Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes was 25.61 million number in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1973–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
Sub-Saharan Africa recorded 25.61 million number for enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in 2019. That is the highest value across all 47 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.3% on the previous year and up 89.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 25.61 million number in 2019 and was at its lowest, 3.76 million number, in 1973.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 20th of 45 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 Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 3.76 million number | — |
| 1974 | 3.89 million number | +3.3% |
| 1975 | 4.02 million number | +3.5% |
| 1976 | 4.19 million number | +4.2% |
| 1977 | 4.39 million number | +4.8% |
| 1978 | 4.61 million number | +4.9% |
| 1979 | 4.79 million number | +4.0% |
| 1980 | 4.97 million number | +3.7% |
| 1981 | 5.09 million number | +2.4% |
| 1982 | 5.20 million number | +2.3% |
| 1983 | 5.26 million number | +1.1% |
| 1984 | 5.38 million number | +2.2% |
| 1985 | 5.49 million number | +2.1% |
| 1986 | 5.72 million number | +4.2% |
| 1987 | 6.05 million number | +5.8% |
| 1988 | 6.31 million number | +4.3% |
| 1989 | 6.50 million number | +3.1% |
| 1990 | 6.67 million number | +2.5% |
| 1991 | 6.82 million number | +2.3% |
| 1992 | 7.02 million number | +3.0% |
| 1993 | 7.16 million number | +1.9% |
| 1994 | 7.31 million number | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 7.48 million number | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 7.78 million number | +4.0% |
| 1997 | 7.50 million number | -3.6% |
| 1998 | 8.33 million number | +11.0% |
| 1999 | 6.79 million number | -18.5% |
| 2000 | 7.58 million number | +11.6% |
| 2001 | 8.04 million number | +6.1% |
| 2002 | 8.94 million number | +11.2% |
| 2003 | 10.03 million number | +12.2% |
| 2004 | 11.10 million number | +10.7% |
| 2005 | 11.78 million number | +6.2% |
| 2006 | 12.97 million number | +10.0% |
| 2007 | 12.09 million number | -6.8% |
| 2008 | 12.32 million number | +1.9% |
| 2009 | 13.55 million number | +10.0% |
| 2010 | 13.99 million number | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 15.52 million number | +11.0% |
| 2012 | 18.22 million number | +17.4% |
| 2013 | 20.48 million number | +12.4% |
| 2014 | 17.15 million number | -16.3% |
| 2015 | 18.82 million number | +9.7% |
| 2016 | 24.05 million number | +27.8% |
| 2017 | 24.68 million number | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 25.04 million number | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 25.61 million number | +2.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4.24 million number | 3.76 million number | 4.79 million number | 7 |
| 1980s | 5.60 million number | 4.97 million number | 6.50 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.29 million number | 6.67 million number | 8.33 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.84 million number | 7.58 million number | 13.55 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.36 million number | 13.99 million number | 25.61 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
- 17 Nigeria 2.02 million number compare
- 18 Ghana 1.85 million number compare
- 19 Thailand 1.79 million number compare
- 20 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1.76 million number compare
- 21 Colombia 1.74 million number compare
- 22 Argentina 1.69 million number compare
- 23 Peru 1.68 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 pre-primary education, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa was 25.61 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 25.61 million number in 2019.
- What is the lowest enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.76 million number in 1973.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 20th out of 45 groups with data for 2019.
- Is enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 89.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this 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
Total number of students enrolled in public and private pre-primary education institutions (ISCED 0.2) regardless of age. Within ISCED 0, early childhood educational development programmes are targeted at children aged 0 to 2 years; and pre-primary education programmes are targeted at children aged 3 years until the age to start ISCED 1.