Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled in South Africa
South Africa: Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled was 93.94 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled in South Africa, 1820–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived).
Analysis
In 2023, primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled in South Africa stood at 93.94.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 1.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled in South Africa peaked at 96.19 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 4.01, in 1820.
South Africa ranks 131st of 209 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 4.01 | — |
| 1825 | 4.86 | +21.2% |
| 1830 | 5.87 | +20.8% |
| 1835 | 7.08 | +20.6% |
| 1840 | 8.51 | +20.2% |
| 1845 | 10.21 | +20.0% |
| 1850 | 12.2 | +19.5% |
| 1855 | 14.51 | +18.9% |
| 1860 | 17.18 | +18.4% |
| 1865 | 20.22 | +17.7% |
| 1870 | 23.65 | +17.0% |
| 1875 | 29.25 | +23.7% |
| 1880 | 34.86 | +19.2% |
| 1885 | 24.13 | -30.8% |
| 1890 | 13.41 | -44.4% |
| 1895 | 13.79 | +2.8% |
| 1900 | 14.18 | +2.8% |
| 1905 | 17.15 | +20.9% |
| 1910 | 20.12 | +17.3% |
| 1915 | 25.21 | +25.3% |
| 1920 | 30.29 | +20.2% |
| 1925 | 30.66 | +1.2% |
| 1930 | 31.04 | +1.2% |
| 1935 | 31.82 | +2.5% |
| 1940 | 36.56 | +14.9% |
| 1945 | 38.86 | +6.3% |
| 1950 | 40.82 | +5.0% |
| 1955 | 39.92 | -2.2% |
| 1960 | 60.23 | +50.9% |
| 1965 | 60.91 | +1.1% |
| 1970 | 67.75 | +11.2% |
| 1975 | 67.68 | -0.1% |
| 1980 | 67.68 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 85.73 | +26.7% |
| 1992 | 84.99 | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 84.24 | -0.9% |
| 1994 | 83.49 | -0.9% |
| 1995 | 82.01 | -1.8% |
| 1996 | 81.95 | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 81.88 | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 81.82 | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 83.09 | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 82.21 | -1.1% |
| 2001 | 83.31 | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 84.86 | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 85.98 | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 86.68 | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 86.98 | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 95.09 | +9.3% |
| 2016 | 94.41 | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 93.72 | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 90.69 | -3.2% |
| 2019 | 91.7 | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 91.85 | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 96.19 | +4.7% |
| 2022 | 94.22 | -2.0% |
| 2023 | 93.94 | -0.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 93.94 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 96.04, 98% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 93.94 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 84.45, 1.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | +50.9% | 39.92 | 60.23 |
| 1890 | -44.4% | 24.13 | 13.41 |
| 1885 | -30.8% | 34.86 | 24.13 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1820s | 4.44 | 4.01 | 4.86 | 2 |
| 1830s | 6.47 | 5.87 | 7.08 | 2 |
| 1840s | 9.36 | 8.51 | 10.21 | 2 |
| 1850s | 13.36 | 12.2 | 14.51 | 2 |
| 1860s | 18.7 | 17.18 | 20.22 | 2 |
| 1870s | 26.45 | 23.65 | 29.25 | 2 |
| 1880s | 29.49 | 24.13 | 34.86 | 2 |
| 1890s | 13.6 | 13.41 | 13.79 | 2 |
| 1900s | 15.66 | 14.18 | 17.15 | 2 |
| 1910s | 22.66 | 20.12 | 25.21 | 2 |
| 1920s | 30.48 | 30.29 | 30.66 | 2 |
| 1930s | 31.43 | 31.04 | 31.82 | 2 |
| 1940s | 37.71 | 36.56 | 38.86 | 2 |
| 1950s | 40.37 | 39.92 | 40.82 | 2 |
| 1960s | 60.57 | 60.23 | 60.91 | 2 |
| 1970s | 67.72 | 67.68 | 67.75 | 2 |
| 1980s | 67.68 | 67.68 | 67.68 | 1 |
| 1990s | 83.25 | 81.82 | 85.73 | 9 |
| 2000s | 85 | 82.21 | 86.98 | 6 |
| 2010s | 93.12 | 90.69 | 95.09 | 5 |
| 2020s | 94.05 | 91.85 | 96.19 | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More education data for South Africa
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 94.05 (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)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled in South Africa?
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled in South Africa was 93.94 in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 96.19 in 2021.
- What is the lowest primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.01 in 1820.
- How does South Africa rank for primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled?
- South Africa ranks 131st out of 209 countries with data for 2023.
- Is primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 57 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Primary enrollment selected countries with 711 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.
Computed from
- Share of children in primary school age who are in school UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
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 enrollment selected countries with 711 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.