Share of population 15 years and older with no education in South Africa
South Africa: Share of population 15 years and older with no education was 1.9 in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Share of population 15 years and older with no education in South Africa, 1870–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population 15 years and older with no education in South Africa is 1.9, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 31 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 52.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population 15 years and older with no education in South Africa peaked at 87.6 in 1870 and was at its lowest, 1.9, in 2020.
That places South Africa 68th out of 111 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of population 15 years and older with no education in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 87.6 | — |
| 1875 | 85.3 | -2.6% |
| 1880 | 82.7 | -3.0% |
| 1885 | 79.3 | -4.1% |
| 1890 | 76.7 | -3.3% |
| 1895 | 76.8 | +0.1% |
| 1900 | 78.5 | +2.2% |
| 1905 | 78.4 | -0.1% |
| 1910 | 78 | -0.5% |
| 1915 | 74.9 | -4.0% |
| 1920 | 67.1 | -10.4% |
| 1925 | 63.2 | -5.8% |
| 1930 | 59.8 | -5.4% |
| 1935 | 56.7 | -5.2% |
| 1940 | 54.4 | -4.1% |
| 1945 | 51.4 | -5.5% |
| 1950 | 48.9 | -4.9% |
| 1955 | 46.5 | -4.9% |
| 1960 | 45 | -3.2% |
| 1965 | 40.9 | -9.1% |
| 1970 | 36.5 | -10.8% |
| 1975 | 31 | -15.1% |
| 1980 | 25 | -19.4% |
| 1985 | 17.6 | -29.6% |
| 1990 | 10.4 | -40.9% |
| 1995 | 4.4 | -57.7% |
| 2000 | 13.3 | +202.3% |
| 2005 | 8.9 | -33.1% |
| 2010 | 4 | -55.1% |
| 2015 | 2.9 | -27.5% |
| 2020 | 1.9 | -34.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1.9 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2.6, 73% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 1.9 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 22, 9% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of population 15 years and older with no education in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | +202.3% | 4.4 | 13.3 |
| 1995 | -57.7% | 10.4 | 4.4 |
| 2010 | -55.1% | 8.9 | 4 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 86.45 | 85.3 | 87.6 | 2 |
| 1880s | 81 | 79.3 | 82.7 | 2 |
| 1890s | 76.75 | 76.7 | 76.8 | 2 |
| 1900s | 78.45 | 78.4 | 78.5 | 2 |
| 1910s | 76.45 | 74.9 | 78 | 2 |
| 1920s | 65.15 | 63.2 | 67.1 | 2 |
| 1930s | 58.25 | 56.7 | 59.8 | 2 |
| 1940s | 52.9 | 51.4 | 54.4 | 2 |
| 1950s | 47.7 | 46.5 | 48.9 | 2 |
| 1960s | 42.95 | 40.9 | 45 | 2 |
| 1970s | 33.75 | 31 | 36.5 | 2 |
| 1980s | 21.3 | 17.6 | 25 | 2 |
| 1990s | 7.4 | 4.4 | 10.4 | 2 |
| 2000s | 11.1 | 8.9 | 13.3 | 2 |
| 2010s | 3.45 | 2.9 | 4 | 2 |
| 2020s | 1.9 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More education data for South Africa
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 94.05 (2023)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 93.94 (2023)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population 15 years and older with no education in South Africa?
- Share of population 15 years and older with no education in South Africa was 1.9 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population 15 years and older with no education recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 87.6 in 1870.
- What is the lowest share of population 15 years and older with no education recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.9 in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for share of population 15 years and older with no education?
- South Africa ranks 68th out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population 15 years and older with no education rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 52.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population 15 years and older with no education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 31 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).