Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa
WB: Sub-saharan Africa: Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes was 26.37 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
26.37 million
Change on year
up 1.6%
Rank
64th
of 221 groups
All-time high
26.37 million
in 2024
All-time low
3.71 million
in 1973
Years of data
52
1973–2024
Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa, 1973–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
WB: Sub-saharan Africa recorded 26.37 million for enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in 2024. That is the highest value across all 52 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.6% on the previous year and up 50.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 26.37 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 3.71 million, in 1973.
WB: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 64th of 221 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 3.71 million | — |
| 1974 | 3.84 million | +3.4% |
| 1975 | 3.98 million | +3.6% |
| 1976 | 4.13 million | +3.8% |
| 1977 | 4.30 million | +4.0% |
| 1978 | 4.49 million | +4.4% |
| 1979 | 4.68 million | +4.3% |
| 1980 | 4.88 million | +4.4% |
| 1981 | 5.02 million | +2.8% |
| 1982 | 5.14 million | +2.4% |
| 1983 | 5.22 million | +1.7% |
| 1984 | 5.33 million | +2.1% |
| 1985 | 5.45 million | +2.2% |
| 1986 | 5.67 million | +4.0% |
| 1987 | 6.00 million | +5.9% |
| 1988 | 6.25 million | +4.0% |
| 1989 | 6.43 million | +3.0% |
| 1990 | 6.59 million | +2.4% |
| 1991 | 6.73 million | +2.1% |
| 1992 | 6.90 million | +2.6% |
| 1993 | 7.03 million | +1.9% |
| 1994 | 7.20 million | +2.4% |
| 1995 | 7.37 million | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 7.68 million | +4.2% |
| 1997 | 7.40 million | -3.7% |
| 1998 | 8.23 million | +11.2% |
| 1999 | 6.73 million | -18.3% |
| 2000 | 7.52 million | +11.8% |
| 2001 | 7.97 million | +6.0% |
| 2002 | 8.94 million | +12.2% |
| 2003 | 10.02 million | +12.1% |
| 2004 | 11.11 million | +10.8% |
| 2005 | 11.80 million | +6.3% |
| 2006 | 12.99 million | +10.0% |
| 2007 | 12.07 million | -7.1% |
| 2008 | 12.27 million | +1.7% |
| 2009 | 13.49 million | +9.9% |
| 2010 | 13.93 million | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 15.54 million | +11.5% |
| 2012 | 18.33 million | +17.9% |
| 2013 | 20.69 million | +12.9% |
| 2014 | 17.49 million | -15.5% |
| 2015 | 19.25 million | +10.1% |
| 2016 | 20.54 million | +6.7% |
| 2017 | 22.55 million | +9.8% |
| 2018 | 22.56 million | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 22.91 million | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 23.05 million | +0.6% |
| 2021 | 21.62 million | -6.2% |
| 2022 | 24.22 million | +12.0% |
| 2023 | 25.96 million | +7.2% |
| 2024 | 26.37 million | +1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4.16 million | 3.71 million | 4.68 million | 7 |
| 1980s | 5.54 million | 4.88 million | 6.43 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.19 million | 6.59 million | 8.23 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.82 million | 7.52 million | 13.49 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.38 million | 13.93 million | 22.91 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.25 million | 21.62 million | 26.37 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near WB: Sub-saharan Africa
- 61 Belgium 431,997 compare
- 62 Saudi Arabia 430,399 compare
- 63 Cambodia 400,959 compare
- 64 Czechia 375,936 compare
- 65 Senegal 344,469 compare
- 66 Dominican Republic 343,376 compare
- 67 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 333,588 compare
More education data for WB: Sub-saharan Africa
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 5.90 million (2021)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 39.08 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.55 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 42.35 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.19 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 26.37 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 1.55 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 3.52 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 3.88 % change on previous year (2021)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.60 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa was 26.37 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in WB: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 26.37 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in WB: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.71 million in 1973.
- How does WB: Sub-saharan Africa rank for enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes?
- WB: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 64th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes rising or falling in WB: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 50.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this WB: Sub-saharan 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