Share of population with no formal education in South Africa
South Africa: Share of population with no formal education was 1.9% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Share of population with no formal education in South Africa, 1870–2020
Source: Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population with no formal 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 with no formal 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 with no formal education in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | 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% | -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 | 45.0% | -3.2% |
| 1965 | 40.9% | -9.1% |
| 1970 | 36.5% | -10.8% |
| 1975 | 31.0% | -15.1% |
| 1980 | 25.0% | -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 | 4.0% | -55.1% |
| 2015 | 2.9% | -27.5% |
| 2020 | 1.9% | -34.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 86.4% | 85.3% | 87.6% | 2 |
| 1880s | 81.0% | 79.3% | 82.7% | 2 |
| 1890s | 76.8% | 76.7% | 76.8% | 2 |
| 1900s | 78.5% | 78.4% | 78.5% | 2 |
| 1910s | 76.5% | 74.9% | 78.0% | 2 |
| 1920s | 65.2% | 63.2% | 67.1% | 2 |
| 1930s | 58.2% | 56.7% | 59.8% | 2 |
| 1940s | 52.9% | 51.4% | 54.4% | 2 |
| 1950s | 47.7% | 46.5% | 48.9% | 2 |
| 1960s | 43.0% | 40.9% | 45.0% | 2 |
| 1970s | 33.8% | 31.0% | 36.5% | 2 |
| 1980s | 21.3% | 17.6% | 25.0% | 2 |
| 1990s | 7.4% | 4.4% | 10.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 11.1% | 8.9% | 13.3% | 2 |
| 2010s | 3.5% | 2.9% | 4.0% | 2 |
| 2020s | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 65 Malaysia 2.2% compare
- 66 Cuba 2.0% compare
- 66 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 2.0% compare
- 68 Austria 1.9% compare
- 68 Zimbabwe 1.9% compare
- 71 Bulgaria 1.8% compare
- 71 Costa Rica 1.8% compare
- 71 El Salvador 1.8% compare
- 71 Iceland 1.8% compare
- 71 Philippines 1.8% compare
More education data for South Africa
- 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)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population with no formal education in South Africa?
- Share of population with no formal education in South Africa was 1.9% in 2020, according to Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population with no formal education recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 87.6% in 1870.
- What is the lowest share of population with no formal education recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.9% in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for share of population with no formal education?
- South Africa ranks 68th out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population with no formal 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 Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population with no formal education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The share of adults aged between 15 and 64 years old with no formal education.