Total sample population, above primary education in South Africa

South Africa: Total sample population, above primary education was 15.79 million in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
15.79 million
Change on year
up 1.6%
World rank
27th
of 108 countries
All-time high
26.14 million
in 2007
All-time low
10.74 million
in 2008
Years of data
21
1995–2020

Total sample population, above primary education in South Africa, 1995–2020

010.0M20.0M30.0M1995200720201995: 16.7M2000: 21.1M2001: 21.5M2002: 19.4M2003: 24.7M2004: 25.5M2005: 19.2M2006: 25.9M2007: 26.1M2008: 10.7M2009: 11.4M2010: 11.9M2011: 12.3M2013: 13.3M2014: 14.0M2015: 14.3M2016: 14.1M2017: 14.2M2018: 15.0M2019: 15.5M2020: 15.8M

Source: World Bank.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 15.79 million for total sample population, above primary education in 2020.

That represents a change of up 1.6% on the previous year and up 32.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, total sample population, above primary education in South Africa peaked at 26.14 million in 2007 and was at its lowest, 10.74 million, in 2008.

That places South Africa 27th out of 108 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 21 years of available data.

Total sample population, above primary education in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Total sample population, above primary education in South Africa, 1995 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1995 16.70 million —
2000 21.07 million +26.2%
2001 21.55 million +2.3%
2002 19.40 million -10.0%
2003 24.67 million +27.1%
2004 25.50 million +3.4%
2005 19.19 million -24.7%
2006 25.87 million +34.8%
2007 26.14 million +1.1%
2008 10.74 million -58.9%
2009 11.41 million +6.3%
2010 11.90 million +4.2%
2011 12.34 million +3.7%
2013 13.35 million +8.1%
2014 14.01 million +4.9%
2015 14.34 million +2.4%
2016 14.06 million -1.9%
2017 14.15 million +0.6%
2018 14.98 million +5.9%
2019 15.54 million +3.7%
2020 15.79 million +1.6%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 15.79 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.07 million, 3.1× the median. (34 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 15.79 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.57 million, 6.2× the median. (19 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Total sample population, above primary education 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.

YearChange FromTo
2008 -58.9% 26.14 million 10.74 million
2006 +34.8% 19.19 million 25.87 million
2003 +27.1% 19.40 million 24.67 million

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 16.70 million 16.70 million 16.70 million 1
2000s 20.55 million 10.74 million 26.14 million 10
2010s 13.85 million 11.90 million 15.54 million 9
2020s 15.79 million 15.79 million 15.79 million 1

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 24 Peru 19.17 million compare
  2. 25 Argentina 19.02 million compare
  3. 26 Pakistan 18.19 million compare
  4. 28 Sri Lanka 15.57 million compare
  5. 29 Venezuela 12.92 million compare
  6. 30 Ghana 11.45 million compare

See the full ranking of 108 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is total sample population, above primary education in South Africa?
Total sample population, above primary education in South Africa was 15.79 million in 2020, according to the World Bank.
What is the highest total sample population, above primary education recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 26.14 million in 2007.
What is the lowest total sample population, above primary education recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 10.74 million in 2008.
How does South Africa rank for total sample population, above primary education?
South Africa ranks 27th out of 108 countries with data for 2020.
Is total sample population, above primary education rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 32.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from the World Bank, published as part of Total sample population, above primary education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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About this data

Indicator
Total sample population, above primary education
Source
World Bank
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
108 places, 1,460 data points, 1970–2021
Last refreshed