Primary education, pupils in South Africa
South Africa: Primary education, pupils was 7.52 million in 2023. ▲ Rising
Primary education, pupils in South Africa, 1970–2023
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for primary education, pupils in South Africa is 7.52 million, measured in 2023.
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 in South Africa peaked at 8.16 million in 1995 and was at its lowest, 3.99 million, in 1970.
South Africa ranks 21st of 206 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 42 years of available data.
Primary education, pupils in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 3.99 million | — |
| 1975 | 4.64 million | +16.2% |
| 1977 | 4.32 million | -6.7% |
| 1978 | 4.14 million | -4.2% |
| 1979 | 4.27 million | +3.0% |
| 1981 | 4.48 million | +5.0% |
| 1982 | 4.43 million | -1.2% |
| 1986 | 4.74 million | +7.0% |
| 1987 | 4.92 million | +3.9% |
| 1988 | 5.06 million | +2.7% |
| 1989 | 6.76 million | +33.7% |
| 1990 | 6.95 million | +2.9% |
| 1991 | 7.21 million | +3.7% |
| 1994 | 7.97 million | +10.6% |
| 1995 | 8.16 million | +2.4% |
| 1997 | 8.09 million | -0.8% |
| 1998 | 8.00 million | -1.1% |
| 1999 | 7.94 million | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 7.44 million | -6.2% |
| 2001 | 7.41 million | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 7.47 million | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 7.47 million | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 7.44 million | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 7.31 million | -1.7% |
| 2006 | 7.26 million | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 7.31 million | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 7.23 million | -1.1% |
| 2009 | 7.13 million | -1.4% |
| 2010 | 7.02 million | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 6.96 million | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 7.00 million | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 7.06 million | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 7.20 million | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 7.56 million | +5.0% |
| 2016 | 7.51 million | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 7.53 million | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 7.57 million | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 7.69 million | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 7.72 million | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 7.70 million | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 7.63 million | -0.9% |
| 2023 | 7.52 million | -1.4% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 7.52 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 519,452, 14.5× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 7.52 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.40 million, 3.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Primary education, pupils 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% | 5.06 million | 6.76 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4.27 million | 3.99 million | 4.64 million | 5 |
| 1980s | 5.06 million | 4.43 million | 6.76 million | 6 |
| 1990s | 7.76 million | 6.95 million | 8.16 million | 7 |
| 2000s | 7.35 million | 7.13 million | 7.47 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.31 million | 6.96 million | 7.69 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.64 million | 7.52 million | 7.72 million | 4 |
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 primary education, pupils in South Africa?
- Primary education, pupils in South Africa was 7.52 million in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest primary education, pupils recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 8.16 million in 1995.
- What is the lowest primary education, pupils recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.99 million in 1970.
- How does South Africa rank for primary education, pupils?
- South Africa ranks 21st out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is primary education, pupils 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 Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Primary education, pupils. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Primary education pupils is the total number of pupils enrolled at primary level in public and private schools.