Afghanistan vs South Africa: School age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes
Afghanistan
1.10 million
in 2025
South Africa
1.07 million
in 2025
Afghanistan rank
23rd
South Africa rank
24th
School age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes over time
- Afghanistan
- South Africa
How they compare
Afghanistan currently reports 1.10 million against 1.07 million in South Africa, a difference of 29,050.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 56 shared years of data; in 1970 it was South Africa ahead.
Afghanistan ranks 23rd and South Africa ranks 24th of 222 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 | 297,348 | 592,668 | 295,320 | South Africa |
| 1980s | 294,303 | 765,155 | 470,853 | South Africa |
| 1990s | 391,247 | 1.01 million | 621,343 | South Africa |
| 2000s | 626,196 | 1.12 million | 497,290 | South Africa |
| 2010s | 892,910 | 983,422 | 90,512 | South Africa |
| 2020s | 1.04 million | 1.08 million | 35,661 | South Africa |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher school age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes, Afghanistan or South Africa?
- Afghanistan, at 1.10 million against 1.07 million in South Africa as of 2025.
- What is the difference in school age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes between Afghanistan and South Africa?
- 29,050, with Afghanistan 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 school age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes?
- Afghanistan ranks 23rd and South Africa ranks 24th of 222 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as School age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
February 2026 Data Release