Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in South Africa
South Africa: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 0.0189 units per person in 2023. ▲ Rising
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in South Africa, 1970–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in units per person.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in South Africa is 0.0189 units per person, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.8% on the previous year and down 0.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in South Africa peaked at 0.0201 units per person in 2018 and was at its lowest, 0.0037 units per person, in 1970.
That places South Africa 127th out of 197 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | units per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.0037 units per person | — |
| 1973 | 0.0041 units per person | +9.3% |
| 1988 | 0.0098 units per person | +142.6% |
| 1989 | 0.0106 units per person | +8.0% |
| 1990 | 0.0108 units per person | +1.4% |
| 1991 | 0.0112 units per person | +4.0% |
| 1992 | 0.0115 units per person | +3.1% |
| 1993 | 0.0128 units per person | +10.6% |
| 1994 | 0.014 units per person | +10.0% |
| 2012 | 0.0187 units per person | +33.2% |
| 2013 | 0.0189 units per person | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 0.0183 units per person | -3.3% |
| 2015 | 0.0185 units per person | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 0.0184 units per person | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 0.0194 units per person | +5.2% |
| 2018 | 0.0201 units per person | +3.8% |
| 2019 | 0.0197 units per person | -2.1% |
| 2020 | 0.0196 units per person | -0.6% |
| 2021 | 0.0189 units per person | -3.3% |
| 2022 | 0.0196 units per person | +3.9% |
| 2023 | 0.0189 units per person | -3.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.0039 units per person | 0.0037 units per person | 0.0041 units per person | 2 |
| 1980s | 0.0102 units per person | 0.0098 units per person | 0.0106 units per person | 2 |
| 1990s | 0.0121 units per person | 0.0108 units per person | 0.014 units per person | 5 |
| 2010s | 0.019 units per person | 0.0183 units per person | 0.0201 units per person | 8 |
| 2020s | 0.0192 units per person | 0.0189 units per person | 0.0196 units per person | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 124 Botswana 0.0211 units per person compare
- 125 Ghana 0.0201 units per person compare
- 126 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 0.0201 units per person compare
- 128 British Virgin Islands 0.0181 units per person compare
- 129 Cambodia 0.0179 units per person compare
- 130 Myanmar 0.0178 units per person compare
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 0.0189 units per person 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 0.0201 units per person in 2018.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0037 units per person in 1970.
- How does South Africa rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number)?
- South Africa ranks 127th out of 197 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 down 0.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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), per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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How this figure is calculated
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) ÷ Population, total
Computed from
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes UNESCO Institute for Statistics
- Population, total World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN)
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) divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.