MDG: Southern Asia vs South Africa: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes

MDG: Southern Asia
55.16 million
in 2024
South Africa
1.19 million
in 2023
MDG: Southern Asia rank
38th
South Africa rank
37th

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes over time

  • MDG: Southern Asia
  • South Africa
020.0M40.0M60.0M197019972024

How they compare

MDG: Southern Asia currently reports 55.16 million against 1.19 million in South Africa, a difference of 53.96 million.

That makes MDG: Southern Asia's figure about 46.2 times South Africa's.

Across all 21 years both countries report, MDG: Southern Asia has been ahead every year.

MDG: Southern Asia ranks 38th and South Africa ranks 37th of 221 groups.

MDG: Southern Asia has averaged higher in every one of the 5 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade MDG: Southern Asia South Africa Difference Ahead
1970s 6.49 million 90,637 6.39 million MDG: Southern Asia
1980s 5.88 million 399,942 5.48 million MDG: Southern Asia
1990s 9.31 million 513,419 8.79 million MDG: Southern Asia
2010s 41.62 million 1.08 million 40.54 million MDG: Southern Asia
2020s 50.70 million 1.19 million 49.51 million MDG: Southern Asia

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes, MDG: Southern Asia or South Africa?
MDG: Southern Asia, at 55.16 million against 1.19 million in South Africa as of 2024.
What is the difference in enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes between MDG: Southern Asia and South Africa?
53.96 million, with MDG: Southern Asia ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for MDG: Southern Asia and South Africa?
21 years are reported by both, from 1970 to 2023.
How do MDG: Southern Asia and South Africa rank globally for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
MDG: Southern Asia ranks 38th and South Africa ranks 37th of 221 groups.
Where does this data come from?
UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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MDG: Southern Asia vs South Africa: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-both-sexes-number-2/mdg-southern-asia/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number)
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
421 places, 18,321 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release