Secondary education, general pupils in South Africa

South Africa: Secondary education, general pupils was 51.9% in 2017. ▬ Flat

Latest (2017)
51.9%
Change on year
down 0.3%
World rank
30th
of 204 countries
All-time high
54.4%
in 1995
All-time low
48.8%
in 1970
Years of data
30
1970–2017

Secondary education, general pupils in South Africa, 1970–2017

02040601970199320171970: 48.8 % female1986: 51.9 % female1987: 52.2 % female1988: 52.4 % female1989: 53.5 % female1990: 54 % female1991: 54.3 % female1992: 53.3 % female1993: 53.3 % female1994: 53.7 % female1995: 54.4 % female1998: 53.4 % female1999: 53.2 % female2000: 52.9 % female2001: 52.7 % female2002: 52.4 % female2003: 52.2 % female2004: 52.3 % female2005: 52 % female2006: 51.9 % female2007: 51.6 % female2008: 51.4 % female2009: 51.6 % female2010: 51.4 % female2011: 51.3 % female2012: 51.5 % female2014: 52.3 % female2015: 49.4 % female2016: 52.1 % female2017: 51.9 % female

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for secondary education, general pupils in South Africa is 51.9%, measured in 2017.

That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and up 0.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, secondary education, general pupils in South Africa peaked at 54.4% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 48.8%, in 1970.

South Africa ranks 30th of 204 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

Secondary education, general pupils in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Secondary education, general pupils (% female) in South Africa, 1970 to 2017.
Year % female Change
1970 48.8%
1986 51.9% +6.3%
1987 52.2% +0.6%
1988 52.4% +0.5%
1989 53.5% +2.1%
1990 54.0% +0.9%
1991 54.3% +0.5%
1992 53.3% -1.8%
1993 53.3% +0.0%
1994 53.7% +0.7%
1995 54.4% +1.3%
1998 53.4% -1.8%
1999 53.2% -0.3%
2000 52.9% -0.6%
2001 52.7% -0.4%
2002 52.4% -0.7%
2003 52.2% -0.4%
2004 52.3% +0.1%
2005 52.0% -0.5%
2006 51.9% -0.2%
2007 51.6% -0.5%
2008 51.4% -0.4%
2009 51.6% +0.3%
2010 51.4% -0.2%
2011 51.3% -0.2%
2012 51.5% +0.3%
2014 52.3% +1.6%
2015 49.4% -5.6%
2016 52.1% +5.5%
2017 51.9% -0.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 48.8% 48.8% 48.8% 1
1980s 52.5% 51.9% 53.5% 4
1990s 53.7% 53.2% 54.4% 8
2000s 52.1% 51.4% 52.9% 10
2010s 51.4% 49.4% 52.3% 7

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 27 Myanmar 52.0% compare
  2. 28 Bermuda 52.0% compare
  3. 29 Senegal 52.0% compare
  4. 31 Estonia 51.9% compare
  5. 32 Croatia 51.8% compare
  6. 33 Finland 51.8% compare

See the full ranking of 247 places →

More education data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is secondary education, general pupils in South Africa?
Secondary education, general pupils in South Africa was 51.9% in 2017, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest secondary education, general pupils recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 54.4% in 1995.
What is the lowest secondary education, general pupils recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 48.8% in 1970.
How does South Africa rank for secondary education, general pupils?
South Africa ranks 30th out of 204 countries with data for 2017.
Is secondary education, general pupils rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 0.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
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 Secondary education, general pupils (% female). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Secondary education, general pupils in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 31 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/secondary-education-general-pupils-percent-female/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Secondary education, general pupils (% female)
Unit
% female
Source
Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
247 places, 8,853 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Secondary general pupils are the number of secondary students enrolled in general education programs, including teacher training.