Secondary education, vocational pupils in South Africa
South Africa: Secondary education, vocational pupils was 48.5% in 2017. ▲ Rising
Secondary education, vocational 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, vocational pupils in South Africa is 48.5%, measured in 2017.
The figure is down 2.3% on the previous year and up 18.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, secondary education, vocational pupils in South Africa peaked at 49.6% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 37.3%, in 1989.
South Africa ranks 40th of 191 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
Secondary education, vocational pupils in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % female | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 37.3% | — |
| 1990 | 38.6% | +3.4% |
| 1991 | 38.1% | -1.3% |
| 1994 | 40.7% | +6.9% |
| 1998 | 44.0% | +8.2% |
| 1999 | 44.0% | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 42.0% | -4.5% |
| 2001 | 42.0% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 40.0% | -4.8% |
| 2003 | 40.0% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 40.0% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 39.1% | -2.3% |
| 2006 | 39.9% | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 40.8% | +2.1% |
| 2008 | 41.6% | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 42.5% | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 45.1% | +6.1% |
| 2011 | 45.0% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 43.5% | -3.4% |
| 2014 | 46.8% | +7.5% |
| 2015 | 48.4% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | 49.6% | +2.5% |
| 2017 | 48.5% | -2.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 37.3% | 37.3% | 37.3% | 1 |
| 1990s | 41.1% | 38.1% | 44.0% | 5 |
| 2000s | 40.8% | 39.1% | 42.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 46.7% | 43.5% | 49.6% | 7 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 37 Uzbekistan 49.0% compare
- 38 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 49.0% compare
- 39 Luxembourg 48.5% compare
- 41 Senegal 48.5% compare
- 42 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 48.4% compare
- 43 Côte d'Ivoire 48.3% 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 secondary education, vocational pupils in South Africa?
- Secondary education, vocational pupils in South Africa was 48.5% in 2017, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest secondary education, vocational pupils recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 49.6% in 2016.
- What is the lowest secondary education, vocational pupils recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.3% in 1989.
- How does South Africa rank for secondary education, vocational pupils?
- South Africa ranks 40th out of 191 countries with data for 2017.
- Is secondary education, vocational pupils rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.9%. 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 Secondary education, vocational pupils (% female). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Secondary vocational pupils are the number of secondary students enrolled in technical and vocational education programs, including teacher training.