Enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa
SDG: Sub-saharan Africa: Enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes was 48.80 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa, 1997–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa is 48.80 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 28 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.3% on the previous year and up 37.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 48.80 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 11.97 million, in 1997.
That places SDG: Sub-saharan Africa 68th out of 221 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 28 years of available data.
Enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 11.97 million | — |
| 1998 | 13.24 million | +10.6% |
| 1999 | 13.72 million | +3.6% |
| 2000 | 14.50 million | +5.7% |
| 2001 | 15.70 million | +8.3% |
| 2002 | 16.95 million | +7.9% |
| 2003 | 18.04 million | +6.5% |
| 2004 | 19.40 million | +7.5% |
| 2005 | 20.83 million | +7.4% |
| 2006 | 22.27 million | +6.9% |
| 2007 | 23.26 million | +4.4% |
| 2008 | 24.90 million | +7.1% |
| 2009 | 26.68 million | +7.2% |
| 2010 | 28.86 million | +8.2% |
| 2011 | 30.45 million | +5.5% |
| 2012 | 31.99 million | +5.0% |
| 2013 | 33.91 million | +6.0% |
| 2014 | 35.56 million | +4.9% |
| 2015 | 36.77 million | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 37.77 million | +2.7% |
| 2017 | 39.03 million | +3.3% |
| 2018 | 40.58 million | +4.0% |
| 2019 | 41.96 million | +3.4% |
| 2020 | 43.40 million | +3.4% |
| 2021 | 44.65 million | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 46.35 million | +3.8% |
| 2023 | 48.16 million | +3.9% |
| 2024 | 48.80 million | +1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 12.98 million | 11.97 million | 13.72 million | 3 |
| 2000s | 20.25 million | 14.50 million | 26.68 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 35.69 million | 28.86 million | 41.96 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 46.27 million | 43.40 million | 48.80 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near SDG: Sub-saharan Africa
- 65 Netherlands 764,332 compare
- 66 Zambia 748,065 compare
- 67 Romania 733,821 compare
- 68 Jordan 726,993 compare
- 69 Cambodia 711,127 compare
- 70 Kyrgyzstan 700,406 compare
- 71 Sierra Leone 684,419 compare
More education data for SDG: Sub-saharan Africa
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 191.30 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.31 % change on previous year (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 14.32 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.68 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 37.60 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 12.63 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 12.47 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 0.8202 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 4.94 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 97.68 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa was 48.80 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes recorded in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 48.80 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes recorded in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.97 million in 1997.
- How does SDG: Sub-saharan Africa rank for enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes?
- SDG: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 68th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes rising or falling in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 37.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this SDG: Sub-saharan Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release