Total net enrolment rate, primary, both sexes in South Africa
South Africa: Total net enrolment rate, primary, both sexes was 93.9% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Total net enrolment rate, primary, both sexes in South Africa, 1970–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total net enrolment rate, primary, both sexes in South Africa is 93.9%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and down 1.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total net enrolment rate, primary, both sexes in South Africa peaked at 96.2% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 67.8%, in 1970.
South Africa ranks 130th of 205 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 20 years of available data.
Total net enrolment rate, primary, both sexes in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 67.8% | — |
| 1991 | 85.7% | +26.5% |
| 1994 | 83.5% | -2.6% |
| 1995 | 82.0% | -1.8% |
| 1998 | 81.8% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 83.1% | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 82.2% | -1.1% |
| 2001 | 83.3% | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 84.9% | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 86.0% | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 86.7% | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 87.0% | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 95.1% | +9.3% |
| 2017 | 93.7% | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 90.7% | -3.2% |
| 2019 | 91.7% | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 91.9% | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 96.2% | +4.7% |
| 2022 | 94.2% | -2.0% |
| 2023 | 93.9% | -0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 67.8% | 67.8% | 67.8% | 1 |
| 1990s | 83.2% | 81.8% | 85.7% | 5 |
| 2000s | 85.0% | 82.2% | 87.0% | 6 |
| 2010s | 92.8% | 90.7% | 95.1% | 4 |
| 2020s | 94.0% | 91.9% | 96.2% | 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, primary, both sexes in South Africa?
- Total net enrolment rate, primary, both sexes in South Africa was 93.9% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total net enrolment rate, primary, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 96.2% in 2021.
- What is the lowest total net enrolment rate, primary, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 67.8% in 1970.
- How does South Africa rank for total net enrolment rate, primary, both sexes?
- South Africa ranks 130th out of 205 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total net enrolment rate, primary, both sexes rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.2%. 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, primary, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release