Primary Gross Enrollment Rate in South Africa
South Africa: Primary Gross Enrollment Rate was 101.77 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Primary Gross Enrollment Rate in South Africa, 1970–2023
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.
Primary Gross Enrollment Rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 100.11 | — |
| 1975 | 100.44 | +0.3% |
| 1977 | 88.19 | -12.2% |
| 1978 | 81.97 | -7.1% |
| 1979 | 82.05 | +0.1% |
| 1981 | 82.49 | +0.5% |
| 1982 | 80.31 | -2.6% |
| 1986 | 79.08 | -1.5% |
| 1987 | 80.41 | +1.7% |
| 1988 | 80.85 | +0.5% |
| 1989 | 105.28 | +30.2% |
| 1990 | 104.67 | -0.6% |
| 1991 | 103.93 | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 102.51 | -1.4% |
| 1995 | 101.34 | -1.1% |
| 1997 | 98.26 | -3.0% |
| 1998 | 97.49 | -0.8% |
| 1999 | 97.43 | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 92.57 | -5.0% |
| 2001 | 93.36 | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 95.74 | +2.6% |
| 2003 | 96.93 | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 97.82 | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 97.53 | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 98.62 | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 101.16 | +2.6% |
| 2008 | 102.37 | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 102.6 | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 103.44 | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 104.05 | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 104.71 | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 104.09 | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 104.2 | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 107.31 | +3.0% |
| 2016 | 103.42 | -3.6% |
| 2017 | 101.58 | -1.8% |
| 2018 | 100.42 | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 101.12 | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 101.3 | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 101.74 | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 102.4 | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 101.77 | -0.6% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 101.77 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 101.09, 1.0× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 101.77 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 100.43, 1.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Primary Gross Enrollment Rate in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | +30.2% | 80.85 | 105.28 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | 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
- 86 Dominican Republic 101.94 compare
- 87 Marshall Islands 101.8 compare
- 88 Gibraltar 101.77 compare
- 90 Guatemala 101.49 compare
- 91 Austria 101.31 compare
- 92 Switzerland 101.21 compare
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 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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About this data
Gender-disaggregated data on educational outcomes.