Primary school completion rate in South Africa
The primary completion rate in South Africa was 95.3% in 2023.
South Africa, 2023
95.3%
Change from 2022
−1.8percentage points
World, 2023
87.3%
Median of G20 countries, 2023
98.6%
Position in 2023
72nd of 137
Primary school completion rate in South Africa over time
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South Africa
World
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The chart loads when you scroll to it. The table below shows the same data.
The chart shows a calculation from the published values. The table below keeps the published values.
% of the relevant age group. Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Gaps mean no published value; points are not joined across missing years.
| Period | South Africa | World |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | – | 88.0% |
| 2023 | 95.3% | 87.3% |
| 2022 | 97.1% | 91.1% |
| 2021 | 95.2% | 88.7% |
| 2020 | 92.7% | 88.0% |
| 2019 | 93.0% | 87.9% |
| 2018 | 92.4% | 88.1% |
| 2017 | – | 88.2% |
| 2016 | 90.3% | 88.5% |
| 2015 | 91.3% | 87.9% |
| 2014 | – | 88.1% |
| 2013 | – | 88.3% |
| 2012 | – | 88.1% |
| 2011 | – | 87.8% |
| 2010 | – | 88.5% |
| 2009 | – | 89.0% |
| 2008 | – | 88.2% |
| 2007 | – | 86.5% |
| 2006 | – | 85.3% |
| 2005 | – | 85.0% |
| 2004 | 89.5% | 84.2% |
| 2003 | 83.5% | 83.5% |
| 2002 | 79.2% | 83.3% |
| 2001 | – | 82.7% |
A dash means no value was published for that period.
In short
- That is a change of −1.8 percentage points from 97.1% in 2022.
- Since 2002, when it was 79.2%, the figure has changed by +16.2 percentage points.
- Among the 137 countries with data for 2023, South Africa has the 72nd highest value.
- The figure for the world in 2023 was 87.3%.
More for South Africa
All statistics for South Africa
Primary school enrolment (gross)
101.8%
2023 · World Bank
Secondary school enrolment (gross)
104.1%
2023 · World Bank
ILO estimate of the youth NEET rate
34.7%
2025 · ILOSTAT
Primary completion (UIS)
97.6%
2024 · UNESCO UIS
Lower secondary completion
92.5%
2024 · UNESCO UIS
Upper secondary completion
62.2%
2024 · UNESCO UIS