Primary school completion rates, adjusted gender parity index in South Africa
South Africa: Primary school completion rates, adjusted gender parity index was 1.02 index in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
1.02 index
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
59th
of 165 countries
All-time high
1.06 index
in 2001
All-time low
1.01 index
in 1981
Years of data
45
1981–2025
Primary school completion rates, adjusted gender parity index in South Africa, 1981–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in index.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 1.02 index for primary school completion rates, adjusted gender parity index in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.1% on the previous year and down 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary school completion rates, adjusted gender parity index in South Africa peaked at 1.06 index in 2001 and was at its lowest, 1.01 index, in 1981.
South Africa ranks 59th of 165 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Primary school completion rates, adjusted gender parity index in South Africa, year by year
| Year | index | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 1.01 index | — |
| 1982 | 1.01 index | +0.4% |
| 1983 | 1.02 index | +0.3% |
| 1984 | 1.02 index | +0.4% |
| 1985 | 1.02 index | +0.5% |
| 1986 | 1.03 index | +0.6% |
| 1987 | 1.04 index | +0.5% |
| 1988 | 1.04 index | +0.3% |
| 1989 | 1.04 index | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 1.04 index | +0.1% |
| 1991 | 1.04 index | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 1.05 index | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 1.05 index | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 1.05 index | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 1.05 index | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 1.05 index | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 1.05 index | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 1.05 index | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 1.05 index | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 1.05 index | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 1.06 index | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 1.05 index | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 1.05 index | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 1.05 index | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 1.05 index | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 1.05 index | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 1.04 index | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 1.04 index | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 1.04 index | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 1.04 index | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 1.04 index | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 1.04 index | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 1.04 index | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 1.03 index | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 1.03 index | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 1.03 index | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 1.03 index | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 1.03 index | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 1.03 index | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 1.03 index | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 1.03 index | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 1.03 index | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 1.03 index | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 1.02 index | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 1.02 index | -0.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1.02 index is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.01 index, 1.0× the median. (50 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 1.02 index is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.09 index, 94% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.03 index | 1.01 index | 1.04 index | 9 |
| 1990s | 1.05 index | 1.04 index | 1.05 index | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.05 index | 1.04 index | 1.06 index | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.03 index | 1.03 index | 1.04 index | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.03 index | 1.02 index | 1.03 index | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More gender data for South Africa
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 17,151 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 0.6591 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 51,011 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 51,011 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 1.07 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 570,099 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 589,533 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 570,599 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 589,626 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 569,634 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary school completion rates, adjusted gender parity index in South Africa?
- Primary school completion rates, adjusted gender parity index in South Africa was 1.02 index in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest primary school completion rates, adjusted gender parity index recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.06 index in 2001.
- What is the lowest primary school completion rates, adjusted gender parity index recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.01 index in 1981.
- How does South Africa rank for primary school completion rates, adjusted gender parity index?
- South Africa ranks 59th out of 165 countries with data for 2025.
- Is primary school completion rates, adjusted gender parity index rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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 Primary school completion rates, adjusted gender parity index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
An adjusted gender parity index of 1 indicates equal primary school completion rates between boys and girls. Values below 1 favor boys, and values above 1 favor girls.