre | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 5.96 units per square kilometre | -1.1% |
| 2009 | 5.88 units per square kilometre | -1.4% |
| 2010 | 5.79 units per square kilometre | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 5.74 units per square kilometre | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 5.77 units per square kilometre | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 5.82 units per square kilometre | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 5.93 units per square kilometre | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 6.23 units per square kilometre | +5.0% |
| 2016 | 6.19 units per square kilometre | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 6.21 units per square kilometre | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 6.24 units per square kilometre | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 6.34 units per square kilometre | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 6.36 units per square kilometre | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 6.35 units per square kilometre | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 6.29 units per square kilometre | -0.9% |
| 2023 | 6.2 units per square kilometre | -1.4% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 6.2 units per square kilometre is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6.93 units per square kilometre, 89% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 6.2 units per square kilometre is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 10.28 units per square kilometre, 60% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Primary education, pupils, per square kilometre in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | +33.7% | 4.17 units per square kilometre | 5.57 units per square kilometre |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.52 units per square kilometre | 3.29 units per square kilometre | 3.82 units per square kilometre | 5 |
| 1980s | 4.17 units per square kilometre | 3.65 units per square kilometre | 5.57 units per square kilometre | 6 |
| 1990s | 6.4 units per square kilometre | 5.73 units per square kilometre | 6.73 units per square kilometre | 7 |
| 2000s | 6.06 units per square kilometre | 5.88 units per square kilometre | 6.16 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.03 units per square kilometre | 5.74 units per square kilometre | 6.34 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.3 units per square kilometre | 6.2 units per square kilometre | 6.36 units per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 123 Portugal 6.54 units per square kilometre compare
- 124 Cyprus 6.35 units per square kilometre compare
- 125 Fiji 6.32 units per square kilometre compare
- 127 Panama 5.96 units per square kilometre compare
- 128 Liberia 5.92 units per square kilometre compare
- 129 Uzbekistan 5.77 units per square kilometre compare
More education data for South Africa
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 94.05 (2023)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 93.94 (2023)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary education, pupils, per square kilometre in South Africa?
- Primary education, pupils, per square kilometre in South Africa was 6.2 units per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest primary education, pupils, per square kilometre recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 6.73 units per square kilometre in 1995.
- What is the lowest primary education, pupils, per square kilometre recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.29 units per square kilometre in 1970.
- How does South Africa rank for primary education, pupils, per square kilometre?
- South Africa ranks 126th out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is primary education, pupils, per square kilometre rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Primary education, pupils, per square kilometre. 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 Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Primary education, pupils ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Primary education, pupils Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
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 Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.