South Africa vs Sub-Saharan Africa: Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 8 programmes, both sexes

South Africa
23,730 number
in 2018
Sub-Saharan Africa
103,019 number
in 2019
South Africa rank
29th
Sub-Saharan Africa rank
33rd

Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 8 programmes, both sexes over time

  • South Africa
  • Sub-Saharan Africa
20.0k40.0k60.0k80.0k100.0k199820082019

How they compare

Sub-Saharan Africa currently reports 103,019 number against 23,730 number in South Africa, a difference of 79,289 number.

That makes Sub-Saharan Africa's figure about 4.3 times South Africa's.

Across all 7 years both countries report, Sub-Saharan Africa has been ahead every year.

South Africa ranks 29th and Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 33rd of 133 countries.

Sub-Saharan Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 1 decades both report.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher enrolment in tertiary education, isced 8 programmes, both sexes, South Africa or Sub-Saharan Africa?
Sub-Saharan Africa, at 103,019 number against 23,730 number in South Africa as of 2019.
What is the difference in enrolment in tertiary education, isced 8 programmes, both sexes between South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa?
79,289 number, with Sub-Saharan Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa?
7 years are reported by both, from 2012 to 2018.
How do South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa rank globally for enrolment in tertiary education, isced 8 programmes, both sexes?
South Africa ranks 29th and Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 33rd of 133 countries.
Where does this data come from?
UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 8 programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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South Africa vs Sub-Saharan Africa: Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 8 programmes, both sexes. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-isced-8-programmes-both-sexes-number/south-africa/sub-saharan-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 8 programmes, both sexes (number)
Unit
number
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
178 places, 2,921 data points, 1997–2020
Last refreshed

Total number of students enrolled in public and private tertiary education institutions in programmes on the doctoral or equivalent (ISCED 8) level.