Afghanistan vs South Africa: Enrolment in primary education, female

Afghanistan
3.20 million
in 2023
South Africa
3.65 million
in 2023
Afghanistan rank
22nd
South Africa rank
21st

Enrolment in primary education, female over time

  • Afghanistan
  • South Africa
01.0M2.0M3.0M4.0M197019962023

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 3.65 million against 3.20 million in Afghanistan, a difference of 456,920.

That makes South Africa's figure about 1.1 times Afghanistan's.

Across all 30 years both countries report, South Africa has been ahead every year.

Afghanistan ranks 22nd and South Africa ranks 21st of 216 countries.

South Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 6 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Afghanistan South Africa Difference Ahead
1970s 76,143 1.98 million 1.91 million South Africa
1980s 196,671 2.73 million 2.53 million South Africa
1990s 255,280 3.77 million 3.52 million South Africa
2000s 1.22 million 3.58 million 2.36 million South Africa
2010s 2.41 million 3.54 million 1.14 million South Africa
2020s 3.20 million 3.65 million 456,920 South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher enrolment in primary education, female, Afghanistan or South Africa?
South Africa, at 3.65 million against 3.20 million in Afghanistan as of 2023.
What is the difference in enrolment in primary education, female between Afghanistan and South Africa?
456,920, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Afghanistan and South Africa?
30 years are reported by both, from 1970 to 2023.
How do Afghanistan and South Africa rank globally for enrolment in primary education, female?
Afghanistan ranks 22nd and South Africa ranks 21st of 216 countries.
Where does this data come from?
UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Enrolment in primary education, female (number). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Afghanistan vs South Africa: Enrolment in primary education, female. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 11 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/enrolment-in-primary-education-female-number-2/afghanistan/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Enrolment in primary education, female (number)
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
437 places, 20,299 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release