South Africa Secondary Enrollment
School enrollment, secondary (% gross) SE.SEC.ENRR
South Africa's secondary enrollment was 105.17% in 2025, ranked 40th globally. This represents a 1.0% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1989–2025.
Overview
South Africa's secondary enrollment stood at 105.17% in 2025, a rise of +1.04pp from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 105.17% by 2025. South Africa ranked 40th globally.
South Africa has experienced a significant increase in secondary enrollment rates over the past three decades, with the latest data showing a rate of 105.17%, ranking 40th globally. The country's secondary enrollment rate has been steadily rising since its trough of 63.83% in 1989, a year marked by the end of apartheid-era policies that severely limited access to education. South Africa's rate peaked at 106.44% in 2021, just below that of Croatia's 105.35%. Compared to its peer countries, South Africa's rate is comparable to Hungary's and Greece's 105.24%. Despite this progress, the country still faces challenges in ensuring equal access to education, particularly for historically disadvantaged groups. As South Africa continues to grapple with the legacy of apartheid-era policies and the demands of a rapidly changing economy, sustaining its progress in secondary enrollment will require continued investment in education infrastructure and policies aimed at reducing inequality.
Data & projection
| Year | Secondary Enrollment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 105.34% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 105.17% | - | - |
| 2025 | 105.17% | +1.04pp | #40 |
| 2023 | 104.13% | −0.40pp | #36 |
| 2022 | 104.54% | −1.91pp | #38 |
| 2021 | 106.44% | +2.94pp | #31 |
| 2020 | 103.50% | −0.29pp | #43 |
| 2019 | 103.79% | +2.39pp | #45 |
| 2018 | 101.40% | −4.22pp | #55 |
| 2017 | 105.62% | +1.77pp | #35 |
| 2016 | 103.86% | −0.77pp | #39 |
| 2015 | 104.62% | +3.46pp | #35 |
| 2014 | 101.16% | +9.00pp | #51 |
| 2012 | 92.16% | +3.22pp | #72 |
| 2011 | 88.94% | +2.35pp | #79 |
| 2010 | 86.59% | +0.63pp | #87 |
| 2009 | 85.96% | +1.91pp | #84 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
South Africa matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 1994. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw secondary enrollment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
South Africa's secondary enrollment was 105.17% in 2025. Ranked 40th globally. This represents a 1.0% increase from the previous year.
South Africa's secondary enrollment peaked at 106.44% in 2021.
The lowest secondary enrollment in South Africa was 63.83% in 1989.
South Africa ranks 40th globally in secondary enrollment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.SEC.ENRR. Data sourced from World Bank.
South Africa's secondary enrollment is projected to reach 105.17% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The secondary enrollment of South Africa in 2025 was 105.17%. This ranks 40th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_south-africa_secondary-enrollment,
title = {South Africa Secondary Enrollment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/south-africa/secondary-enrollment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}