Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in South Africa
South Africa: Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes was 23.5% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in South Africa, 1970–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in South Africa is 23.5%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.0% on the previous year and up 26.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in South Africa peaked at 23.7% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 4.0%, in 1970.
South Africa ranks 125th of 194 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.
Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 4.0% | — |
| 1973 | 4.4% | +10.1% |
| 1988 | 10.5% | +139.6% |
| 1989 | 11.3% | +7.7% |
| 1990 | 11.4% | +1.0% |
| 1991 | 11.8% | +3.6% |
| 1992 | 12.3% | +4.1% |
| 1993 | 13.6% | +10.5% |
| 1994 | 15.7% | +15.3% |
| 2012 | 17.9% | +14.3% |
| 2013 | 18.6% | +3.7% |
| 2014 | 18.5% | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 19.0% | +3.0% |
| 2016 | 18.9% | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 21.1% | +11.4% |
| 2018 | 22.4% | +6.0% |
| 2019 | 22.2% | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 22.6% | +1.7% |
| 2021 | 22.3% | -1.2% |
| 2022 | 23.7% | +6.2% |
| 2023 | 23.5% | -1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4.2% | 4.0% | 4.4% | 2 |
| 1980s | 10.9% | 10.5% | 11.3% | 2 |
| 1990s | 13.0% | 11.4% | 15.7% | 5 |
| 2010s | 19.8% | 17.9% | 22.4% | 8 |
| 2020s | 23.0% | 22.3% | 23.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 122 Cape Verde 24.3% compare
- 123 Trinidad and Tobago 23.8% compare
- 124 Bangladesh 23.7% compare
- 126 Honduras 23.3% compare
- 127 Luxembourg 22.4% compare
- 128 Cambodia 21.4% 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 gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in South Africa?
- Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in South Africa was 23.5% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 23.7% in 2022.
- What is the lowest gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.0% in 1970.
- How does South Africa rank for gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes?
- South Africa ranks 125th out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release