South Africa vs UNICEF: Sub-saharan Africa: School age population, lower secondary education, both sexes
South Africa
2.17 million
in 2025
UNICEF: Sub-saharan Africa
96.41 million
in 2024
South Africa rank
45th
UNICEF: Sub-saharan Africa rank
42nd
School age population, lower secondary education, both sexes over time
- South Africa
- UNICEF: Sub-saharan Africa
How they compare
UNICEF: Sub-saharan Africa currently reports 96.41 million against 2.17 million in South Africa, a difference of 94.24 million.
That makes UNICEF: Sub-saharan Africa's figure about 44.5 times South Africa's.
Across all 55 years both countries report, UNICEF: Sub-saharan Africa has been ahead every year.
South Africa ranks 45th and UNICEF: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 42nd of 220 countries.
UNICEF: Sub-saharan Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 6 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | South Africa | UNICEF: Sub-saharan Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.68 million | 26.42 million | 24.74 million | UNICEF: Sub-saharan Africa |
| 1980s | 2.21 million | 33.48 million | 31.28 million | UNICEF: Sub-saharan Africa |
| 1990s | 2.48 million | 41.59 million | 39.11 million | UNICEF: Sub-saharan Africa |
| 2000s | 2.28 million | 56.89 million | 54.61 million | UNICEF: Sub-saharan Africa |
| 2010s | 1.99 million | 74.51 million | 72.52 million | UNICEF: Sub-saharan Africa |
| 2020s | 2.13 million | 92.61 million | 90.48 million | UNICEF: Sub-saharan Africa |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher school age population, lower secondary education, both sexes, South Africa or UNICEF: Sub-saharan Africa?
- UNICEF: Sub-saharan Africa, at 96.41 million against 2.17 million in South Africa as of 2024.
- What is the difference in school age population, lower secondary education, both sexes between South Africa and UNICEF: Sub-saharan Africa?
- 94.24 million, with UNICEF: Sub-saharan Africa ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and UNICEF: Sub-saharan Africa?
- 55 years are reported by both, from 1970 to 2024.
- How do South Africa and UNICEF: Sub-saharan Africa rank globally for school age population, lower secondary education, both sexes?
- South Africa ranks 45th and UNICEF: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 42nd of 220 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as School age population, lower secondary 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