South Africa vs UIS: South and West Asia: School age population, one year before the official primary entry
South Africa
559,892
in 2025
UIS: South and West Asia
18.21 million
in 2024
South Africa rank
26th
UIS: South and West Asia rank
29th
School age population, one year before the official primary entry over time
- South Africa
- UIS: South and West Asia
How they compare
UIS: South and West Asia currently reports 18.21 million against 559,892 in South Africa, a difference of 17.65 million.
That makes UIS: South and West Asia's figure about 32.5 times South Africa's.
Across all 26 years both countries report, UIS: South and West Asia has been ahead every year.
South Africa ranks 26th and UIS: South and West Asia ranks 29th of 222 countries.
UIS: South and West Asia has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | South Africa | UIS: South and West Asia | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 559,603 | 18.11 million | 17.55 million | UIS: South and West Asia |
| 2000s | 510,333 | 18.72 million | 18.21 million | UIS: South and West Asia |
| 2010s | 544,593 | 18.95 million | 18.41 million | UIS: South and West Asia |
| 2020s | 529,390 | 18.41 million | 17.88 million | UIS: South and West 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, South Africa or UIS: South and West Asia?
- UIS: South and West 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 South Africa and UIS: South and West Asia?
- 17.65 million, with UIS: South and West Asia ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and UIS: South and West Asia?
- 26 years are reported by both, from 1999 to 2024.
- How do South Africa and UIS: South and West Asia rank globally for school age population, one year before the official primary entry?
- South Africa ranks 26th and UIS: South and West Asia ranks 29th of 222 countries.
- 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