Cuba vs South Africa: Expected years of schooling vs. share in extreme poverty
Cuba
13.88 years
in 2023
South Africa
13.79 years
in 2023
Cuba rank
89th
South Africa rank
91st
Expected years of schooling vs. share in extreme poverty over time
- Cuba
- South Africa
How they compare
Cuba currently reports 13.88 years against 13.79 years in South Africa, a difference of 0.09 years.
The two have swapped places 4 times across 34 shared years of data; in 1990 it was Cuba ahead.
Cuba ranks 89th and South Africa ranks 91st of 194 countries.
Across the 4 decades both report, Cuba averaged higher in 3 and South Africa in 1.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Cuba | South Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 12.13 years | 12.6 years | 0.4715 years | South Africa |
| 2000s | 14.88 years | 11.99 years | 2.88 years | Cuba |
| 2010s | 14.48 years | 13.91 years | 0.5664 years | Cuba |
| 2020s | 14.24 years | 13.92 years | 0.316 years | Cuba |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher expected years of schooling vs. share in extreme poverty, Cuba or South Africa?
- Cuba, at 13.88 years against 13.79 years in South Africa as of 2023.
- What is the difference in expected years of schooling vs. share in extreme poverty between Cuba and South Africa?
- 0.09 years, with Cuba ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Cuba and South Africa?
- 34 years are reported by both, from 1990 to 2023.
- How do Cuba and South Africa rank globally for expected years of schooling vs. share in extreme poverty?
- Cuba ranks 89th and South Africa ranks 91st of 194 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as Expected years of schooling vs. share in extreme poverty. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
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About this data
Number of years a child of school-entrance-age can expect to receive if the current age-specific enrollment rates persist throughout the child's life.