Secondary education, pupils in South Africa
South Africa: Secondary education, pupils was 51.7% in 2017. ▼ Falling
Secondary education, pupils in South Africa, 1989–2017
Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % female.
Analysis
The most recent figure for secondary education, pupils in South Africa is 51.7%, measured in 2017.
That represents a change of down 0.4% on the previous year and up 1.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, secondary education, pupils in South Africa peaked at 54.1% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 49.3%, in 2015.
That places South Africa 23rd out of 203 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.
Secondary education, pupils in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % female | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 53.3% | — |
| 1990 | 53.8% | +0.9% |
| 1991 | 54.1% | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 53.5% | -1.0% |
| 1998 | 53.1% | -0.9% |
| 1999 | 52.9% | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 52.4% | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 52.2% | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 51.7% | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 51.5% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 51.5% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 51.4% | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 51.3% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 51.0% | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 50.8% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 51.0% | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 51.1% | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 51.0% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 51.1% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 51.9% | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 49.3% | -5.0% |
| 2016 | 51.9% | +5.3% |
| 2017 | 51.7% | -0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 53.3% | 53.3% | 53.3% | 1 |
| 1990s | 53.5% | 52.9% | 54.1% | 5 |
| 2000s | 51.5% | 50.8% | 52.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 51.1% | 49.3% | 51.9% | 7 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More education data for South Africa
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 5.50 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 2.22 % change on previous year (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 287,310 (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 13.45 % change on previous year (2015)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 2.82 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.53 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.68 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 2.97 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 818,404 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 3.28 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is secondary education, pupils in South Africa?
- Secondary education, pupils in South Africa was 51.7% in 2017, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest secondary education, pupils recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 54.1% in 1991.
- What is the lowest secondary education, pupils recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 49.3% in 2015.
- How does South Africa rank for secondary education, pupils?
- South Africa ranks 23rd out of 203 countries with data for 2017.
- Is secondary education, pupils rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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, pupils (% female). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Female pupils as a percentage of total pupils at secondary level includes enrollments in public and private schools.