What is the difference in enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes between Malaysia and Sub-Saharan Africa?

7.68 million number, with Sub-Saharan Africa ahead.

How many years of comparable data are there for Malaysia and Sub-Saharan Africa?

37 years are reported by both, from 1979 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.

Malaysia vs Sub-Saharan Africa: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes

Malaysia

1.22 million number

in 2019

Sub-Saharan Africa

8.90 million number

in 2018

Malaysia rank

35th

Sub-Saharan Africa rank

34th

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

Malaysia
Sub-Saharan Africa

How they compare

Sub-Saharan Africa currently reports 8.90 million number against 1.22 million number in Malaysia, a difference of 7.68 million number.

That makes Sub-Saharan Africa's figure about 7.3 times Malaysia's.

Across all 37 years both countries report, Sub-Saharan Africa has been ahead every year.

Malaysia ranks 35th and Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 34th of 193 countries.

Sub-Saharan Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 5 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Malaysia	Sub-Saharan Africa	Difference	Ahead
1970s	52,975 number	689,107 number	636,132 number	Sub-Saharan Africa
1980s	91,544 number	1.08 million number	984,625 number	Sub-Saharan Africa
1990s	238,493 number	1.93 million number	1.69 million number	Sub-Saharan Africa
2000s	735,767 number	4.28 million number	3.54 million number	Sub-Saharan Africa
2010s	1.18 million number	7.89 million number	6.71 million number	Sub-Saharan Africa

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 Sub-Saharan Africa?: Sub-Saharan Africa, at 8.90 million number against 1.22 million number in Malaysia as of 2018.
What is the difference in enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes between Malaysia and Sub-Saharan Africa?: 7.68 million number, with Sub-Saharan Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Malaysia and Sub-Saharan Africa?: 37 years are reported by both, from 1979 to 2018.
How do Malaysia and Sub-Saharan Africa rank globally for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?: Malaysia ranks 35th and Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 34th 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 Sub-Saharan 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/sub-saharan-africa/

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<a href="https://education.statizoid.com/compare/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-both-sexes-number/malaysia/sub-saharan-africa/">Malaysia vs Sub-Saharan 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.