School enrollment, preprimary, female in South Africa

South Africa: School enrollment, preprimary, female was 17.7% in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
17.7%
Change on year
down 1.3%
World rank
170th
of 194 countries
All-time high
31.6%
in 1996
All-time low
5.3%
in 1999
Years of data
15
1994–2020

School enrollment, preprimary, female in South Africa, 1994–2020

1020301994200720201994: 26.7 % gross1996: 31.6 % gross1998: 23.9 % gross1999: 5.3 % gross2010: 18.6 % gross2011: 18.8 % gross2012: 18.9 % gross2013: 18.5 % gross2014: 19 % gross2015: 18.7 % gross2016: 18.2 % gross2017: 18.5 % gross2018: 17.7 % gross2019: 17.9 % gross2020: 17.7 % gross

Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % gross.

Analysis

The most recent figure for school enrollment, preprimary, female in South Africa is 17.7%, measured in 2020.

That represents a change of down 1.3% on the previous year and down 4.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, school enrollment, preprimary, female in South Africa peaked at 31.6% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 5.3%, in 1999.

South Africa ranks 170th of 194 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.

School enrollment, preprimary, female in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for School enrollment, preprimary, female (% gross) in South Africa, 1994 to 2020.
Year % gross Change
1994 26.7%
1996 31.6% +18.4%
1998 23.9% -24.2%
1999 5.3% -78.0%
2010 18.6% +254.1%
2011 18.8% +1.0%
2012 18.9% +0.6%
2013 18.5% -2.2%
2014 19.0% +2.6%
2015 18.7% -1.3%
2016 18.2% -2.8%
2017 18.5% +1.5%
2018 17.7% -4.3%
2019 17.9% +1.2%
2020 17.7% -1.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 21.9% 5.3% 31.6% 4
2010s 18.5% 17.7% 19.0% 10
2020s 17.7% 17.7% 17.7% 1

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 167 Guinea 19.4% compare
  2. 168 Saudi Arabia 19.0% compare
  3. 169 Senegal 18.8% compare
  4. 171 Burundi 16.7% compare
  5. 172 Congo 14.9% compare
  6. 173 Uganda 14.7% compare

See the full ranking of 239 places →

More education data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is school enrollment, preprimary, female in South Africa?
School enrollment, preprimary, female in South Africa was 17.7% in 2020, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest school enrollment, preprimary, female recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 31.6% in 1996.
What is the lowest school enrollment, preprimary, female recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 5.3% in 1999.
How does South Africa rank for school enrollment, preprimary, female?
South Africa ranks 170th out of 194 countries with data for 2020.
Is school enrollment, preprimary, female rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 4.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of School enrollment, preprimary, female (% gross). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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School enrollment, preprimary, female in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/school-enrollment-preprimary-female-percent-gross/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
School enrollment, preprimary, female (% gross)
Unit
% gross
Source
Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
239 places, 7,379 data points, 1970–2022
Last refreshed

Gross enrollment ratio is the ratio of total enrollment, regardless of age, to the population of the age group that officially corresponds to the level of education shown. Preprimary education refers to programs at the initial stage of organized instruction, designed primarily to introduce very young children to a school-type environment and to provide a bridge between home and school.