Tertiary education enrolment (gross) in South Africa
Gross tertiary enrolment in South Africa was 23.5% in 2023.
South Africa, 2023
23.5%
Change from 2022
−0.2percentage points
World, 2023
43.2%
Median of G20 countries, 2023
76.1%
Position in 2023
99th of 128
Tertiary education enrolment (gross) in South Africa over time
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South Africa
World
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The chart loads when you scroll to it. The table below shows the same data.
The chart shows a calculation from the published values. The table below keeps the published values.
% of the population in the five years after secondary school age. Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Gaps mean no published value; points are not joined across missing years.
| Period | South Africa | World |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | – | 43.6% |
| 2023 | 23.5% | 43.2% |
| 2022 | 23.7% | 42.0% |
| 2021 | 22.3% | 41.1% |
| 2020 | 22.6% | 39.7% |
| 2019 | 22.2% | 38.7% |
| 2018 | 22.4% | 37.9% |
| 2017 | 21.1% | 37.5% |
| 2016 | 18.9% | 37.1% |
| 2015 | 19.0% | 36.6% |
| 2014 | 18.5% | 35.6% |
| 2013 | 18.6% | 33.1% |
| 2012 | 17.9% | 32.3% |
| 2011 | – | 31.1% |
| 2010 | – | 29.6% |
| 2009 | – | 28.3% |
| 2008 | – | 27.4% |
| 2007 | – | 26.3% |
| 2006 | – | 25.7% |
| 2005 | – | 24.3% |
| 2004 | – | 23.6% |
| 2003 | – | 22.8% |
| 2002 | – | 21.6% |
| 2001 | – | 20.4% |
A dash means no value was published for that period.
In short
- That is a change of −0.2 percentage points from 23.7% in 2022.
- Since 2013, when it was 18.6%, the figure has changed by +4.9 percentage points.
- Among the 128 countries with data for 2023, South Africa has the 99th highest value.
- The figure for the world in 2023 was 43.2%.
More for South Africa
All statistics for South Africa
Primary school enrolment (gross)
101.8%
2023 · World Bank
ILO estimate of the youth NEET rate
34.7%
2025 · ILOSTAT
Primary completion (UIS)
97.6%
2024 · UNESCO UIS
Lower secondary completion
92.5%
2024 · UNESCO UIS
Upper secondary completion
62.2%
2024 · UNESCO UIS
Out-of-school children
6.1%
2023 · UNESCO UIS