School enrollment, secondary, female in South Africa

South Africa: School enrollment, secondary, female was 78.5% in 2017. ▲ Rising

Latest (2017)
78.5%
Change on year
down 12.6%
World rank
87th
of 152 countries
All-time high
89.9%
in 2015
All-time low
56.2%
in 1994
Years of data
10
1994–2017

School enrollment, secondary, female in South Africa, 1994–2017

0204060801994200520171994: 56.2 % net1999: 63.5 % net2000: 62.4 % net2001: 63.1 % net2002: 64.8 % net2003: 66.6 % net2004: 68.2 % net2005: 69.1 % net2015: 89.9 % net2017: 78.5 % net

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for school enrollment, secondary, female in South Africa is 78.5%, measured in 2017.

That represents a change of down 12.6% on the previous year and up 13.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, school enrollment, secondary, female in South Africa peaked at 89.9% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 56.2%, in 1994.

That places South Africa 87th out of 152 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 10 years of available data.

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

Annual values for School enrollment, secondary, female (% net) in South Africa, 1994 to 2017.
Year % net Change
1994 56.2%
1999 63.5% +13.1%
2000 62.4% -1.8%
2001 63.1% +1.1%
2002 64.8% +2.7%
2003 66.6% +2.8%
2004 68.2% +2.4%
2005 69.1% +1.3%
2015 89.9% +30.1%
2017 78.5% -12.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 59.9% 56.2% 63.5% 2
2000s 65.7% 62.4% 69.1% 6
2010s 84.2% 78.5% 89.9% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 84 Indonesia 79.9% compare
  2. 85 Puerto Rico 79.3% compare
  3. 86 Tajikistan 78.8% compare
  4. 88 Republic of Moldova 77.6% compare
  5. 89 Thailand 77.5% compare
  6. 90 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 77.0% compare

See the full ranking of 195 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 78.5% in 2017, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest school enrollment, secondary, female recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 89.9% in 2015.
What is the lowest school enrollment, secondary, female recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 56.2% in 1994.
How does South Africa rank for school enrollment, secondary, female?
South Africa ranks 87th out of 152 countries with data for 2017.
Is school enrollment, secondary, female rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 13.6%. 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, secondary, female (% net). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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School enrollment, secondary, female 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-secondary-female-percent-net/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
School enrollment, secondary, female (% 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
195 places, 3,702 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. 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.