Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps in South Africa

South Africa: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps was 444,590 in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
444,590
Change on year
down 4.4%
World rank
40th
of 195 countries
All-time high
482,205
in 2018
All-time low
205,342
in 1988
Years of data
19
1988–2023

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps in South Africa, 1988–2023

0100.0k200.0k300.0k400.0k500.0k1988200520231988: 205.3k1989: 227.4k1990: 244.0k1991: 253.9k1992: 262.4k1993: 297.4k1994: 321.1k2012: 422.2k2013: 433.5k2014: 426.7k2015: 439.7k2016: 442.5k2017: 463.1k2018: 482.2k2019: 474.7k2020: 465.2k2021: 449.6k2022: 465.0k2023: 444.6k

Source: Statizoid (derived).

Analysis

South Africa recorded 444,590 for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps in 2023.

That represents a change of down 4.4% on the previous year and up 2.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps in South Africa peaked at 482,205 in 2018 and was at its lowest, 205,342, in 1988.

South Africa ranks 40th of 195 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 19 years of available data.

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps filled in South Africa, 1988 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1988 205,342
1989 227,446 +10.8%
1990 243,964 +7.3%
1991 253,900 +4.1%
1992 262,400 +3.3%
1993 297,376 +13.3%
1994 321,053 +8.0%
2012 422,204 +31.5%
2013 433,524 +2.7%
2014 426,707 -1.6%
2015 439,708 +3.0%
2016 442,453 +0.6%
2017 463,141 +4.7%
2018 482,205 +4.1%
2019 474,665 -1.6%
2020 465,207 -2.0%
2021 449,645 -3.3%
2022 464,978 +3.4%
2023 444,590 -4.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 216,394 205,342 227,446 2
1990s 275,739 243,964 321,053 5
2010s 448,076 422,204 482,205 8
2020s 456,105 444,590 465,207 4

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 37 Malaysia 507,807 compare
  2. 38 Ecuador 491,220 compare
  3. 39 Netherlands 455,121 compare
  4. 41 Greece 439,136 compare
  5. 42 Ethiopia 413,109 compare
  6. 43 Myanmar 386,298 compare

See the full ranking of 416 places →

More education data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps in South Africa?
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps in South Africa was 444,590 in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 482,205 in 2018.
What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 205,342 in 1988.
How does South Africa rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps?
South Africa ranks 40th out of 195 countries with data for 2023.
Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 2.6%. 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, male (number), gaps filled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-male-number-gaps-filled/south-africa/

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<a href="https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-male-number-gaps-filled/south-africa/">Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps in South Africa</a> — Statizoid

How this figure is calculated

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) with 661 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, male (number), gaps filled
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
416 places, 17,882 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) with 661 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.