Share of children in primary school age who are in school in South Africa
South Africa: Share of children in primary school age who are in school was 93.9% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Share of children in primary school age who are in school in South Africa, 1820–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 93.9% for share of children in primary school age who are in school in 2023.
The figure is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 1.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of children in primary school age who are in school in South Africa peaked at 96.2% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 4.0%, 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.
Share of children in primary school age who are in school in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 4.0% | — |
| 1825 | 4.9% | +21.2% |
| 1830 | 5.9% | +20.8% |
| 1835 | 7.1% | +20.6% |
| 1840 | 8.5% | +20.2% |
| 1845 | 10.2% | +20.0% |
| 1850 | 12.2% | +19.5% |
| 1855 | 14.5% | +18.9% |
| 1860 | 17.2% | +18.4% |
| 1865 | 20.2% | +17.7% |
| 1870 | 23.6% | +17.0% |
| 1875 | 29.2% | +23.7% |
| 1880 | 34.9% | +19.2% |
| 1885 | 24.1% | -30.8% |
| 1890 | 13.4% | -44.4% |
| 1895 | 13.8% | +2.8% |
| 1900 | 14.2% | +2.8% |
| 1905 | 17.1% | +20.9% |
| 1910 | 20.1% | +17.3% |
| 1915 | 25.2% | +25.3% |
| 1920 | 30.3% | +20.2% |
| 1925 | 30.7% | +1.2% |
| 1930 | 31.0% | +1.2% |
| 1935 | 31.8% | +2.5% |
| 1940 | 36.6% | +14.9% |
| 1945 | 38.9% | +6.3% |
| 1950 | 40.8% | +5.0% |
| 1955 | 39.9% | -2.2% |
| 1960 | 60.2% | +50.9% |
| 1965 | 60.9% | +1.1% |
| 1970 | 67.8% | +11.2% |
| 1975 | 67.7% | -0.1% |
| 1980 | 67.7% | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 85.7% | +26.7% |
| 1994 | 83.5% | -2.6% |
| 1995 | 82.0% | -1.8% |
| 1998 | 81.8% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 83.1% | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 82.2% | -1.1% |
| 2001 | 83.3% | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 84.9% | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 86.0% | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 86.7% | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 87.0% | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 95.1% | +9.3% |
| 2017 | 93.7% | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 90.7% | -3.2% |
| 2019 | 91.7% | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 91.9% | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 96.2% | +4.7% |
| 2022 | 94.2% | -2.0% |
| 2023 | 93.9% | -0.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 93.9% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 96.0%, 98% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 93.9% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 84.5%, 1.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of children in primary school age who are in school 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% | 39.9% | 60.2% |
| 1890 | -44.4% | 24.1% | 13.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1820s | 4.4% | 4.0% | 4.9% | 2 |
| 1830s | 6.5% | 5.9% | 7.1% | 2 |
| 1840s | 9.4% | 8.5% | 10.2% | 2 |
| 1850s | 13.4% | 12.2% | 14.5% | 2 |
| 1860s | 18.7% | 17.2% | 20.2% | 2 |
| 1870s | 26.4% | 23.6% | 29.2% | 2 |
| 1880s | 29.5% | 24.1% | 34.9% | 2 |
| 1890s | 13.6% | 13.4% | 13.8% | 2 |
| 1900s | 15.7% | 14.2% | 17.1% | 2 |
| 1910s | 22.7% | 20.1% | 25.2% | 2 |
| 1920s | 30.5% | 30.3% | 30.7% | 2 |
| 1930s | 31.4% | 31.0% | 31.8% | 2 |
| 1940s | 37.7% | 36.6% | 38.9% | 2 |
| 1950s | 40.4% | 39.9% | 40.8% | 2 |
| 1960s | 60.6% | 60.2% | 60.9% | 2 |
| 1970s | 67.7% | 67.7% | 67.8% | 2 |
| 1980s | 67.7% | 67.7% | 67.7% | 1 |
| 1990s | 83.2% | 81.8% | 85.7% | 5 |
| 2000s | 85.0% | 82.2% | 87.0% | 6 |
| 2010s | 92.8% | 90.7% | 95.1% | 4 |
| 2020s | 94.0% | 91.9% | 96.2% | 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 share of children in primary school age who are in school in South Africa?
- Share of children in primary school age who are in school in South Africa was 93.9% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of children in primary school age who are in school recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 96.2% in 2021.
- What is the lowest share of children in primary school age who are in school recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.0% in 1820.
- How does South Africa rank for share of children in primary school age who are in school?
- South Africa ranks 131st out of 209 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of children in primary school age who are in school 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 UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of children in primary school age who are in school. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of children of primary school age (typically 6–11 years) who are enrolled in primary education.