Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in South Africa
South Africa: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 1.19 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in South Africa, 1970–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived).
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in South Africa is 1.19 million, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.5% on the previous year and up 15.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in South Africa peaked at 1.22 million in 2022 and was at its lowest, 82,697, in 1970.
South Africa ranks 37th of 200 countries on this measure, in the top 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 South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 82,697 | — |
| 1971 | 87,990 | +6.4% |
| 1972 | 93,284 | +6.0% |
| 1973 | 98,577 | +5.7% |
| 1988 | 378,731 | +284.2% |
| 1989 | 421,152 | +11.2% |
| 1990 | 439,007 | +4.2% |
| 1991 | 467,129 | +6.4% |
| 1992 | 490,112 | +4.9% |
| 1993 | 552,948 | +12.8% |
| 1994 | 617,897 | +11.7% |
| 2012 | 1.01 million | +62.8% |
| 2013 | 1.04 million | +3.0% |
| 2014 | 1.02 million | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 1.05 million | +3.2% |
| 2016 | 1.05 million | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 1.12 million | +5.9% |
| 2018 | 1.18 million | +5.5% |
| 2019 | 1.17 million | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 1.18 million | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 1.16 million | -1.8% |
| 2022 | 1.22 million | +5.3% |
| 2023 | 1.19 million | -2.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 90,637 | 82,697 | 98,577 | 4 |
| 1980s | 399,942 | 378,731 | 421,152 | 2 |
| 1990s | 513,419 | 439,007 | 617,897 | 5 |
| 2010s | 1.08 million | 1.01 million | 1.18 million | 8 |
| 2020s | 1.19 million | 1.16 million | 1.22 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More education data for South Africa
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 181,739 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 339,638 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 410,708 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 407,696 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 5.50 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 7.52 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.119 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in South Africa?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in South Africa was 1.19 million in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.22 million in 2022.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 82,697 in 1970.
- How does South Africa rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number)?
- South Africa ranks 37th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 23 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
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
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes UNESCO Institute for Statistics
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
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.