Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in South Africa
South Africa: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 0.9836 units per square kilometre in 2023. ▲ Rising
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in South Africa, 1970–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in units per square kilometre.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in South Africa is 0.9836 units per square kilometre, 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 1.01 units per square kilometre in 2022 and was at its lowest, 0.0682 units per square kilometre, in 1970.
That places South Africa 132nd out of 195 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 square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.0682 units per square kilometre | — |
| 1973 | 0.0813 units per square kilometre | +19.2% |
| 1988 | 0.3122 units per square kilometre | +284.2% |
| 1989 | 0.3472 units per square kilometre | +11.2% |
| 1990 | 0.3619 units per square kilometre | +4.2% |
| 1991 | 0.3851 units per square kilometre | +6.4% |
| 1992 | 0.404 units per square kilometre | +4.9% |
| 1993 | 0.4558 units per square kilometre | +12.8% |
| 1994 | 0.5094 units per square kilometre | +11.7% |
| 2012 | 0.8291 units per square kilometre | +62.8% |
| 2013 | 0.8537 units per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 2014 | 0.8396 units per square kilometre | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 0.8663 units per square kilometre | +3.2% |
| 2016 | 0.8685 units per square kilometre | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 0.92 units per square kilometre | +5.9% |
| 2018 | 0.9708 units per square kilometre | +5.5% |
| 2019 | 0.9666 units per square kilometre | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 0.9762 units per square kilometre | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 0.9582 units per square kilometre | -1.8% |
| 2022 | 1.01 units per square kilometre | +5.3% |
| 2023 | 0.9836 units per square kilometre | -2.6% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.9836 units per square kilometre is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2.67 units per square kilometre, 37% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 0.9836 units per square kilometre is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.4742 units per square kilometre, 2.1× the median. (44 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in South Africa 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | +284.2% | 0.0813 units per square kilometre | 0.3122 units per square kilometre |
| 2012 | +62.8% | 0.5094 units per square kilometre | 0.8291 units per square kilometre |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.0747 units per square kilometre | 0.0682 units per square kilometre | 0.0813 units per square kilometre | 2 |
| 1980s | 0.3297 units per square kilometre | 0.3122 units per square kilometre | 0.3472 units per square kilometre | 2 |
| 1990s | 0.4232 units per square kilometre | 0.3619 units per square kilometre | 0.5094 units per square kilometre | 5 |
| 2010s | 0.8893 units per square kilometre | 0.8291 units per square kilometre | 0.9708 units per square kilometre | 8 |
| 2020s | 0.9818 units per square kilometre | 0.9582 units per square kilometre | 1.01 units per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 129 Finland 1.08 units per square kilometre compare
- 130 Estonia 1.03 units per square kilometre compare
- 131 Côte d'Ivoire 0.9953 units per square kilometre compare
- 133 Iraq 0.9715 units per square kilometre compare
- 134 Samoa 0.9335 units per square kilometre compare
- 135 New Zealand 0.9288 units per square kilometre 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 0.9836 units per square kilometre 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 1.01 units per square kilometre in 2022.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0682 units per square kilometre in 1970.
- How does South Africa rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number)?
- South Africa ranks 132nd out of 195 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 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 square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 21 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) divided by Land area (sq. km), 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) ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes UNESCO Institute for Statistics
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
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 Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.