South Africa vs Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income): Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes
South Africa
1.18 million number
in 2018
Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
8.86 million number
in 2018
South Africa rank
36th
Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) rank
36th
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes over time
- South Africa
- Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
How they compare
Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) currently reports 8.86 million number against 1.18 million number in South Africa, a difference of 7.68 million number.
That makes Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)'s figure about 7.5 times South Africa's.
Across all 16 years both countries report, Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) has been ahead every year.
South Africa ranks 36th and Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) ranks 36th of 193 countries.
Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | South Africa | Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 90,637 number | 405,904 number | 315,267 number | Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) |
| 1980s | 399,942 number | 1.35 million number | 950,278 number | Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) |
| 1990s | 513,419 number | 1.69 million number | 1.18 million number | Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) |
| 2010s | 1.07 million number | 8.20 million number | 7.14 million number | Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes, South Africa or Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), at 8.86 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 South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- 7.68 million number, with Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- 16 years are reported by both, from 1970 to 2018.
- How do South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) rank globally for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- South Africa ranks 36th and Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) 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.
Individual pages
About this data
The total number of students enrolled at public and private tertiary education institutions.