School age population, pre-primary education, both sexes in South Africa
South Africa: School age population, pre-primary education, both sexes was 4.71 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
4.71 million
Change on year
up 3.8%
World rank
14th
of 222 countries
All-time high
4.71 million
in 2025
All-time low
640,699
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
School age population, pre-primary education, both sexes in South Africa, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 4.71 million for school age population, pre-primary education, both sexes in 2025. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.8% on the previous year and up 5.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school age population, pre-primary education, both sexes in South Africa peaked at 4.71 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 640,699, in 1970.
South Africa ranks 14th of 222 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
School age population, pre-primary education, both sexes in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 640,699 | — |
| 1971 | 659,898 | +3.0% |
| 1972 | 688,516 | +4.3% |
| 1973 | 709,954 | +3.1% |
| 1974 | 730,515 | +2.9% |
| 1975 | 751,940 | +2.9% |
| 1976 | 769,435 | +2.3% |
| 1977 | 790,968 | +2.8% |
| 1978 | 808,317 | +2.2% |
| 1979 | 824,805 | +2.0% |
| 1980 | 835,304 | +1.3% |
| 1981 | 842,825 | +0.9% |
| 1982 | 861,494 | +2.2% |
| 1983 | 886,465 | +2.9% |
| 1984 | 919,226 | +3.7% |
| 1985 | 958,413 | +4.3% |
| 1986 | 977,338 | +2.0% |
| 1987 | 1.01 million | +3.1% |
| 1988 | 1.05 million | +4.5% |
| 1989 | 1.10 million | +4.6% |
| 1990 | 1.14 million | +3.7% |
| 1991 | 1.18 million | +3.1% |
| 1992 | 1.18 million | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 1.17 million | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 1.14 million | -2.7% |
| 1995 | 1.14 million | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 1.11 million | -2.3% |
| 1997 | 1.12 million | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 1.13 million | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 4.36 million | +286.5% |
| 2000 | 4.31 million | -1.1% |
| 2001 | 4.21 million | -2.2% |
| 2002 | 4.15 million | -1.5% |
| 2003 | 4.04 million | -2.6% |
| 2004 | 3.93 million | -2.9% |
| 2005 | 3.85 million | -2.0% |
| 2006 | 3.78 million | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 3.76 million | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 3.83 million | +1.7% |
| 2009 | 3.94 million | +2.9% |
| 2010 | 4.09 million | +3.9% |
| 2011 | 4.22 million | +3.3% |
| 2012 | 4.39 million | +4.0% |
| 2013 | 4.45 million | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 4.46 million | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 4.48 million | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 4.47 million | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 4.47 million | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 4.47 million | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 4.41 million | -1.3% |
| 2020 | 4.30 million | -2.4% |
| 2021 | 4.24 million | -1.5% |
| 2022 | 4.25 million | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 4.39 million | +3.3% |
| 2024 | 4.54 million | +3.4% |
| 2025 | 4.71 million | +3.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 737,505 | 640,699 | 824,805 | 10 |
| 1980s | 944,458 | 835,304 | 1.10 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.47 million | 1.11 million | 4.36 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.98 million | 3.76 million | 4.31 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.39 million | 4.09 million | 4.48 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.40 million | 4.24 million | 4.71 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More education data for South Africa
- 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)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school age population, pre-primary education, both sexes in South Africa?
- School age population, pre-primary education, both sexes in South Africa was 4.71 million in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school age population, pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 4.71 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest school age population, pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 640,699 in 1970.
- How does South Africa rank for school age population, pre-primary education, both sexes?
- South Africa ranks 14th out of 222 countries with data for 2025.
- Is school age population, pre-primary education, both sexes rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.1%. 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 School age population, pre-primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release