Enrolment in post-secondary non-tertiary education, female in South Africa

South Africa: Enrolment in post-secondary non-tertiary education, female was 211,806 in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
211,806
Change on year
up 6.8%
World rank
9th
of 132 countries
All-time high
238,829
in 2019
All-time low
56,666
in 2001
Years of data
22
1999–2023

Enrolment in post-secondary non-tertiary education, female in South Africa, 1999–2023

50.0k100.0k150.0k200.0k250.0k1999201120231999: 63.2k2000: 63.9k2001: 56.7k2002: 64.4k2003: 68.3k2004: 72.4k2005: 82.7k2009: 77.7k2010: 73.4k2011: 84.9k2012: 122.4k2013: 157.5k2014: 189.1k2015: 212.2k2016: 224.9k2017: 238.7k2018: 231.8k2019: 238.8k2020: 135.6k2021: 210.8k2022: 198.2k2023: 211.8k

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

The most recent figure for enrolment in post-secondary non-tertiary education, female in South Africa is 211,806, measured in 2023.

The figure is up 6.8% on the previous year and up 34.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, enrolment in post-secondary non-tertiary education, female in South Africa peaked at 238,829 in 2019 and was at its lowest, 56,666, in 2001.

South Africa ranks 9th of 132 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.

Enrolment in post-secondary non-tertiary education, female in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Enrolment in post-secondary non-tertiary education, female (number) in South Africa, 1999 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1999 63,233
2000 63,898 +1.1%
2001 56,666 -11.3%
2002 64,414 +13.7%
2003 68,317 +6.1%
2004 72,425 +6.0%
2005 82,706 +14.2%
2009 77,679 -6.1%
2010 73,411 -5.5%
2011 84,860 +15.6%
2012 122,383 +44.2%
2013 157,499 +28.7%
2014 189,054 +20.0%
2015 212,163 +12.2%
2016 224,906 +6.0%
2017 238,653 +6.1%
2018 231,751 -2.9%
2019 238,829 +3.1%
2020 135,623 -43.2%
2021 210,836 +55.5%
2022 198,228 -6.0%
2023 211,806 +6.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 63,233 63,233 63,233 1
2000s 69,444 56,666 82,706 7
2010s 177,351 73,411 238,829 10
2020s 189,123 135,623 211,806 4

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 6 Philippines 382,856 compare
  2. 7 Germany 378,691 compare
  3. 8 Kenya 263,572 compare
  4. 10 Australia 209,830 compare
  5. 11 Viet Nam 177,692 compare
  6. 12 Poland 173,349 compare

See the full ranking of 346 places →

More education data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is enrolment in post-secondary non-tertiary education, female in South Africa?
Enrolment in post-secondary non-tertiary education, female in South Africa was 211,806 in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest enrolment in post-secondary non-tertiary education, female recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 238,829 in 2019.
What is the lowest enrolment in post-secondary non-tertiary education, female recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 56,666 in 2001.
How does South Africa rank for enrolment in post-secondary non-tertiary education, female?
South Africa ranks 9th out of 132 countries with data for 2023.
Is enrolment in post-secondary non-tertiary education, female rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 34.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in post-secondary non-tertiary education, female (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Enrolment in post-secondary non-tertiary education, female in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-post-secondary-non-tertiary-education-female-number-2/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Enrolment in post-secondary non-tertiary education, female (number)
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
346 places, 7,272 data points, 1997–2025
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release