Proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex in South Africa
South Africa: Proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex was 34.6% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
34.6%
Change on year
up 1.9%
World rank
7th
of 129 countries
All-time high
36.6%
in 2003
All-time low
30.5%
in 2015
Years of data
21
2000–2024
Proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 34.6% for proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex in 2024.
That represents a change of up 1.9% on the previous year and up 10.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex in South Africa peaked at 36.6% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 30.5%, in 2015.
South Africa ranks 7th of 129 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 21 years of available data.
Proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 31.8% | — |
| 2001 | 34.6% | +9.0% |
| 2002 | 35.7% | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 36.6% | +2.5% |
| 2004 | 35.4% | -3.3% |
| 2005 | 34.4% | -2.7% |
| 2006 | 33.4% | -3.0% |
| 2007 | 32.6% | -2.2% |
| 2011 | 35.9% | +10.1% |
| 2013 | 32.0% | -11.0% |
| 2014 | 31.3% | -2.1% |
| 2015 | 30.5% | -2.6% |
| 2016 | 31.2% | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 31.0% | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 31.6% | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 32.5% | +2.9% |
| 2020 | 32.4% | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 32.9% | +1.7% |
| 2022 | 35.2% | +6.8% |
| 2023 | 34.0% | -3.4% |
| 2024 | 34.6% | +1.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 34.6% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 18.9%, 1.8× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 34.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 25.9%, 1.3× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 34.3% | 31.8% | 36.6% | 8 |
| 2010s | 32.0% | 30.5% | 35.9% | 8 |
| 2020s | 33.8% | 32.4% | 35.2% | 5 |
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 youth not in education, employment or training, by sex in South Africa?
- Proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex in South Africa was 34.6% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 36.6% in 2003.
- What is the lowest proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 30.5% in 2015.
- How does South Africa rank for proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex?
- South Africa ranks 7th out of 129 countries with data for 2024.
- Is proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex and age - 13th ICLS (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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