Enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa

UIS: Sub-saharan Africa: Enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes was 48.49 million in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
48.49 million
Change on year
up 1.3%
Rank
69th
of 221 groups
All-time high
48.49 million
in 2024
All-time low
11.93 million
in 1997
Years of data
28
1997–2024

Enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa, 1997–2024

10.0M20.0M30.0M40.0M50.0M1997201020241997: 11.9M1998: 13.2M1999: 13.7M2000: 14.4M2001: 15.6M2002: 16.9M2003: 17.9M2004: 19.3M2005: 20.8M2006: 22.2M2007: 23.2M2008: 24.8M2009: 26.6M2010: 28.7M2011: 30.3M2012: 31.8M2013: 33.7M2014: 35.4M2015: 36.6M2016: 37.6M2017: 38.8M2018: 40.4M2019: 41.7M2020: 43.2M2021: 44.4M2022: 46.1M2023: 47.9M2024: 48.5M

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

UIS: Sub-saharan Africa recorded 48.49 million for enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes in 2024. That is the highest value across all 28 years on record.

The figure is up 1.3% on the previous year and up 37.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 48.49 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 11.93 million, in 1997.

UIS: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 69th of 221 groups on this measure, 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 UIS: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year

Annual values for Enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes (number) in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa, 1997 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1997 11.93 million
1998 13.16 million +10.3%
1999 13.67 million +3.9%
2000 14.44 million +5.7%
2001 15.64 million +8.3%
2002 16.89 million +7.9%
2003 17.94 million +6.2%
2004 19.33 million +7.8%
2005 20.75 million +7.4%
2006 22.19 million +6.9%
2007 23.18 million +4.4%
2008 24.81 million +7.0%
2009 26.58 million +7.2%
2010 28.71 million +8.0%
2011 30.33 million +5.6%
2012 31.84 million +5.0%
2013 33.75 million +6.0%
2014 35.39 million +4.9%
2015 36.60 million +3.4%
2016 37.60 million +2.7%
2017 38.85 million +3.3%
2018 40.38 million +3.9%
2019 41.74 million +3.4%
2020 43.18 million +3.4%
2021 44.40 million +2.8%
2022 46.09 million +3.8%
2023 47.88 million +3.9%
2024 48.49 million +1.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 12.92 million 11.93 million 13.67 million 3
2000s 20.18 million 14.44 million 26.58 million 10
2010s 35.52 million 28.71 million 41.74 million 10
2020s 46.01 million 43.18 million 48.49 million 5

Countries ranked near UIS: Sub-saharan Africa

  1. 66 Zambia 748,065 compare
  2. 67 Romania 733,821 compare
  3. 68 Jordan 726,993 compare
  4. 69 Cambodia 711,127 compare
  5. 70 Kyrgyzstan 700,406 compare
  6. 71 Sierra Leone 684,419 compare
  7. 72 Benin 680,234 compare

See the full ranking of 421 places →

More education data for UIS: Sub-saharan Africa

All data for UIS: Sub-saharan Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa?
Enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa was 48.49 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes recorded in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa?
The highest recorded value was 48.49 million in 2024.
What is the lowest enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes recorded in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 11.93 million in 1997.
How does UIS: Sub-saharan Africa rank for enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes?
UIS: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 69th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
Is enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes rising or falling in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 37.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this UIS: 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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Enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 08 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-lower-secondary-education-both-sexes-number-2/uis-sub-saharan-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes (number)
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
421 places, 11,113 data points, 1980–2025
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release