South Africa vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled

South Africa
5.50 million
in 2023
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
6.40 million
in 2023
South Africa rank
23rd
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank
20th

Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled over time

  • South Africa
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
02.0M4.0M6.0M197119972023

How they compare

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland currently reports 6.40 million against 5.50 million in South Africa, a difference of 896,620.

That makes United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's figure about 1.2 times South Africa's.

Across all 35 years both countries report, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has been ahead every year.

South Africa ranks 23rd and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 20th of 206 countries.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has averaged higher in every one of the 5 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade South Africa United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Difference Ahead
1980s 2.55 million 4.37 million 1.81 million United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
1990s 3.60 million 4.80 million 1.21 million United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
2000s 4.54 million 5.47 million 926,601 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
2010s 4.97 million 5.99 million 1.02 million United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
2020s 5.33 million 6.26 million 925,000 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher secondary education, pupils, gaps filled, South Africa or United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, at 6.40 million against 5.50 million in South Africa as of 2023.
What is the difference in secondary education, pupils, gaps filled between South Africa and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
896,620, with United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
35 years are reported by both, from 1989 to 2023.
How do South Africa and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank globally for secondary education, pupils, gaps filled?
South Africa ranks 23rd and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 20th of 206 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Statizoid (derived), published as Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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South Africa vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 03 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/secondary-education-pupils-gaps-filled/south-africa/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
251 places, 10,723 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

Secondary education, pupils with 698 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.