Afghanistan vs South Africa: Population of the official entrance age to secondary general

Afghanistan
1.07 million
in 2025
South Africa
1.08 million
in 2025
Afghanistan rank
24th
South Africa rank
23rd

Population of the official entrance age to secondary general over time

  • Afghanistan
  • South Africa
200.0k400.0k600.0k800.0k1.0M1.2M197019972025

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 1.08 million against 1.07 million in Afghanistan, a difference of 8,830.

Across all 56 years both countries report, South Africa has been ahead every year.

Afghanistan ranks 24th and South Africa ranks 23rd of 220 countries.

South Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 6 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Afghanistan South Africa Difference Ahead
1970s 287,018 574,856 287,839 South Africa
1980s 283,937 750,149 466,212 South Africa
1990s 376,913 969,272 592,359 South Africa
2000s 596,365 1.13 million 537,934 South Africa
2010s 869,920 989,009 119,089 South Africa
2020s 1.02 million 1.07 million 56,686 South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher population of the official entrance age to secondary general, Afghanistan or South Africa?
South Africa, at 1.08 million against 1.07 million in Afghanistan as of 2025.
What is the difference in population of the official entrance age to secondary general between Afghanistan and South Africa?
8,830, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Afghanistan and South Africa?
56 years are reported by both, from 1970 to 2025.
How do Afghanistan and South Africa rank globally for population of the official entrance age to secondary general?
Afghanistan ranks 24th and South Africa ranks 23rd of 220 countries.
Where does this data come from?
UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Population of the official entrance age to secondary general education, both sexes (number). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Afghanistan vs South Africa: Population of the official entrance age to secondary general. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 18 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/population-of-the-official-entrance-age-to-secondary-general-education-both-sexes-number-2/afghanistan/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Population of the official entrance age to secondary general education, both sexes (number)
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
220 places, 10,166 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release