Net flow of internationally mobile students (inbound - outbound) in South Africa
South Africa: Net flow of internationally mobile students (inbound - outbound) was 25,211 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Net flow of internationally mobile students (inbound - outbound) in South Africa, 1998–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 25,211 for net flow of internationally mobile students (inbound - outbound) in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 39.9% on the previous year and down 28.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net flow of internationally mobile students (inbound - outbound) in South Africa peaked at 63,851 in 2011 and was at its lowest, 10,605, in 1998.
South Africa ranks 28th of 148 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.
Net flow of internationally mobile students (inbound - outbound) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 10,605 | — |
| 1999 | 29,876 | +181.7% |
| 2000 | 39,700 | +32.9% |
| 2001 | 33,592 | -15.4% |
| 2002 | 40,259 | +19.8% |
| 2003 | 43,599 | +8.3% |
| 2004 | 45,224 | +3.7% |
| 2005 | 44,389 | -1.8% |
| 2006 | 47,877 | +7.9% |
| 2007 | 53,254 | +11.2% |
| 2008 | 58,182 | +9.3% |
| 2009 | 54,184 | -6.9% |
| 2010 | 59,473 | +9.8% |
| 2011 | 63,851 | +7.4% |
| 2012 | 35,603 | -44.2% |
| 2013 | 35,282 | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 34,401 | -2.5% |
| 2015 | 34,269 | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 35,067 | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 34,631 | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 30,301 | -12.5% |
| 2019 | 28,131 | -7.2% |
| 2020 | 22,768 | -19.1% |
| 2021 | 21,341 | -6.3% |
| 2022 | 18,027 | -15.5% |
| 2023 | 25,211 | +39.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 20,240 | 10,605 | 29,876 | 2 |
| 2000s | 46,026 | 33,592 | 58,182 | 10 |
| 2010s | 39,101 | 28,131 | 63,851 | 10 |
| 2020s | 21,837 | 18,027 | 25,211 | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 25 Macau, China 31,959 compare
- 26 New Zealand 31,755 compare
- 27 Hungary 28,201 compare
- 29 Denmark 23,689 compare
- 30 Hong Kong, China 22,784 compare
- 31 Finland 21,791 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 net flow of internationally mobile students (inbound - outbound) in South Africa?
- Net flow of internationally mobile students (inbound - outbound) in South Africa was 25,211 in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest net flow of internationally mobile students (inbound - outbound) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 63,851 in 2011.
- What is the lowest net flow of internationally mobile students (inbound - outbound) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 10,605 in 1998.
- How does South Africa rank for net flow of internationally mobile students (inbound - outbound)?
- South Africa ranks 28th out of 148 countries with data for 2023.
- Is net flow of internationally mobile students (inbound - outbound) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Net flow of internationally mobile students (inbound - outbound), both sexes (UIS estimate) (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release