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

Malaysia
1.22 million number
in 2019
South Africa
1.18 million number
in 2018
Malaysia rank
35th
South Africa rank
36th

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

  • Malaysia
  • South Africa
0500.0k1.0M1.5M197019942019

How they compare

Malaysia currently reports 1.22 million number against 1.18 million number in South Africa, a difference of 40,570 number.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 14 shared years of data; in 1988 it was South Africa ahead.

Malaysia ranks 35th and South Africa ranks 36th of 193 countries.

Across the 3 decades both report, Malaysia averaged higher in 1 and South Africa in 2.

Head to head by decade

Decade Malaysia South Africa Difference Ahead
1980s 115,030 number 399,942 number 284,912 number South Africa
1990s 156,248 number 513,419 number 357,171 number South Africa
2010s 1.21 million number 1.07 million number 147,981 number Malaysia

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes, Malaysia or South Africa?
Malaysia, at 1.22 million number against 1.18 million number in South Africa as of 2019.
What is the difference in enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes between Malaysia and South Africa?
40,570 number, with Malaysia ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Malaysia and South Africa?
14 years are reported by both, from 1988 to 2018.
How do Malaysia and South Africa rank globally for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
Malaysia ranks 35th 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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Malaysia vs South Africa: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 09 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-both-sexes-number/malaysia/south-africa/

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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

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