Enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa
UNICEF: West and Central Africa: Enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes was 26.04 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa, 1998–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa is 26.04 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 27 years on record.
The figure is up 0.7% on the previous year and up 45.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa peaked at 26.04 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 6.33 million, in 1998.
UNICEF: West and Central Africa ranks 122nd of 221 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 27 years of available data.
Enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 6.33 million | — |
| 1999 | 6.55 million | +3.5% |
| 2000 | 6.99 million | +6.6% |
| 2001 | 7.62 million | +9.1% |
| 2002 | 8.22 million | +7.9% |
| 2003 | 8.85 million | +7.7% |
| 2004 | 9.48 million | +7.1% |
| 2005 | 10.09 million | +6.4% |
| 2006 | 10.60 million | +5.1% |
| 2007 | 10.93 million | +3.1% |
| 2008 | 11.91 million | +9.0% |
| 2009 | 13.05 million | +9.6% |
| 2010 | 14.14 million | +8.4% |
| 2011 | 14.99 million | +6.0% |
| 2012 | 15.67 million | +4.5% |
| 2013 | 17.02 million | +8.7% |
| 2014 | 17.88 million | +5.0% |
| 2015 | 18.61 million | +4.0% |
| 2016 | 19.01 million | +2.1% |
| 2017 | 19.93 million | +4.8% |
| 2018 | 20.87 million | +4.7% |
| 2019 | 21.72 million | +4.0% |
| 2020 | 22.52 million | +3.7% |
| 2021 | 23.65 million | +5.0% |
| 2022 | 24.52 million | +3.7% |
| 2023 | 25.85 million | +5.4% |
| 2024 | 26.04 million | +0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.44 million | 6.33 million | 6.55 million | 2 |
| 2000s | 9.77 million | 6.99 million | 13.05 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.98 million | 14.14 million | 21.72 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.51 million | 22.52 million | 26.04 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near UNICEF: West and Central Africa
More education data for UNICEF: West and Central Africa
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 4.92 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 20.41 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.9224 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 22.91 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 0.5411 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 8.34 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 0.9535 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 5.20 million (2021)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.46 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 5.73 % change on previous year (2021)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa?
- Enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa was 26.04 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: West and Central Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 26.04 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: West and Central Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.33 million in 1998.
- How does UNICEF: West and Central Africa rank for enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes?
- UNICEF: West and Central Africa ranks 122nd out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes rising or falling in UNICEF: West and Central Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 45.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this UNICEF: West and Central 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