SDG: Central and Southern Asia vs South Africa: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes

SDG: Central and Southern Asia
57.98 million
in 2024
South Africa
1.19 million
in 2023
SDG: Central and Southern Asia rank
37th
South Africa rank
37th

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

  • SDG: Central and Southern Asia
  • South Africa
020.0M40.0M60.0M197019972024

How they compare

SDG: Central and Southern Asia currently reports 57.98 million against 1.19 million in South Africa, a difference of 56.79 million.

That makes SDG: Central and Southern Asia's figure about 48.6 times South Africa's.

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

SDG: Central and Southern Asia ranks 37th and South Africa ranks 37th of 221 groups.

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

Head to head by decade

Decade SDG: Central and Southern Asia South Africa Difference Ahead
1970s 7.35 million 90,637 7.26 million SDG: Central and Southern Asia
1980s 6.98 million 399,942 6.58 million SDG: Central and Southern Asia
1990s 10.43 million 513,419 9.92 million SDG: Central and Southern Asia
2010s 43.14 million 1.08 million 42.06 million SDG: Central and Southern Asia
2020s 52.58 million 1.19 million 51.39 million SDG: Central and 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, SDG: Central and Southern Asia or South Africa?
SDG: Central and Southern Asia, at 57.98 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 SDG: Central and Southern Asia and South Africa?
56.79 million, with SDG: Central and Southern Asia ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for SDG: Central and Southern Asia and South Africa?
21 years are reported by both, from 1970 to 2023.
How do SDG: Central and Southern Asia and South Africa rank globally for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
SDG: Central and Southern Asia ranks 37th 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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SDG: Central and Southern Asia vs South Africa: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-both-sexes-number-2/sdg-central-and-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