Education in South Africa

2,928 indicators covering education for South Africa.

IndicatorLatest Year10-yr change Rank
Over-age students, primary, male 7.1% 2017 93rd
Over-age students, primary, female 4.4% 2017 106th
Secondary net enrollment gpi 1.02 2023 up 7.6% 52nd
School age population, post-secondary non-tertiary education, both 1.94 million number 2019 down 9.3% 18th
School age population, post-secondary non-tertiary education, female 964,482 number 2019 down 9.1% 18th
School age population, post-secondary non-tertiary education, male 976,471 number 2019 down 9.4% 18th
Outbound mobility ratio to Central Asia, male (UIS estimate) 0.0% 2023 62nd
Repetition rate in Grade 2 of primary education, both sexes 8.6% 2017 up 7.8% 34th
Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, female 82.0% 2018 up 4.7% 85th
Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, gender parity index 1.05 GPI 2018 up 1.8% 72nd
Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, male 78.2% 2018 up 2.8% 89th
Repeaters in Grade 5 of primary education, both sexes 39,902 2023 down 46.8% 18th
Gross enrolment ratio, lower secondary, both sexes 101.4% 2018 up 11.2% 70th
Repeaters in Grade 1 of primary education, female 23,062 2023 down 70.1% 29th
Compulsory education, duration 9 years 2025 unchanged 115th
Survival rate to Grade 4 of primary education, both sexes 94.5% 2017 up 11.8% 102nd
Repeaters in Grade 1 of primary education, male 45,546 2023 down 59.0% 20th
Progression to secondary school 95.8% 2015 up 1.0% 99th
Outbound mobility ratio to the Arab States, male (UIS estimate) 0.0% 2023 down 13.9% 108th
Repetition rate in Grade 3 of primary education, both sexes 6.9% 2017 down 24.3% 38th
Gross enrolment ratio, lower secondary, female 103.2% 2018 up 13.7% 57th
Gross enrolment ratio, lower secondary, male 99.5% 2018 up 8.7% 86th
Gross enrolment ratio, lower secondary, gender parity index 1.04 GPI 2018 up 4.5% 39th
Adjusted net enrollment rate, primary 92.4% 2017 down 2.2% 124th
Population of compulsory school age, both sexes 9.51 million 2025 up 5.8% 28th
Population of compulsory school age, female 4.74 million 2025 up 7.1% 28th
Population of compulsory school age, male 4.77 million 2025 up 4.6% 29th
Enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes 2.25 million 2023 up 9.0% 32nd
Outbound mobility ratio to sub-Saharan Africa, male (UIS estimate) 0.2% 2023 up 402.7% 40th
Proportion of 15- to 24-year-olds enrolled in vocational education 4.3% 2023 up 83.8% 93rd
School age population, post-secondary non-tertiary education, both 2.08 million 2025 down 4.0% 18th
School age population, post-secondary non-tertiary education, female 1.03 million 2025 down 3.8% 18th
School age population, post-secondary non-tertiary education, male 1.05 million 2025 down 4.1% 18th
Enrolment in lower secondary education, female 1.10 million 2023 up 8.0% 31st
Duration of compulsory education 9 years 2025 unchanged 115th
Official entrance age to compulsory education 7 years 2025 unchanged 1st
Proportion of 15- to 24-year-olds enrolled in vocational education 5.2% 2023 up 128.7% 79th
Proportion of 15- to 24-year-olds enrolled in vocational education 3.3% 2023 up 41.0% 107th
Repeaters in Grade 2 of primary education, female 17,157 2023 down 65.9% 29th
Repeaters in Grade 3 of primary education, female 17,190 2023 down 60.2% 26th
Repeaters in Grade 2 of primary education, male 34,847 2023 down 54.4% 22nd
Repeaters in Grade 3 of primary education, male 35,273 2023 down 43.5% 19th
Enrolment in lower secondary education, male 1.15 million 2023 up 10.0% 32nd
Education spending 6.02 2024 up 9.7% 27th
Gross enrolment ratio, upper secondary, both sexes 99.9% 2018 up 10.2% 56th
Repeaters in Grade 4 of primary education, female 16,265 2023 down 54.7% 27th
Repeaters in Grade 4 of primary education, male 47,070 2023 down 30.8% 15th
Outbound mobility ratio to South and West Asia, male (UIS estimate) 0.0% 2023 down 54.7% 80th
Out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age 7.2% 2025 down 32.7% 90th
Out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age 6.5% 2025 down 33.0% 88th
Out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age 7.9% 2025 down 31.9% 94th
Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, both 15.3% 2025 down 49.7% 112th
Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, female 12.8% 2025 down 57.8% 117th
Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, male 17.8% 2025 down 41.6% 109th
Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes 5.7% 2025 down 26.9% 84th
Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, female 5.5% 2025 down 19.1% 86th
Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, male (modelled) 6.0% 2025 down 31.0% 91st
Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, adjusted 0.7191 modelled data 2025 down 27.6% 153rd
Enrolment in upper secondary education, both sexes 3.25 million 2023 up 16.9% 18th
Proportion of 15-24 year-olds enrolled in vocational education 1.36 GPIA 2023 up 40.7% 2nd