How many years of comparable data are there for Chile and South Africa?

14 years are reported by both, from 1970 to 2018.

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.

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

Chile

1.25 million number

in 2018

South Africa

1.18 million number

in 2018

Chile rank

34th

South Africa rank

36th

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

Chile
South Africa

How they compare

Chile currently reports 1.25 million number against 1.18 million number in South Africa, a difference of 77,160 number.

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

The two have swapped places 3 times across 14 shared years of data; in 1970 it was South Africa ahead.

Chile ranks 34th and South Africa ranks 36th of 193 countries.

Across the 4 decades both report, Chile averaged higher in 2 and South Africa in 2.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Chile	South Africa	Difference	Ahead
1970s	112,440 number	90,637 number	21,804 number	Chile
1980s	234,973 number	378,731 number	143,758 number	South Africa
1990s	304,581 number	532,022 number	227,440 number	South Africa
2010s	1.21 million number	1.07 million number	141,749 number	Chile

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes, Chile or South Africa?: Chile, at 1.25 million number against 1.18 million number in South Africa as of 2018.
What is the difference in enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes between Chile and South Africa?: 77,160 number, with Chile ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Chile and South Africa?: 14 years are reported by both, from 1970 to 2018.
How do Chile and South Africa rank globally for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?: Chile ranks 34th and South Africa ranks 36th of 193 countries.
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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Chile vs South Africa: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-both-sexes-number/chile/south-africa/

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<a href="https://education.statizoid.com/compare/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-both-sexes-number/chile/south-africa/">Chile vs South Africa: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number)
Unit: number
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage: 238 places, 8,058 data points, 1970–2020
Last refreshed: 04 September 2026

The total number of students enrolled at public and private tertiary education institutions.