Russian Federation vs South Africa: Enrolment in primary education, both sexes

Russian Federation
7.55 million
in 2023
South Africa
7.52 million
in 2023
Russian Federation rank
20th
South Africa rank
21st

Enrolment in primary education, both sexes over time

  • Russian Federation
  • South Africa
02.0M4.0M6.0M8.0M197019962023

How they compare

Russian Federation currently reports 7.55 million against 7.52 million in South Africa, a difference of 33,720.

The two have swapped places 2 times across 39 shared years of data; in 1975 it was Russian Federation ahead.

Russian Federation ranks 20th and South Africa ranks 21st of 218 countries.

Across the 6 decades both report, Russian Federation averaged higher in 2 and South Africa in 4.

Head to head by decade

Decade Russian Federation South Africa Difference Ahead
1970s 5.74 million 4.34 million 1.40 million Russian Federation
1980s 6.62 million 5.06 million 1.55 million Russian Federation
1990s 7.45 million 7.76 million 312,691 South Africa
2000s 5.36 million 7.34 million 1.97 million South Africa
2010s 6.11 million 7.34 million 1.23 million South Africa
2020s 7.49 million 7.64 million 147,175 South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher enrolment in primary education, both sexes, Russian Federation or South Africa?
Russian Federation, at 7.55 million against 7.52 million in South Africa as of 2023.
What is the difference in enrolment in primary education, both sexes between Russian Federation and South Africa?
33,720, with Russian Federation ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Russian Federation and South Africa?
39 years are reported by both, from 1975 to 2023.
How do Russian Federation and South Africa rank globally for enrolment in primary education, both sexes?
Russian Federation ranks 20th and South Africa ranks 21st of 218 countries.
Where does this data come from?
UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Russian Federation vs South Africa: Enrolment in primary education, both sexes. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/enrolment-in-primary-education-both-sexes-number/russian-federation/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number)
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
439 places, 21,055 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release