Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in ECA: Southern Africa (unsdcode:98104)

ECA: Southern Africa (unsdcode:98104): Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 2.24 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
2.24 million
Change on year
up 0.3%
Rank
187th
of 221 groups
All-time high
2.24 million
in 2024
All-time low
101,645
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2024

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in ECA: Southern Africa (unsdcode:98104), 1970–2024

0500.0k1.0M1.5M2.0M197019972024

Source: Statizoid (derived).

Analysis

In 2024, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in ECA: Southern Africa (unsdcode:98104) stood at 2.24 million. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.

The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 27.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in ECA: Southern Africa (unsdcode:98104) peaked at 2.24 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 101,645, in 1970.

ECA: Southern Africa (unsdcode:98104) ranks 187th of 221 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

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 ECA: Southern Africa (unsdcode:98104), year by year

Annual values for Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number), gaps filled in ECA: Southern Africa (unsdcode:98104), 1970 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1970 101,645
1971 107,358 +5.6%
1972 113,939 +6.1%
1973 122,307 +7.3%
1974 136,455 +11.6%
1975 154,589 +13.3%
1976 169,572 +9.7%
1977 182,311 +7.5%
1978 197,992 +8.6%
1979 213,992 +8.1%
1980 231,496 +8.2%
1981 256,075 +10.6%
1982 281,693 +10.0%
1983 300,251 +6.6%
1984 325,439 +8.4%
1985 353,839 +8.7%
1986 383,957 +8.5%
1987 420,380 +9.5%
1988 461,881 +9.9%
1989 518,532 +12.3%
1990 535,485 +3.3%
1991 569,651 +6.4%
1992 622,038 +9.2%
1993 676,032 +8.7%
1994 747,799 +10.6%
1995 788,162 +5.4%
1996 814,730 +3.4%
1997 841,462 +3.3%
1998 883,454 +5.0%
1999 899,022 +1.8%
2000 929,795 +3.4%
2001 969,489 +4.3%
2002 1.01 million +4.4%
2003 1.10 million +9.1%
2004 1.16 million +5.0%
2005 1.23 million +6.2%
2006 1.29 million +5.1%
2007 1.37 million +5.5%
2008 1.43 million +4.6%
2009 1.49 million +4.3%
2010 1.53 million +2.8%
2011 1.57 million +2.4%
2012 1.63 million +4.0%
2013 1.73 million +6.1%
2014 1.76 million +1.7%
2015 1.83 million +4.3%
2016 1.89 million +2.9%
2017 1.97 million +4.2%
2018 2.06 million +4.8%
2019 2.09 million +1.5%
2020 2.14 million +2.1%
2021 2.15 million +0.4%
2022 2.24 million +4.3%
2023 2.24 million -0.1%
2024 2.24 million +0.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 150,016 101,645 213,992 10
1980s 353,354 231,496 518,532 10
1990s 737,784 535,485 899,022 10
2000s 1.20 million 929,795 1.49 million 10
2010s 1.81 million 1.53 million 2.09 million 10
2020s 2.20 million 2.14 million 2.24 million 5

Countries ranked near ECA: Southern Africa (unsdcode:98104)

  1. 184 Seychelles 1,203 compare
  2. 185 San Marino 1,033 compare
  3. 186 Liechtenstein 971 compare
  4. 187 Vanuatu 955 compare
  5. 188 Cayman Islands 912 compare
  6. 189 Aruba 867 compare
  7. 190 Palau 768 compare

See the full ranking of 421 places →

More education data for ECA: Southern Africa (unsdcode:98104)

All data for ECA: Southern Africa (unsdcode:98104) →

Frequently asked questions

What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in ECA: Southern Africa (unsdcode:98104)?
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in ECA: Southern Africa (unsdcode:98104) was 2.24 million in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) recorded in ECA: Southern Africa (unsdcode:98104)?
The highest recorded value was 2.24 million in 2024.
What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) recorded in ECA: Southern Africa (unsdcode:98104)?
The lowest recorded value was 101,645 in 1970.
How does ECA: Southern Africa (unsdcode:98104) rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number)?
ECA: Southern Africa (unsdcode:98104) ranks 187th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) rising or falling in ECA: Southern Africa (unsdcode:98104)?
Over the last ten years it is up 27.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this ECA: Southern Africa (unsdcode:98104) data come from?
The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number), gaps filled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in ECA: Southern Africa (unsdcode:98104). Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-both-sexes-number-gaps-filled/eca-southern-africa-unsdcode-98104/

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<a href="https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-both-sexes-number-gaps-filled/eca-southern-africa-unsdcode-98104/">Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in ECA: Southern Africa (unsdcode:98104)</a> — Statizoid

How this figure is calculated

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) with 690 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.

Computed from

Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.

About this data

Indicator
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number), gaps filled
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
421 places, 19,011 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) with 690 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.