Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Africa
UNICEF: Africa: Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes was 29.65 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
29.65 million
Change on year
up 2.0%
Rank
54th
of 221 groups
All-time high
29.65 million
in 2024
All-time low
4.09 million
in 1973
Years of data
52
1973–2024
Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Africa, 1973–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
UNICEF: Africa recorded 29.65 million for enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in 2024. That is the highest value across all 52 years on record.
The figure is up 2.0% on the previous year and up 46.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Africa peaked at 29.65 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 4.09 million, in 1973.
That places UNICEF: Africa 54th out of 221 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 4.09 million | — |
| 1974 | 4.22 million | +3.2% |
| 1975 | 4.39 million | +4.0% |
| 1976 | 4.60 million | +4.8% |
| 1977 | 4.83 million | +4.9% |
| 1978 | 5.05 million | +4.5% |
| 1979 | 5.28 million | +4.5% |
| 1980 | 5.53 million | +4.9% |
| 1981 | 5.74 million | +3.8% |
| 1982 | 5.89 million | +2.6% |
| 1983 | 6.02 million | +2.2% |
| 1984 | 6.19 million | +2.9% |
| 1985 | 6.37 million | +2.9% |
| 1986 | 6.60 million | +3.6% |
| 1987 | 6.95 million | +5.4% |
| 1988 | 7.22 million | +3.8% |
| 1989 | 7.45 million | +3.2% |
| 1990 | 7.63 million | +2.4% |
| 1991 | 7.82 million | +2.5% |
| 1992 | 8.01 million | +2.3% |
| 1993 | 8.14 million | +1.7% |
| 1994 | 8.33 million | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 8.53 million | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 8.88 million | +4.1% |
| 1997 | 8.63 million | -2.8% |
| 1998 | 9.53 million | +10.4% |
| 1999 | 7.98 million | -16.3% |
| 2000 | 8.81 million | +10.4% |
| 2001 | 9.25 million | +4.9% |
| 2002 | 10.26 million | +10.9% |
| 2003 | 11.36 million | +10.7% |
| 2004 | 12.45 million | +9.7% |
| 2005 | 13.26 million | +6.5% |
| 2006 | 14.60 million | +10.1% |
| 2007 | 13.69 million | -6.3% |
| 2008 | 14.07 million | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 15.67 million | +11.4% |
| 2010 | 16.32 million | +4.1% |
| 2011 | 17.83 million | +9.2% |
| 2012 | 20.67 million | +15.9% |
| 2013 | 23.08 million | +11.6% |
| 2014 | 20.20 million | -12.5% |
| 2015 | 22.00 million | +8.9% |
| 2016 | 23.28 million | +5.8% |
| 2017 | 25.39 million | +9.0% |
| 2018 | 25.46 million | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 25.97 million | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 26.28 million | +1.2% |
| 2021 | 24.65 million | -6.2% |
| 2022 | 27.09 million | +9.9% |
| 2023 | 29.07 million | +7.3% |
| 2024 | 29.65 million | +2.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4.64 million | 4.09 million | 5.28 million | 7 |
| 1980s | 6.40 million | 5.53 million | 7.45 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.35 million | 7.63 million | 9.53 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.34 million | 8.81 million | 15.67 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.02 million | 16.32 million | 25.97 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 27.35 million | 24.65 million | 29.65 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near UNICEF: Africa
More education data for UNICEF: Africa
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 1.42 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 50.51 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 2.35 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 54.20 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.87 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 29.65 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 2.01 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 19.22 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.94 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 1.99 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Africa?
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Africa was 29.65 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 29.65 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.09 million in 1973.
- How does UNICEF: Africa rank for enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes?
- UNICEF: Africa ranks 54th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes rising or falling in UNICEF: Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 46.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this UNICEF: Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release