Primary Gross Enrollment Rate in South Africa

South Africa: Primary Gross Enrollment Rate was 101.77 in 2023. β–² Rising

Latest (2023)
101.77
Change on year
down 0.6%
World rank
89th
of 205 countries
All-time high
107.31
in 2015
All-time low
79.08
in 1986
Years of data
42
1970–2023

Primary Gross Enrollment Rate in South Africa, 1970–2023

02550751001970199620231970: 100.11975: 100.41977: 88.21978: 821979: 82.11981: 82.51982: 80.31986: 79.11987: 80.41988: 80.81989: 105.31990: 104.71991: 103.91994: 102.51995: 101.31997: 98.31998: 97.51999: 97.42000: 92.62001: 93.42002: 95.72003: 96.92004: 97.82005: 97.52006: 98.62007: 101.22008: 102.42009: 102.62010: 103.42011: 1042012: 104.72013: 104.12014: 104.22015: 107.32016: 103.42017: 101.62018: 100.42019: 101.12020: 101.32021: 101.72022: 102.42023: 101.8

Source: International Monetary Fund.

Analysis

In 2023, primary gross enrollment rate in South Africa stood at 101.77.

That represents a change of down 0.6% on the previous year and down 2.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, primary gross enrollment rate in South Africa peaked at 107.31 in 2015 and was at its lowest, 79.08, in 1986.

South Africa ranks 89th of 205 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 42 years of available data.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 90.55 81.97 100.44 5
1980s 84.74 79.08 105.28 6
1990s 100.8 97.43 104.67 7
2000s 97.87 92.57 102.6 10
2010s 103.43 100.42 107.31 10
2020s 101.8 101.3 102.4 4

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 86 Dominican Republic 101.94 compare
  2. 87 Marshall Islands 101.8 compare
  3. 88 Gibraltar 101.77 compare
  4. 90 Guatemala 101.49 compare
  5. 91 Austria 101.31 compare
  6. 92 Switzerland 101.21 compare

See the full ranking of 206 places β†’

More gender data for South Africa

All data for South Africa β†’

Frequently asked questions

What is primary gross enrollment rate in South Africa?
Primary gross enrollment rate in South Africa was 101.77 in 2023, according to International Monetary Fund.
What is the highest primary gross enrollment rate recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 107.31 in 2015.
What is the lowest primary gross enrollment rate recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 79.08 in 1986.
How does South Africa rank for primary gross enrollment rate?
South Africa ranks 89th out of 205 countries with data for 2023.
Is primary gross enrollment rate rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 2.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Primary Gross Enrollment Rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Primary Gross Enrollment Rate in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on International Monetary Fund. Retrieved 20 August 2026, from https://gender.statizoid.com/stat/primary-gross-enrollment-rate/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Primary Gross Enrollment Rate
Source
International Monetary Fund
Licence
IMF Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
206 places, 8,760 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

Gender-disaggregated data on educational outcomes.