Number of adults with no formal education by region in South Africa
South Africa: Number of adults with no formal education by region was 59,900 people in 2100. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2100)
59,900 people
World rank
73rd
of 200 countries
All-time high
4.64 million people
in 1980
All-time low
59,900 people
in 2100
Years of data
31
1950–2100
Number of adults with no formal education by region in South Africa, 1950–2100
Source: Wittgenstein Centre (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 59,900 people for number of adults with no formal education by region in 2100. That is the lowest value across all 31 years on record.
The figure is down 40.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of adults with no formal education by region in South Africa peaked at 4.64 million people in 1980 and was at its lowest, 59,900 people, in 2100.
That places South Africa 73rd out of 200 countries with data for 2100, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of adults with no formal education by region in South Africa, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 4.36 million people | — |
| 1955 | 4.33 million people | -0.6% |
| 1960 | 4.34 million people | +0.2% |
| 1965 | 4.48 million people | +3.1% |
| 1970 | 4.58 million people | +2.3% |
| 1975 | 4.63 million people | +1.2% |
| 1980 | 4.64 million people | +0.1% |
| 1985 | 4.50 million people | -3.0% |
| 1990 | 4.43 million people | -1.6% |
| 1995 | 4.08 million people | -7.9% |
| 2000 | 3.70 million people | -9.3% |
| 2005 | 3.31 million people | -10.5% |
| 2010 | 2.92 million people | -11.9% |
| 2015 | 2.56 million people | -12.2% |
| 2020 | 2.23 million people | -12.9% |
| 2025 | 1.85 million people | -17.1% |
| 2030 | 1.58 million people | -14.7% |
| 2035 | 1.33 million people | -16.1% |
| 2040 | 1.10 million people | -17.3% |
| 2045 | 892,000 people | -18.6% |
| 2050 | 718,300 people | -19.5% |
| 2055 | 573,900 people | -20.1% |
| 2060 | 456,400 people | -20.5% |
| 2065 | 359,800 people | -21.2% |
| 2070 | 281,900 people | -21.7% |
| 2075 | 219,400 people | -22.2% |
| 2080 | 169,400 people | -22.8% |
| 2085 | 131,000 people | -22.7% |
| 2090 | 101,400 people | -22.6% |
| 2095 | 78,300 people | -22.8% |
| 2100 | 59,900 people | -23.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 59,900 people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 11,600 people, 5.2× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 59,900 people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 293,450 people, 20% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 4.35 million people | 4.33 million people | 4.36 million people | 2 |
| 1960s | 4.41 million people | 4.34 million people | 4.48 million people | 2 |
| 1970s | 4.61 million people | 4.58 million people | 4.63 million people | 2 |
| 1980s | 4.57 million people | 4.50 million people | 4.64 million people | 2 |
| 1990s | 4.25 million people | 4.08 million people | 4.43 million people | 2 |
| 2000s | 3.50 million people | 3.31 million people | 3.70 million people | 2 |
| 2010s | 2.74 million people | 2.56 million people | 2.92 million people | 2 |
| 2020s | 2.04 million people | 1.85 million people | 2.23 million people | 2 |
| 2030s | 1.45 million people | 1.33 million people | 1.58 million people | 2 |
| 2040s | 993,900 people | 892,000 people | 1.10 million people | 2 |
| 2050s | 646,100 people | 573,900 people | 718,300 people | 2 |
| 2060s | 408,100 people | 359,800 people | 456,400 people | 2 |
| 2070s | 250,650 people | 219,400 people | 281,900 people | 2 |
| 2080s | 150,200 people | 131,000 people | 169,400 people | 2 |
| 2090s | 89,850 people | 78,300 people | 101,400 people | 2 |
| 2100s | 59,900 people | 59,900 people | 59,900 people | 1 |
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 number of adults with no formal education by region in South Africa?
- Number of adults with no formal education by region in South Africa was 59,900 people in 2100, according to Wittgenstein Centre (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of adults with no formal education by region recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 4.64 million people in 1980.
- What is the lowest number of adults with no formal education by region recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 59,900 people in 2100.
- How does South Africa rank for number of adults with no formal education by region?
- South Africa ranks 73rd out of 200 countries with data for 2100.
- Is number of adults with no formal education by region rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 40.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Wittgenstein Centre (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of adults with no formal education by region. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
De facto population aged 15+ withno education in a country or region.