Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, male in South Africa
South Africa: Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, male was 17.3% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, male in South Africa, 1988–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, male in South Africa is 17.3%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.2% on the previous year and up 12.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, male in South Africa peaked at 18.2% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 11.2%, in 1988.
That places South Africa 131st out of 189 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 19 years of available data.
Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, male in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 11.2% | — |
| 1989 | 12.0% | +6.7% |
| 1990 | 12.4% | +3.5% |
| 1991 | 12.5% | +1.1% |
| 1992 | 12.9% | +2.8% |
| 1993 | 14.5% | +12.8% |
| 1994 | 15.5% | +7.1% |
| 2012 | 14.8% | -4.4% |
| 2013 | 15.4% | +3.7% |
| 2014 | 15.3% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 15.7% | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 15.6% | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 17.4% | +11.2% |
| 2018 | 18.2% | +4.8% |
| 2019 | 17.9% | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 17.7% | -1.4% |
| 2021 | 17.2% | -2.9% |
| 2022 | 17.9% | +4.0% |
| 2023 | 17.3% | -3.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 11.6% | 11.2% | 12.0% | 2 |
| 1990s | 13.6% | 12.4% | 15.5% | 5 |
| 2010s | 16.3% | 14.8% | 18.2% | 8 |
| 2020s | 17.5% | 17.2% | 17.9% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 128 Trinidad and Tobago 18.1% compare
- 129 United States Virgin Islands 17.8% compare
- 130 Belize 17.7% compare
- 132 Lao People's Democratic Republic 17.0% compare
- 133 Cameroon 17.0% compare
- 134 Myanmar 16.5% 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, male in South Africa?
- Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, male in South Africa was 17.3% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, male recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 18.2% in 2018.
- What is the lowest gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, male recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.2% in 1988.
- How does South Africa rank for gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, male?
- South Africa ranks 131st out of 189 countries with data for 2023.
- Is gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, male rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.4%. 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, male (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release