Enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes was 40.97 million number in 2018. ▲ Rising
Enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1997–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
Sub-Saharan Africa recorded 40.97 million number for enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes in 2018. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.5% on the previous year and up 60.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 40.97 million number in 2018 and was at its lowest, 12.65 million number, in 1997.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 22nd of 45 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 12.65 million number | — |
| 1998 | 13.82 million number | +9.2% |
| 1999 | 14.37 million number | +4.0% |
| 2000 | 15.14 million number | +5.4% |
| 2001 | 16.34 million number | +7.9% |
| 2002 | 17.56 million number | +7.5% |
| 2003 | 18.64 million number | +6.1% |
| 2004 | 20.07 million number | +7.7% |
| 2005 | 21.50 million number | +7.1% |
| 2006 | 22.91 million number | +6.6% |
| 2007 | 23.86 million number | +4.2% |
| 2008 | 25.58 million number | +7.2% |
| 2009 | 27.48 million number | +7.4% |
| 2010 | 29.69 million number | +8.0% |
| 2011 | 31.22 million number | +5.2% |
| 2012 | 32.79 million number | +5.0% |
| 2013 | 34.84 million number | +6.2% |
| 2014 | 36.48 million number | +4.7% |
| 2015 | 37.29 million number | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 38.12 million number | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 39.20 million number | +2.8% |
| 2018 | 40.97 million number | +4.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 13.61 million number | 12.65 million number | 14.37 million number | 3 |
| 2000s | 20.91 million number | 15.14 million number | 27.48 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 35.62 million number | 29.69 million number | 40.97 million number | 9 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
- 19 France 3.38 million number compare
- 20 Algeria 3.24 million number compare
- 21 Iran, Islamic Republic of 3.15 million number compare
- 22 Myanmar 3.06 million number compare
- 23 Thailand 3.06 million number compare
- 24 Argentina 2.79 million number compare
- 25 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 2.62 million number compare
More education data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 5.14 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 81.43 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 196.80 million (2024)
- Population ages 0-14 40.4% (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.9738 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 56.4% (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1526 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa was 40.97 million number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 40.97 million number in 2018.
- What is the lowest enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.65 million number in 1997.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 22nd out of 45 groups with data for 2018.
- Is enrolment in lower secondary education, both sexes rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 60.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this 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
Total number of students enrolled in public and private lower secondary education institutions regardless of age.