School enrollment, tertiary, female in South Africa

South Africa: School enrollment, tertiary, female was 29.8% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
29.8%
Change on year
up 0.5%
World rank
122nd
of 187 countries
All-time high
29.8%
in 2023
All-time low
9.8%
in 1988
Years of data
19
1988–2023

School enrollment, tertiary, female in South Africa, 1988–2023

10152025301988200520231988: 9.8 % gross1989: 10.7 % gross1990: 10.4 % gross1991: 11.1 % gross1992: 11.8 % gross1993: 12.7 % gross1994: 15.9 % gross2012: 21.1 % gross2013: 21.9 % gross2014: 21.7 % gross2015: 22.4 % gross2016: 22.3 % gross2017: 24.9 % gross2018: 26.5 % gross2019: 26.6 % gross2020: 27.6 % gross2021: 27.6 % gross2022: 29.7 % gross2023: 29.8 % gross

Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % gross.

Analysis

The most recent figure for school enrollment, tertiary, female in South Africa is 29.8%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 19 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.5% on the previous year and up 36.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, school enrollment, tertiary, female in South Africa peaked at 29.8% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 9.8%, in 1988.

South Africa ranks 122nd of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

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

School enrollment, tertiary, female in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for School enrollment, tertiary, female (% gross) in South Africa, 1988 to 2023.
Year % gross Change
1988 9.8%
1989 10.7% +8.7%
1990 10.4% -2.1%
1991 11.1% +6.7%
1992 11.8% +5.6%
1993 12.7% +8.1%
1994 15.9% +25.0%
2012 21.1% +33.0%
2013 21.9% +3.7%
2014 21.7% -1.0%
2015 22.4% +3.3%
2016 22.3% -0.2%
2017 24.9% +11.3%
2018 26.5% +6.7%
2019 26.6% +0.2%
2020 27.6% +3.8%
2021 27.6% -0.1%
2022 29.7% +7.6%
2023 29.8% +0.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 10.2% 9.8% 10.7% 2
1990s 12.4% 10.4% 15.9% 5
2010s 23.4% 21.1% 26.6% 8
2020s 28.7% 27.6% 29.8% 4

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 119 Belize 32.1% compare
  2. 120 Guatemala 30.5% compare
  3. 121 Cape Verde 30.0% compare
  4. 123 Trinidad and Tobago 29.8% compare
  5. 124 Honduras 28.1% compare
  6. 125 Botswana 26.6% compare

See the full ranking of 232 places →

More education data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is school enrollment, tertiary, female in South Africa?
School enrollment, tertiary, female in South Africa was 29.8% in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest school enrollment, tertiary, female recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 29.8% in 2023.
What is the lowest school enrollment, tertiary, female recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 9.8% in 1988.
How does South Africa rank for school enrollment, tertiary, female?
South Africa ranks 122nd out of 187 countries with data for 2023.
Is school enrollment, tertiary, female rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 36.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of School enrollment, tertiary, female (% gross). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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School enrollment, tertiary, female in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/school-enrollment-tertiary-female-percent-gross/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
School enrollment, tertiary, female (% gross)
Unit
% gross
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
232 places, 6,548 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

Gross enrollment ratio is the ratio of total enrollment, regardless of age, to the population of the age group that officially corresponds to the level of education shown. Tertiary education, whether or not to an advanced research qualification, normally requires, as a minimum condition of admission, the successful completion of education at the secondary level.