School enrollment, primary, private in South Africa
South Africa: School enrollment, primary, private was 5.8% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
School enrollment, primary, private in South Africa, 1986–2023
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of total primary.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school enrollment, primary, private in South Africa is 5.8%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 0.1% on the previous year and up 50.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school enrollment, primary, private in South Africa peaked at 5.8% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 0.6%, in 1986.
South Africa ranks 142nd of 202 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
School enrollment, primary, private in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of total primary | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 0.6% | — |
| 1987 | 1.0% | +54.4% |
| 1988 | 0.9% | -2.1% |
| 1989 | 0.8% | -14.5% |
| 1990 | 0.8% | -0.8% |
| 1991 | 0.8% | -2.1% |
| 1994 | 1.1% | +35.5% |
| 1995 | 1.0% | -2.9% |
| 1999 | 1.7% | +63.9% |
| 2000 | 1.7% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 2.0% | +17.6% |
| 2002 | 1.9% | -3.5% |
| 2003 | 2.0% | +5.7% |
| 2004 | 2.0% | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 2.2% | +5.7% |
| 2006 | 2.5% | +13.8% |
| 2007 | 2.5% | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 2.7% | +8.3% |
| 2009 | 2.9% | +7.4% |
| 2010 | 3.3% | +14.8% |
| 2011 | 3.5% | +6.2% |
| 2012 | 3.7% | +5.9% |
| 2013 | 3.8% | +3.2% |
| 2014 | 4.1% | +6.0% |
| 2016 | 4.5% | +10.5% |
| 2017 | 3.1% | -29.9% |
| 2018 | 4.8% | +51.1% |
| 2019 | 5.0% | +5.2% |
| 2020 | 5.3% | +5.9% |
| 2021 | 5.5% | +4.0% |
| 2022 | 5.8% | +5.1% |
| 2023 | 5.8% | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.8% | 0.6% | 1.0% | 4 |
| 1990s | 1.1% | 0.8% | 1.7% | 5 |
| 2000s | 2.2% | 1.7% | 2.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.0% | 3.1% | 5.0% | 9 |
| 2020s | 5.6% | 5.3% | 5.8% | 4 |
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 school enrollment, primary, private in South Africa?
- School enrollment, primary, private in South Africa was 5.8% in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest school enrollment, primary, private recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 5.8% in 2022.
- What is the lowest school enrollment, primary, private recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.6% in 1986.
- How does South Africa rank for school enrollment, primary, private?
- South Africa ranks 142nd out of 202 countries with data for 2023.
- Is school enrollment, primary, private rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 50.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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, private (% of total primary). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Private enrollment refers to pupils or students enrolled in institutions that are not operated by a public authority but controlled and managed, whether for profit or not, by a private body such as a nongovernmental organization, religious body, special interest group, foundation or business enterprise.