Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in South Africa
South Africa: Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying was 13,270 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in South Africa, 1998–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2023, total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in South Africa stood at 13,270.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.3% on the previous year and up 87.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in South Africa peaked at 13,282 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 4,889, in 1998.
That places South Africa 95th out of 210 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.
Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 4,889 | — |
| 1999 | 4,894 | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 5,677 | +16.0% |
| 2001 | 6,160 | +8.5% |
| 2002 | 6,428 | +4.4% |
| 2003 | 6,380 | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 5,788 | -9.3% |
| 2005 | 5,740 | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 5,861 | +2.1% |
| 2007 | 5,983 | +2.1% |
| 2008 | 5,782 | -3.4% |
| 2009 | 6,672 | +15.4% |
| 2010 | 6,646 | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 6,577 | -1.0% |
| 2012 | 6,577 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 7,069 | +7.5% |
| 2014 | 8,193 | +15.9% |
| 2015 | 9,036 | +10.3% |
| 2016 | 10,075 | +11.5% |
| 2017 | 10,703 | +6.2% |
| 2018 | 11,966 | +11.8% |
| 2019 | 12,581 | +5.1% |
| 2020 | 13,282 | +5.6% |
| 2021 | 12,633 | -4.9% |
| 2022 | 12,604 | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 13,270 | +5.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4,892 | 4,889 | 4,894 | 2 |
| 2000s | 6,047 | 5,677 | 6,672 | 10 |
| 2010s | 8,942 | 6,577 | 12,581 | 10 |
| 2020s | 12,947 | 12,604 | 13,282 | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More education data for South Africa
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 287,310 (2023)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre primary education 4 (2025)
- Official entrance age to pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 67.4% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 25.7% (2025)
- Lower secondary school starting age 14 years (2025)
- Primary school starting age 7 years (2025)
- Primary secondary enrollment completion rates, gaps filled 101.77 (2023)
- School enrollment, primary 101.8% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in South Africa?
- Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in South Africa was 13,270 in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 13,282 in 2020.
- What is the lowest total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 4,889 in 1998.
- How does South Africa rank for total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying?
- South Africa ranks 95th out of 210 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 87.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying abroad, all countries, 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