Total inbound internationally mobile students, both sexes (number) in South Africa
South Africa: Total inbound internationally mobile students, both sexes (number) was 38,481 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Total inbound internationally mobile students, both sexes in South Africa, 1998–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2023, total inbound internationally mobile students, both sexes in South Africa stood at 38,481.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 25.6% on the previous year and down 9.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total inbound internationally mobile students, both sexes in South Africa peaked at 70,428 in 2011 and was at its lowest, 15,494, in 1998.
South Africa ranks 38th of 135 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.
Total inbound internationally mobile students, both sexes (number) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 15,494 | — |
| 1999 | 34,770 | +124.4% |
| 2000 | 45,377 | +30.5% |
| 2001 | 39,752 | -12.4% |
| 2002 | 46,687 | +17.4% |
| 2003 | 49,979 | +7.1% |
| 2004 | 51,012 | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 50,129 | -1.7% |
| 2006 | 53,738 | +7.2% |
| 2007 | 59,237 | +10.2% |
| 2008 | 63,964 | +8.0% |
| 2009 | 60,856 | -4.9% |
| 2010 | 66,119 | +8.6% |
| 2011 | 70,428 | +6.5% |
| 2012 | 42,180 | -40.1% |
| 2013 | 42,351 | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 42,594 | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 43,305 | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 45,142 | +4.2% |
| 2017 | 45,334 | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 42,267 | -6.8% |
| 2019 | 40,712 | -3.7% |
| 2020 | 36,050 | -11.5% |
| 2021 | 33,974 | -5.8% |
| 2022 | 30,631 | -9.8% |
| 2023 | 38,481 | +25.6% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 38,481 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 7,760, 5.0× the median. (39 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 38,481 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2,152, 17.9× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total inbound internationally mobile students, both sexes (number) in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | +124.4% | 15,494 | 34,770 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 25,132 | 15,494 | 34,770 | 2 |
| 2000s | 52,073 | 39,752 | 63,964 | 10 |
| 2010s | 48,043 | 40,712 | 70,428 | 10 |
| 2020s | 34,784 | 30,631 | 38,481 | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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 total inbound internationally mobile students, both sexes in South Africa?
- Total inbound internationally mobile students, both sexes in South Africa was 38,481 in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total inbound internationally mobile students, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 70,428 in 2011.
- What is the lowest total inbound internationally mobile students, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 15,494 in 1998.
- How does South Africa rank for total inbound internationally mobile students, both sexes?
- South Africa ranks 38th out of 135 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total inbound internationally mobile students, both sexes rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.1%. 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 Total inbound internationally mobile students, both sexes (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