Secondary education, vocational pupils in South Africa

South Africa: Secondary education, vocational pupils was 355,438 in 2017. ▲ Rising

Latest (2017)
355,438
Change on year
down 7.9%
World rank
32nd
of 201 countries
All-time high
385,931
in 2016
All-time low
36,419
in 1991
Years of data
23
1989–2017

Secondary education, vocational pupils in South Africa, 1989–2017

0100.0k200.0k300.0k400.0k1989200320171989: 39.7k1990: 41.1k1991: 36.4k1994: 47.8k1998: 160.4k1999: 160.4k2000: 198.3k2001: 221.1k2002: 245.1k2003: 260.0k2004: 275.6k2005: 227.0k2006: 246.2k2007: 266.6k2008: 267.4k2009: 269.1k2010: 218.1k2011: 221.7k2012: 246.5k2014: 362.9k2015: 374.4k2016: 385.9k2017: 355.4k

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

Analysis

In 2017, secondary education, vocational pupils in South Africa stood at 355,438.

That represents a change of down 7.9% on the previous year and up 33.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, secondary education, vocational pupils in South Africa peaked at 385,931 in 2016 and was at its lowest, 36,419, in 1991.

That places South Africa 32nd out of 201 countries with data for 2017, putting it 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

Annual values for Secondary education, vocational pupils in South Africa, 1989 to 2017.
Year Value Change
1989 39,731
1990 41,081 +3.4%
1991 36,419 -11.3%
1994 47,801 +31.3%
1998 160,351 +235.5%
1999 160,351 +0.0%
2000 198,328 +23.7%
2001 221,128 +11.5%
2002 245,108 +10.8%
2003 259,959 +6.1%
2004 275,589 +6.0%
2005 226,966 -17.6%
2006 246,177 +8.5%
2007 266,591 +8.3%
2008 267,385 +0.3%
2009 269,054 +0.6%
2010 218,132 -18.9%
2011 221,672 +1.6%
2012 246,515 +11.2%
2014 362,890 +47.2%
2015 374,350 +3.2%
2016 385,931 +3.1%
2017 355,438 -7.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 39,731 39,731 39,731 1
1990s 89,201 36,419 160,351 5
2000s 247,628 198,328 275,589 10
2010s 309,275 218,132 385,931 7

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 29 Romania 413,229 compare
  2. 30 Algeria 380,890 compare
  3. 31 Colombia 362,733 compare
  4. 33 Ethiopia 352,134 compare
  5. 34 Guatemala 351,870 compare
  6. 35 South Korea 293,568 compare

See the full ranking of 244 places →

More education data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is secondary education, vocational pupils in South Africa?
Secondary education, vocational pupils in South Africa was 355,438 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 385,931 in 2016.
What is the lowest secondary education, vocational pupils recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 36,419 in 1991.
How does South Africa rank for secondary education, vocational pupils?
South Africa ranks 32nd out of 201 countries with data for 2017.
Is secondary education, vocational pupils rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 33.3%. 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. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Secondary education, vocational pupils in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 29 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/secondary-education-vocational-pupils/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Secondary education, vocational pupils
Source
Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
244 places, 8,309 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

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