School enrollment, primary, female in South Africa
South Africa: School enrollment, primary, female was 99.2% in 2023. ▲ Rising
School enrollment, primary, female in South Africa, 1970–2023
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % gross.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school enrollment, primary, female in South Africa is 99.2%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 3.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school enrollment, primary, female in South Africa peaked at 106.3% in 1989 and was at its lowest, 79.4%, in 1986.
That places South Africa 108th out of 203 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
School enrollment, primary, female in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % gross | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 101.0% | — |
| 1986 | 79.4% | -21.4% |
| 1987 | 80.7% | +1.6% |
| 1988 | 81.1% | +0.5% |
| 1989 | 106.3% | +31.0% |
| 1990 | 105.7% | -0.6% |
| 1991 | 104.8% | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 101.8% | -2.8% |
| 1995 | 101.3% | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 97.9% | -3.4% |
| 1998 | 97.1% | -0.8% |
| 1999 | 96.9% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 91.1% | -6.0% |
| 2001 | 92.5% | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 94.9% | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 96.0% | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 96.6% | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 96.4% | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 97.4% | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 100.2% | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 101.5% | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 101.5% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 102.2% | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 102.6% | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 103.2% | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 102.5% | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 102.7% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 104.2% | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 102.0% | -2.1% |
| 2017 | 100.1% | -1.9% |
| 2018 | 98.7% | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 99.3% | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 98.9% | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 99.3% | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 99.7% | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 99.2% | -0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 101.0% | 101.0% | 101.0% | 1 |
| 1980s | 86.9% | 79.4% | 106.3% | 4 |
| 1990s | 100.8% | 96.9% | 105.7% | 7 |
| 2000s | 96.8% | 91.1% | 101.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 101.7% | 98.7% | 104.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 99.3% | 98.9% | 99.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More education data for South Africa
- 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)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 7.52 million (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -1.44 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita 0.119 units per person (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 3.65 million (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school enrollment, primary, female in South Africa?
- School enrollment, primary, female in South Africa was 99.2% in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest school enrollment, primary, female recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 106.3% in 1989.
- What is the lowest school enrollment, primary, female recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 79.4% in 1986.
- How does South Africa rank for school enrollment, primary, female?
- South Africa ranks 108th out of 203 countries with data for 2023.
- Is school enrollment, primary, female rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of School enrollment, primary, female (% gross). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
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. Primary education provides children with basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills along with an elementary understanding of such subjects as history, geography, natural science, social science, art, and music.