Share of primary-school-age children who are out of school vs. GDP per capita in South Africa
South Africa: Share of primary-school-age children who are out of school vs. GDP per capita was 6.1% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Share of primary-school-age children who are out of school vs. GDP per capita in South Africa, 1970–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of primary-school-age children who are out of school vs. gdp per capita in South Africa is 6.1%, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 5.0% on the previous year and up 23.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of primary-school-age children who are out of school vs. gdp per capita in South Africa peaked at 32.2% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 3.8%, in 2021.
South Africa ranks 77th of 203 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of primary-school-age children who are out of school vs. GDP per capita in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 32.2% | — |
| 1991 | 14.3% | -55.8% |
| 1994 | 16.5% | +15.7% |
| 1995 | 18.0% | +8.9% |
| 1998 | 18.2% | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 16.9% | -7.0% |
| 2000 | 17.8% | +5.2% |
| 2001 | 16.7% | -6.2% |
| 2002 | 15.1% | -9.3% |
| 2003 | 14.0% | -7.4% |
| 2004 | 13.3% | -5.0% |
| 2005 | 13.0% | -2.3% |
| 2015 | 4.9% | -62.3% |
| 2017 | 6.3% | +27.7% |
| 2018 | 9.3% | +48.3% |
| 2019 | 8.3% | -10.8% |
| 2020 | 8.1% | -1.8% |
| 2021 | 3.8% | -53.2% |
| 2022 | 5.8% | +51.5% |
| 2023 | 6.1% | +5.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 32.2% | 32.2% | 32.2% | 1 |
| 1990s | 16.8% | 14.3% | 18.2% | 5 |
| 2000s | 15.0% | 13.0% | 17.8% | 6 |
| 2010s | 7.2% | 4.9% | 9.3% | 4 |
| 2020s | 6.0% | 3.8% | 8.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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 share of primary-school-age children who are out of school vs. gdp per capita in South Africa?
- Share of primary-school-age children who are out of school vs. gdp per capita in South Africa was 6.1% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of primary-school-age children who are out of school vs. gdp per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 32.2% in 1970.
- What is the lowest share of primary-school-age children who are out of school vs. gdp per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.8% in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for share of primary-school-age children who are out of school vs. gdp per capita?
- South Africa ranks 77th out of 203 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of primary-school-age children who are out of school vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of primary-school-age children who are out of school vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Children of primary school age (typically 6–11 years) not enrolled in any level of education, expressed as a percentage of all children in that age group.