Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Botswana
Botswana: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 53,188 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Botswana, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Botswana stood at 53,188.
The figure is up 3.9% on the previous year and down 3.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Botswana peaked at 60,583 in 2015 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1970.
That places Botswana 137th out of 200 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Botswana, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0 | — |
| 1971 | 0 | — |
| 1972 | 179 | — |
| 1973 | 244 | +36.3% |
| 1974 | 289 | +18.4% |
| 1975 | 469 | +62.3% |
| 1976 | 527 | +12.4% |
| 1977 | 622 | +18.0% |
| 1978 | 762 | +22.5% |
| 1979 | 860 | +12.9% |
| 1980 | 1,078 | +25.3% |
| 1981 | 1,137 | +5.5% |
| 1982 | 1,317 | +15.8% |
| 1983 | 1,435 | +9.0% |
| 1984 | 1,693 | +18.0% |
| 1985 | 1,938 | +14.5% |
| 1986 | 2,378 | +22.7% |
| 1987 | 2,731 | +14.8% |
| 1991 | 5,364 | +96.4% |
| 1993 | 6,830 | +27.3% |
| 1994 | 7,728 | +13.1% |
| 1995 | 7,920 | +2.5% |
| 1996 | 8,850 | +11.7% |
| 1998 | 10,247 | +15.8% |
| 1999 | 11,246 | +9.7% |
| 2000 | 13,088 | +16.4% |
| 2001 | 14,582 | +11.4% |
| 2002 | 15,641 | +7.3% |
| 2003 | 18,608 | +19.0% |
| 2004 | 20,011 | +7.5% |
| 2005 | 19,655 | -1.8% |
| 2006 | 21,738 | +10.6% |
| 2007 | 22,257 | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 31,129 | +39.9% |
| 2009 | 47,889 | +53.8% |
| 2010 | 42,366 | -11.5% |
| 2011 | 37,859 | -10.6% |
| 2012 | 46,613 | +23.1% |
| 2013 | 57,447 | +23.2% |
| 2014 | 55,128 | -4.0% |
| 2015 | 60,583 | +9.9% |
| 2016 | 51,573 | -14.9% |
| 2017 | 49,444 | -4.1% |
| 2019 | 50,846 | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 53,853 | +5.9% |
| 2021 | 52,169 | -3.1% |
| 2022 | 51,695 | -0.9% |
| 2023 | 51,198 | -1.0% |
| 2024 | 53,188 | +3.9% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 53,188 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 237,490, 22% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 53,188 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 83,195, 64% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Botswana changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | +96.4% | 2,731 | 5,364 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 395.2 | 0 | 860 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1,713 | 1,078 | 2,731 | 8 |
| 1990s | 8,312 | 5,364 | 11,246 | 7 |
| 2000s | 22,460 | 13,088 | 47,889 | 10 |
| 2010s | 50,207 | 37,859 | 60,583 | 9 |
| 2020s | 52,421 | 51,198 | 53,853 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
More education data for Botswana
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 15,284 (2021)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 9,590 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 20,760 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 20,779 (2022)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 175,513 (2021)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 381,674 (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 4.49 % change on previous year (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1564 units per person (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Botswana?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Botswana was 53,188 in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 60,583 in 2015.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1970.
- How does Botswana rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Botswana ranks 137th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release