School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes in South Africa
South Africa: School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes was 13.54 years in 2018. ▲ Rising
School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes in South Africa, 1989–2018
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in years.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes in South Africa is 13.54 years, measured in 2018.
That represents a change of down 1.9% on the previous year and up 0.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes in South Africa peaked at 14.02 years in 2016 and was at its lowest, 11.27 years, in 1989.
That places South Africa 89th out of 183 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.
School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes in South Africa, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 11.27 years | — |
| 1990 | 11.41 years | +1.3% |
| 1991 | 12.01 years | +5.2% |
| 1994 | 12.89 years | +7.4% |
| 2012 | 13.5 years | +4.7% |
| 2014 | 14 years | +3.7% |
| 2016 | 14.02 years | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 13.79 years | -1.6% |
| 2018 | 13.54 years | -1.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 11.27 years | 11.27 years | 11.27 years | 1 |
| 1990s | 12.1 years | 11.41 years | 12.89 years | 3 |
| 2010s | 13.77 years | 13.5 years | 14.02 years | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 86 Aruba 13.69 years compare
- 87 Malaysia 13.68 years compare
- 88 Indonesia 13.61 years compare
- 90 North Macedonia 13.51 years compare
- 91 Azerbaijan 13.47 years compare
- 92 Palestine, State of 13.41 years compare
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 life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes in South Africa?
- School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes in South Africa was 13.54 years in 2018, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest school life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 14.02 years in 2016.
- What is the lowest school life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.27 years in 1989.
- How does South Africa rank for school life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes?
- South Africa ranks 89th out of 183 countries with data for 2018.
- Is school life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.3%. 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 life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes (years). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Expected years of schooling is the number of years a child of school entrance age is expected to spend at school, or university, including years spent on repetition. It is the sum of the age-specific enrolment ratios for primary, secondary, post-secondary non-tertiary and tertiary education.