Primary education, teachers, per capita in South Africa

South Africa: Primary education, teachers, per capita was 0.0045 units per person in 2023. ▼ Falling

Latest (2023)
0.0045 units per person
World rank
115th
of 204 countries
All-time high
0.0065 units per person
in 1991
All-time low
0.0039 units per person
in 2014
Years of data
25
1977–2023

Primary education, teachers, per capita in South Africa, 1977–2023

00.0020.0040.0061977200020231977: 0.005 units per person1978: 0.005 units per person1979: 0.005 units per person1991: 0.006 units per person1994: 0.005 units per person1995: 0.005 units per person1997: 0.004 units per person1999: 0.005 units per person2000: 0.005 units per person2001: 0.004 units per person2002: 0.004 units per person2003: 0.004 units per person2004: 0.004 units per person2005: 0.005 units per person2006: 0.004 units per person2007: 0.004 units per person2008: 0.004 units per person2009: 0.004 units per person2010: 0.005 units per person2011: 0.004 units per person2012: 0.004 units per person2013: 0.004 units per person2014: 0.004 units per person2015: 0.004 units per person2023: 0.005 units per person

Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in units per person.

Analysis

The most recent figure for primary education, teachers, per capita in South Africa is 0.0045 units per person, measured in 2023.

The figure is up 12.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, primary education, teachers, per capita in South Africa peaked at 0.0065 units per person in 1991 and was at its lowest, 0.0039 units per person, in 2014.

That places South Africa 115th out of 204 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.

Primary education, teachers, per capita in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Primary education, teachers, per capita in South Africa, 1977 to 2023.
Year units per person Change
1977 0.0054 units per person
1978 0.0052 units per person -3.6%
1979 0.0054 units per person +2.8%
1991 0.0065 units per person +20.9%
1994 0.0049 units per person -25.1%
1995 0.005 units per person +3.9%
1997 0.004 units per person -21.2%
1999 0.0047 units per person +18.8%
2000 0.0045 units per person -4.3%
2001 0.004 units per person -11.4%
2002 0.0044 units per person +10.0%
2003 0.0044 units per person -1.2%
2004 0.0043 units per person -1.8%
2005 0.0047 units per person +10.1%
2006 0.0044 units per person -6.7%
2007 0.0044 units per person -0.7%
2008 0.0043 units per person -0.8%
2009 0.0041 units per person -5.1%
2010 0.0045 units per person +10.8%
2011 0.004 units per person -11.4%
2012 0.004 units per person -1.8%
2013 0.004 units per person +2.0%
2014 0.0039 units per person -2.1%
2015 0.0044 units per person +11.2%
2023 0.0045 units per person +3.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 0.0053 units per person 0.0052 units per person 0.0054 units per person 3
1990s 0.005 units per person 0.004 units per person 0.0065 units per person 5
2000s 0.0043 units per person 0.004 units per person 0.0047 units per person 10
2010s 0.0042 units per person 0.0039 units per person 0.0045 units per person 6
2020s 0.0045 units per person 0.0045 units per person 0.0045 units per person 1

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 112 Canada 0.0046 units per person compare
  2. 113 Comoros 0.0046 units per person compare
  3. 114 Philippines 0.0046 units per person compare
  4. 116 Yemen 0.0045 units per person compare
  5. 117 Lesotho 0.0044 units per person compare
  6. 118 Mexico 0.0044 units per person compare

See the full ranking of 249 places →

More education data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is primary education, teachers, per capita in South Africa?
Primary education, teachers, per capita in South Africa was 0.0045 units per person in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest primary education, teachers, per capita recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 0.0065 units per person in 1991.
What is the lowest primary education, teachers, per capita recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 0.0039 units per person in 2014.
How does South Africa rank for primary education, teachers, per capita?
South Africa ranks 115th out of 204 countries with data for 2023.
Is primary education, teachers, per capita rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 12.7%. 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, teachers, per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Primary education, teachers, per capita in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 25 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/primary-education-teachers-per-capita/south-africa/

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How this figure is calculated

Primary education, teachers 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, teachers ÷ Population, total

Computed from

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

Indicator
Primary education, teachers, per capita
Unit
units per person
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
249 places, 9,469 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

Primary education, teachers divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.