Proportion of 15- to 24-year-olds enrolled in vocational education in South Africa
South Africa: Proportion of 15- to 24-year-olds enrolled in vocational education was 4.3% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Proportion of 15- to 24-year-olds enrolled in vocational education in South Africa, 1994–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for proportion of 15- to 24-year-olds enrolled in vocational education in South Africa is 4.3%, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 11.6% on the previous year and up 83.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of 15- to 24-year-olds enrolled in vocational education in South Africa peaked at 5.1% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 0.6%, in 1994.
That places South Africa 93rd out of 183 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Proportion of 15- to 24-year-olds enrolled in vocational education in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 0.6% | — |
| 1999 | 1.3% | +119.4% |
| 2000 | 1.6% | +21.0% |
| 2001 | 1.8% | +9.1% |
| 2002 | 1.9% | +6.5% |
| 2003 | 1.9% | +3.3% |
| 2004 | 2.0% | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 1.6% | -19.3% |
| 2015 | 2.3% | +44.2% |
| 2017 | 5.1% | +119.2% |
| 2018 | 4.9% | -4.2% |
| 2019 | 5.0% | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 3.4% | -31.2% |
| 2021 | 4.3% | +23.3% |
| 2022 | 3.8% | -10.1% |
| 2023 | 4.3% | +11.6% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 4.3% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.6%, 76% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 4.3% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.2%, 3.5× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.0% | 0.6% | 1.3% | 2 |
| 2000s | 1.8% | 1.6% | 2.0% | 6 |
| 2010s | 4.3% | 2.3% | 5.1% | 4 |
| 2020s | 3.9% | 3.4% | 4.3% | 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 proportion of 15- to 24-year-olds enrolled in vocational education in South Africa?
- Proportion of 15- to 24-year-olds enrolled in vocational education in South Africa was 4.3% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest proportion of 15- to 24-year-olds enrolled in vocational education recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 5.1% in 2017.
- What is the lowest proportion of 15- to 24-year-olds enrolled in vocational education recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.6% in 1994.
- How does South Africa rank for proportion of 15- to 24-year-olds enrolled in vocational education?
- South Africa ranks 93rd out of 183 countries with data for 2023.
- Is proportion of 15- to 24-year-olds enrolled in vocational education rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 83.8%. 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, published as part of Proportion of 15- to 24-year-olds enrolled in vocational education, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release