School enrollment, tertiary, male in South Africa

South Africa: School enrollment, tertiary, male was 17.3% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
17.3%
Change on year
down 3.2%
World rank
131st
of 187 countries
All-time high
18.2%
in 2018
All-time low
11.2%
in 1988
Years of data
19
1988–2023

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

051015201988200520231988: 11.2 % gross1989: 12 % gross1990: 12.4 % gross1991: 12.5 % gross1992: 12.9 % gross1993: 14.5 % gross1994: 15.5 % gross2012: 14.8 % gross2013: 15.4 % gross2014: 15.3 % gross2015: 15.7 % gross2016: 15.6 % gross2017: 17.4 % gross2018: 18.2 % gross2019: 17.9 % gross2020: 17.7 % gross2021: 17.2 % gross2022: 17.9 % gross2023: 17.3 % gross

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

Analysis

South Africa recorded 17.3% for school enrollment, tertiary, male in 2023.

That represents a change of down 3.2% on the previous year and up 12.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, school enrollment, tertiary, male in South Africa peaked at 18.2% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 11.2%, in 1988.

South Africa ranks 131st 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, male in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for School enrollment, tertiary, male (% gross) in South Africa, 1988 to 2023.
Year % gross 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

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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

  1. 128 Trinidad and Tobago 18.1% compare
  2. 129 United States Virgin Islands 17.8% compare
  3. 130 Belize 17.7% compare
  4. 132 Lao People's Democratic Republic 17.0% compare
  5. 133 Cameroon 17.0% compare
  6. 134 Myanmar 16.5% 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, male in South Africa?
School enrollment, tertiary, male in South Africa was 17.3% in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest school enrollment, tertiary, male recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 18.2% in 2018.
What is the lowest school enrollment, tertiary, male recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 11.2% in 1988.
How does South Africa rank for school enrollment, tertiary, male?
South Africa ranks 131st out of 187 countries with data for 2023.
Is school enrollment, tertiary, 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 Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of School enrollment, tertiary, male (% gross). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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School enrollment, tertiary, male 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-male-percent-gross/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
School enrollment, tertiary, male (% 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.