Primary education, pupils in South Africa
South Africa: Primary education, pupils was 48.7% in 2017. ▬ Flat
Latest (2017)
48.7%
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
93rd
of 203 countries
All-time high
49.7%
in 1970
All-time low
47.8%
in 2015
Years of data
30
1970–2017
Primary education, pupils in South Africa, 1970–2017
Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % female.
Analysis
In 2017, primary education, pupils in South Africa stood at 48.7%.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 0.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary education, pupils in South Africa peaked at 49.7% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 47.8%, in 2015.
South Africa ranks 93rd of 203 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Primary education, pupils in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % female | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 49.7% | — |
| 1986 | 49.4% | -0.6% |
| 1987 | 49.3% | -0.1% |
| 1988 | 49.3% | -0.0% |
| 1989 | 49.6% | +0.6% |
| 1990 | 49.6% | -0.0% |
| 1991 | 49.6% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 49.0% | -1.1% |
| 1995 | 49.4% | +0.7% |
| 1997 | 49.2% | -0.4% |
| 1998 | 49.2% | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 49.1% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 48.6% | -1.1% |
| 2001 | 48.9% | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 48.9% | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 48.8% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 48.7% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 48.7% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 48.7% | -0.0% |
| 2007 | 48.8% | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 48.8% | -0.0% |
| 2009 | 48.7% | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 48.6% | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 48.6% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 48.5% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 48.5% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 48.6% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 47.8% | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 48.7% | +1.9% |
| 2017 | 48.7% | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 49.7% | 49.7% | 49.7% | 1 |
| 1980s | 49.4% | 49.3% | 49.6% | 4 |
| 1990s | 49.3% | 49.0% | 49.6% | 7 |
| 2000s | 48.8% | 48.6% | 48.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 48.5% | 47.8% | 48.7% | 8 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 90 Sao Tome and Principe 48.7% compare
- 91 Australia 48.7% compare
- 92 Slovakia 48.7% compare
- 94 Bermuda 48.6% compare
- 95 Netherlands 48.6% compare
- 96 New Zealand 48.6% compare
More education data for South Africa
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.68 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 2.97 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 818,404 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 3.28 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 1.19 million (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) -2.55 % change on previous year (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 225,583 (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 61,727 (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 748,573 (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) -1.43 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary education, pupils in South Africa?
- Primary education, pupils in South Africa was 48.7% in 2017, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest primary education, pupils recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 49.7% in 1970.
- What is the lowest primary education, pupils recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.8% in 2015.
- How does South Africa rank for primary education, pupils?
- South Africa ranks 93rd out of 203 countries with data for 2017.
- Is primary education, pupils rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Primary education, pupils (% female). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 30 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Female pupils as a percentage of total pupils at primary level include enrollments in public and private schools.