School enrollment, primary, male in South Africa

South Africa: School enrollment, primary, male was 87.3% in 2017. ▲ Rising

Latest (2017)
87.3%
World rank
116th
of 167 countries
All-time high
88.9%
in 2004
All-time low
67.1%
in 1970
Years of data
13
1970–2017

School enrollment, primary, male in South Africa, 1970–2017

0204060801970199320171970: 67.1 % net1991: 85.3 % net1994: 88.1 % net1995: 88.6 % net1998: 84.8 % net1999: 86.2 % net2000: 85.6 % net2001: 86.2 % net2002: 86.9 % net2003: 88.6 % net2004: 88.9 % net2005: 88.4 % net2017: 87.3 % net

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

Analysis

South Africa recorded 87.3% for school enrollment, primary, male in 2017.

The figure is down 1.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, school enrollment, primary, male in South Africa peaked at 88.9% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 67.1%, in 1970.

That places South Africa 116th out of 167 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.

School enrollment, primary, male in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for School enrollment, primary, male (% net) in South Africa, 1970 to 2017.
Year % net Change
1970 67.1%
1991 85.3% +27.1%
1994 88.1% +3.3%
1995 88.6% +0.7%
1998 84.8% -4.4%
1999 86.2% +1.7%
2000 85.6% -0.7%
2001 86.2% +0.6%
2002 86.9% +0.8%
2003 88.6% +2.0%
2004 88.9% +0.3%
2005 88.4% -0.5%
2017 87.3% -1.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 67.1% 67.1% 67.1% 1
1990s 86.6% 84.8% 88.6% 5
2000s 87.4% 85.6% 88.9% 6
2010s 87.3% 87.3% 87.3% 1

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 113 Ethiopia 87.7% compare
  2. 114 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 87.5% compare
  3. 115 Bhutan 87.5% compare
  4. 117 Botswana 87.2% compare
  5. 118 Paraguay 87.1% compare
  6. 119 Guatemala 86.7% compare

See the full ranking of 210 places →

More education data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is school enrollment, primary, male in South Africa?
School enrollment, primary, male in South Africa was 87.3% in 2017, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest school enrollment, primary, male recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 88.9% in 2004.
What is the lowest school enrollment, primary, male recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 67.1% in 1970.
How does South Africa rank for school enrollment, primary, male?
South Africa ranks 116th out of 167 countries with data for 2017.
Is school enrollment, primary, male rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 1.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
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, primary, male (% net). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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School enrollment, primary, male in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 30 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/school-enrollment-primary-male-percent-net/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
School enrollment, primary, male (% net)
Unit
% net
Source
Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
210 places, 4,825 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Net enrollment rate is the ratio of children of official school age who are enrolled in school to the population of the corresponding official school age. 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.