Outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in South in South Africa

South Africa: Outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in South was 125 in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
125
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
56th
of 210 countries
All-time high
354
in 2014
All-time low
22
in 2001
Years of data
25
1999–2023

Outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in South in South Africa, 1999–2023

01002003004001999201120231999: 242000: 242001: 222002: 312003: 252004: 262005: 302006: 262007: 632008: 992009: 1352010: 1702011: 2062012: 1092013: 2102014: 3542015: 2662016: 3502017: 2902018: 2042019: 1672020: 1632021: 1412022: 1242023: 125

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

In 2023, outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in south in South Africa stood at 125.

That represents a change of up 0.8% on the previous year and down 40.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in south in South Africa peaked at 354 in 2014 and was at its lowest, 22, in 2001.

That places South Africa 56th out of 210 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in South in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in South and West Asia, both sexes (UIS estimate) (number) in South Africa, 1999 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1999 24
2000 24 +0.0%
2001 22 -8.3%
2002 31 +40.9%
2003 25 -19.4%
2004 26 +4.0%
2005 30 +15.4%
2006 26 -13.3%
2007 63 +142.3%
2008 99 +57.1%
2009 135 +36.4%
2010 170 +25.9%
2011 206 +21.2%
2012 109 -47.1%
2013 210 +92.7%
2014 354 +68.6%
2015 266 -24.9%
2016 350 +31.6%
2017 290 -17.1%
2018 204 -29.7%
2019 167 -18.1%
2020 163 -2.4%
2021 141 -13.5%
2022 124 -12.1%
2023 125 +0.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 24 24 24 1
2000s 48.1 22 135 10
2010s 232.6 109 354 10
2020s 138.25 124 163 4

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 53 Mauritius 148 compare
  2. 54 Cameroon 146 compare
  3. 55 Congo 144 compare
  4. 57 Palestine 114 compare
  5. 58 Japan 111 compare
  6. 59 Turkey 101 compare

See the full ranking of 431 places →

More education data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in south in South Africa?
Outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in south in South Africa was 125 in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in south recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 354 in 2014.
What is the lowest outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in south recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 22 in 2001.
How does South Africa rank for outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in south?
South Africa ranks 56th out of 210 countries with data for 2023.
Is outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in south rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 40.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in South and West Asia, both sexes (UIS estimate) (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in South in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/outbound-internationally-mobile-tertiary-students-studying-in-south-and-west-asia-both/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in South and West Asia, both sexes (UIS estimate) (number)
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
431 places, 10,910 data points, 1997–2023
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release