Total net enrolment rate, lower secondary, both sexes in South Africa
South Africa: Total net enrolment rate, lower secondary, both sexes was 90.4% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Total net enrolment rate, lower secondary, both sexes in South Africa, 1994–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total net enrolment rate, lower secondary, both sexes in South Africa is 90.4%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.5% on the previous year and down 6.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total net enrolment rate, lower secondary, both sexes in South Africa peaked at 96.7% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 74.9%, in 2001.
That places South Africa 115th out of 185 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 16 years of available data.
Total net enrolment rate, lower secondary, both sexes in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 92.4% | — |
| 1999 | 77.9% | -15.7% |
| 2000 | 75.9% | -2.6% |
| 2001 | 74.9% | -1.3% |
| 2002 | 77.2% | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 79.7% | +3.2% |
| 2004 | 82.6% | +3.6% |
| 2005 | 84.9% | +2.9% |
| 2015 | 96.3% | +13.3% |
| 2017 | 83.6% | -13.2% |
| 2018 | 88.7% | +6.1% |
| 2019 | 92.3% | +4.0% |
| 2020 | 90.8% | -1.6% |
| 2021 | 88.9% | -2.1% |
| 2022 | 96.7% | +8.8% |
| 2023 | 90.4% | -6.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 85.2% | 77.9% | 92.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 79.2% | 74.9% | 84.9% | 6 |
| 2010s | 90.2% | 83.6% | 96.3% | 4 |
| 2020s | 91.7% | 88.9% | 96.7% | 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 total net enrolment rate, lower secondary, both sexes in South Africa?
- Total net enrolment rate, lower secondary, both sexes in South Africa was 90.4% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total net enrolment rate, lower secondary, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 96.7% in 2022.
- What is the lowest total net enrolment rate, lower secondary, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 74.9% in 2001.
- How does South Africa rank for total net enrolment rate, lower secondary, both sexes?
- South Africa ranks 115th out of 185 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total net enrolment rate, lower secondary, both sexes rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total net enrolment rate, lower secondary, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release