Afghanistan vs South Africa: Primary education, pupils, gaps filled

Afghanistan
7.51 million
in 2023
South Africa
7.52 million
in 2023
Afghanistan rank
22nd
South Africa rank
21st

Primary education, pupils, gaps filled over time

  • Afghanistan
  • South Africa
02.0M4.0M6.0M8.0M197019962023

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 7.52 million against 7.51 million in Afghanistan, a difference of 13,960.

Across all 50 years both countries report, South Africa has been ahead every year.

Afghanistan ranks 22nd and South Africa ranks 21st of 206 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 737,108 4.31 million 3.57 million South Africa
1980s 605,147 4.85 million 4.24 million South Africa
1990s 949,827 7.76 million 6.81 million South Africa
2000s 3.60 million 7.35 million 3.75 million South Africa
2010s 6.07 million 7.31 million 1.24 million South Africa
2020s 7.23 million 7.64 million 407,850 South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher primary education, pupils, gaps filled, Afghanistan or South Africa?
South Africa, at 7.52 million against 7.51 million in Afghanistan as of 2023.
What is the difference in primary education, pupils, gaps filled between Afghanistan and South Africa?
13,960, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Afghanistan and South Africa?
50 years are reported by both, from 1970 to 2023.
How do Afghanistan and South Africa rank globally for primary education, pupils, gaps filled?
Afghanistan ranks 22nd and South Africa ranks 21st of 206 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Statizoid (derived), published as Primary education, pupils, gaps filled. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Afghanistan vs South Africa: Primary education, pupils, gaps filled. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/primary-education-pupils-gaps-filled/afghanistan/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Primary education, pupils, gaps filled
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
251 places, 11,866 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

Primary education, pupils with 569 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.