Least developed countries vs South Africa: Secondary education, pupils

Least developed countries
75.92 million
in 2024
South Africa
5.50 million
in 2023
Least developed countries rank
24th
South Africa rank
23rd

Secondary education, pupils over time

  • Least developed countries
  • South Africa
020.0M40.0M60.0M80.0M197019972024

How they compare

Least developed countries currently reports 75.92 million against 5.50 million in South Africa, a difference of 70.42 million.

That makes Least developed countries's figure about 13.8 times South Africa's.

Across all 29 years both countries report, Least developed countries has been ahead every year.

Least developed countries ranks 24th and South Africa ranks 23rd of 43 groups.

Least developed countries has averaged higher in every one of the 5 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Least developed countries South Africa Difference Ahead
1980s 13.02 million 2.55 million 10.47 million Least developed countries
1990s 18.58 million 3.55 million 15.03 million Least developed countries
2000s 33.98 million 4.54 million 29.44 million Least developed countries
2010s 58.08 million 4.96 million 53.11 million Least developed countries
2020s 73.34 million 5.33 million 68.00 million Least developed countries

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher secondary education, pupils, Least developed countries or South Africa?
Least developed countries, at 75.92 million against 5.50 million in South Africa as of 2024.
What is the difference in secondary education, pupils between Least developed countries and South Africa?
70.42 million, with Least developed countries ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Least developed countries and South Africa?
29 years are reported by both, from 1989 to 2023.
How do Least developed countries and South Africa rank globally for secondary education, pupils?
Least developed countries ranks 24th and South Africa ranks 23rd of 43 groups.
Where does this data come from?
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as Secondary education, pupils. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Least developed countries vs South Africa: Secondary education, pupils. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 27 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/secondary-education-pupils/least-developed-countries-un-classification/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Secondary education, pupils
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
251 places, 10,025 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

Secondary education pupils is the total number of pupils enrolled at secondary level in public and private schools.