Chile vs South Africa: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number)

Chile
1.37 million
in 2024
South Africa
1.19 million
in 2023
Chile rank
36th
South Africa rank
37th

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) over time

  • Chile
  • South Africa
0500.0k1.0M1.5M197019972024

How they compare

Chile currently reports 1.37 million against 1.19 million in South Africa, a difference of 179,780.

That makes Chile's figure about 1.2 times South Africa's.

The two have swapped places 3 times across 23 shared years of data; in 1970 it was South Africa ahead.

Chile ranks 36th and South Africa ranks 37th of 200 countries.

Across the 5 decades both report, Chile averaged higher in 3 and South Africa in 2.

Head to head by decade

Decade Chile South Africa Difference Ahead
1970s 113,302 90,637 22,664 Chile
1980s 239,444 399,942 160,498 South Africa
1990s 294,236 513,419 219,182 South Africa
2010s 1.21 million 1.08 million 135,195 Chile
2020s 1.28 million 1.19 million 89,048 Chile

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number), Chile or South Africa?
Chile, at 1.37 million against 1.19 million in South Africa as of 2024.
What is the difference in enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) between Chile and South Africa?
179,780, with Chile ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Chile and South Africa?
23 years are reported by both, from 1970 to 2023.
How do Chile and South Africa rank globally for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number)?
Chile ranks 36th and South Africa ranks 37th of 200 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Statizoid (derived), published as Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number), gaps filled. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Chile vs South Africa: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 09 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-both-sexes-number-gaps-filled/chile/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number), gaps filled
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
421 places, 19,011 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) with 690 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.