South Africa: Children out of school, primary

Key figures

Over five years it is down 36.1% from 701,278 in 2018 (8.57% a year on average, compounded). Since 1970 it is down 65.12% from 1.28 million in 1970 (1.97% a year on average, compounded). The World Bank has no value for 34 of the years in between; the chart leaves those gaps open rather than joining across them.

What the numbers say

In 2023, South Africa's children out of school, primary rose 4.1% on 2022 (from 430,540 to 448,146).

Across the 13 yearly changes before that (1995 to 2022), the average change was −4% and a typical year strayed about 22% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.4 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 49.2% in 2022 and the biggest yearly fall was 53.5% in 2021. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2015 to 2023 the straight-line trend is downward, about 47,273 a year. A straight line explains 60% of the movement over 8 observed years.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2023, South Africa had the 4th highest value of the 37 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to South Africa in the 2023 ranking

• Nigeria — 1st of 37: 9.07 million
• Mali — 2nd of 37: 1.19 million
• Kenya — 3rd of 37: 468,923
• Russian Federation — 5th of 37: 187,975
• Congo, Rep. — 6th of 37: 171,125
• Romania — 7th of 37: 160,246

What this measures

Children out of school are the number of primary-school-age children not enrolled in primary or secondary school.

Limitations: Due to different data sources for enrollment and population data, the number may not capture the actual number of children not attending in primary school.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a sum.

All 20 values

Children out of school, primary in nearby economies

• Benin — 213,285 (2022)
• Botswana — 1,869 (2022)
• Burkina Faso — 1.36 million (2024)
• Burundi — 661,724 (2025)
• Cabo Verde — 24,851 (2022)
• Cameroon — 173,924 (2024)
• Chad — 855,041 (2024)
• Comoros — 21,743 (2024)
• Congo, Rep. — 171,125 (2023)
• Côte d'Ivoire — 650,800 (2024)
• Equatorial Guinea — 128,846 (2015)

More education data for South Africa

• Primary school starting age (years) — 7 (2025)
• Primary education, duration (years) — 7 (2025)
• Lower secondary school starting age (years) — 14 (2025)
• Secondary education, duration (years) — 5 (2025)
• Primary education, pupils — 7.52 million (2023)
• School enrollment, primary (% gross) — 101.77% (2023)
• School enrollment, primary, female (% gross) — 99.21% (2023)
• School enrollment, primary, male (% gross) — 104.32% (2023)
• Government expenditure on education, total (% of government expenditure) — 19.14% (2025)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
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• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is South Africa's children out of school, primary?

448,146 in 2023, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1970?

It is down 65.12% from 1.28 million in 1970 (1.97% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 1.49 million in 1998 and the lowest 288,480 in 2021.

How does South Africa rank?

4th highest of 37 economies with data for 2023.

Is the latest change in children out of school, primary unusual for South Africa?

In 2023, South Africa's children out of school, primary rose 4.1% on 2022 (from 430,540 to 448,146). Across the 13 yearly changes before that (1995 to 2022), the average change was −4% and a typical year strayed about 22% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.4 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator SE.PRM.UNER, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), uri: https://databrowser.uis.unesco.org/resources, note: The data are obtained through the UIS API. Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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