School enrollment, secondary, female in South Africa

South Africa: School enrollment, secondary, female was 107.5% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
107.5%
Change on year
down 1.1%
World rank
34th
of 202 countries
All-time high
111.1%
in 2021
All-time low
69.6%
in 1989
Years of data
29
1989–2023

School enrollment, secondary, female in South Africa, 1989–2023

02550751001989200620231989: 69.6 % gross1990: 74.7 % gross1991: 80.2 % gross1994: 96 % gross1998: 88.2 % gross1999: 84.5 % gross2000: 78.8 % gross2001: 78 % gross2002: 77.8 % gross2003: 78.7 % gross2004: 81.7 % gross2005: 83.7 % gross2006: 87 % gross2007: 88.4 % gross2008: 86.6 % gross2009: 88.9 % gross2010: 89.8 % gross2011: 92 % gross2012: 95.4 % gross2014: 106.2 % gross2015: 104.5 % gross2016: 109.7 % gross2017: 110.6 % gross2018: 105.5 % gross2019: 107.6 % gross2020: 108.5 % gross2021: 111.1 % gross2022: 108.7 % gross2023: 107.5 % gross

Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % gross.

Analysis

In 2023, school enrollment, secondary, female in South Africa stood at 107.5%.

That represents a change of down 1.1% on the previous year and up 12.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, school enrollment, secondary, female in South Africa peaked at 111.1% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 69.6%, in 1989.

South Africa ranks 34th of 202 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 29 years of available data.

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

Annual values for School enrollment, secondary, female (% gross) in South Africa, 1989 to 2023.
Year % gross Change
1989 69.6%
1990 74.7% +7.2%
1991 80.2% +7.5%
1994 96.0% +19.6%
1998 88.2% -8.1%
1999 84.5% -4.3%
2000 78.8% -6.7%
2001 78.0% -1.0%
2002 77.8% -0.3%
2003 78.7% +1.1%
2004 81.7% +3.8%
2005 83.7% +2.4%
2006 87.0% +4.0%
2007 88.4% +1.6%
2008 86.6% -2.1%
2009 88.9% +2.7%
2010 89.8% +1.0%
2011 92.0% +2.5%
2012 95.4% +3.7%
2014 106.2% +11.3%
2015 104.5% -1.6%
2016 109.7% +4.9%
2017 110.6% +0.9%
2018 105.5% -4.6%
2019 107.6% +1.9%
2020 108.5% +0.8%
2021 111.1% +2.4%
2022 108.7% -2.2%
2023 107.5% -1.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 69.6% 69.6% 69.6% 1
1990s 84.7% 74.7% 96.0% 5
2000s 82.9% 77.8% 88.9% 10
2010s 102.4% 89.8% 110.6% 9
2020s 108.9% 107.5% 111.1% 4

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 31 Slovenia 108.6% compare
  2. 32 Croatia 108.5% compare
  3. 33 Argentina 108.0% compare
  4. 35 Poland 107.2% compare
  5. 36 Cyprus 106.7% compare
  6. 37 Albania 106.7% compare

See the full ranking of 247 places →

More education data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is school enrollment, secondary, female in South Africa?
School enrollment, secondary, female in South Africa was 107.5% in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest school enrollment, secondary, female recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 111.1% in 2021.
What is the lowest school enrollment, secondary, female recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 69.6% in 1989.
How does South Africa rank for school enrollment, secondary, female?
South Africa ranks 34th out of 202 countries with data for 2023.
Is school enrollment, secondary, female rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 12.6%. 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, secondary, female (% gross). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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School enrollment, secondary, female in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 01 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/school-enrollment-secondary-female-percent-gross/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
School enrollment, secondary, female (% gross)
Unit
% gross
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
247 places, 7,693 data points, 1970–2025
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. Secondary education completes the provision of basic education that began at the primary level, and aims at laying the foundations for lifelong learning and human development, by offering more subject- or skill-oriented instruction using more specialized teachers.