MDG: Southern Asia vs South Africa: School age population, one year before the official primary entry
MDG: Southern Asia
18.21 million
in 2024
South Africa
559,892
in 2025
MDG: Southern Asia rank
29th
South Africa rank
26th
School age population, one year before the official primary entry over time
- MDG: Southern Asia
- South Africa
How they compare
MDG: Southern Asia currently reports 18.21 million against 559,892 in South Africa, a difference of 17.65 million.
That makes MDG: Southern Asia's figure about 32.5 times South Africa's.
Across all 26 years both countries report, MDG: Southern Asia has been ahead every year.
MDG: Southern Asia ranks 29th and South Africa ranks 26th of 221 groups.
MDG: Southern Asia has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | MDG: Southern Asia | South Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 18.11 million | 559,603 | 17.55 million | MDG: Southern Asia |
| 2000s | 18.72 million | 510,333 | 18.21 million | MDG: Southern Asia |
| 2010s | 18.95 million | 544,593 | 18.41 million | MDG: Southern Asia |
| 2020s | 18.41 million | 529,390 | 17.88 million | MDG: Southern Asia |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher school age population, one year before the official primary entry, MDG: Southern Asia or South Africa?
- MDG: Southern Asia, at 18.21 million against 559,892 in South Africa as of 2024.
- What is the difference in school age population, one year before the official primary entry between MDG: Southern Asia and South Africa?
- 17.65 million, with MDG: Southern Asia ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for MDG: Southern Asia and South Africa?
- 26 years are reported by both, from 1999 to 2024.
- How do MDG: Southern Asia and South Africa rank globally for school age population, one year before the official primary entry?
- MDG: Southern Asia ranks 29th and South Africa ranks 26th of 221 groups.
- Where does this data come from?
- UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as School age population, one year before the official primary entry age, male (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