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

Netherlands
985,327
in 2023
South Africa
1.19 million
in 2023
Netherlands rank
40th
South Africa rank
37th

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

  • Netherlands
  • South Africa
0250.0k500.0k750.0k1.0M1.2M197019962023

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 1.19 million against 985,327 in Netherlands, a difference of 207,833.

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

The two have swapped places 3 times across 22 shared years of data; in 1971 it was Netherlands ahead.

Netherlands ranks 40th and South Africa ranks 37th of 200 countries.

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

Head to head by decade

Decade Netherlands South Africa Difference Ahead
1970s 244,180 93,284 150,896 Netherlands
1980s 414,668 399,942 14,726 Netherlands
1990s 489,781 513,419 23,638 South Africa
2010s 848,491 1.08 million 230,336 South Africa
2020s 974,190 1.19 million 216,853 South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number), Netherlands or South Africa?
South Africa, at 1.19 million against 985,327 in Netherlands as of 2023.
What is the difference in enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) between Netherlands and South Africa?
207,833, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Netherlands and South Africa?
22 years are reported by both, from 1971 to 2023.
How do Netherlands and South Africa rank globally for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number)?
Netherlands ranks 40th 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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Netherlands vs South Africa: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-both-sexes-number-gaps-filled/netherlands/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.