Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Africa
UNICEF: Africa: Enrolment in primary education, both sexes was 224.47 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
224.47 million
Change on year
up 1.0%
Rank
21st
of 221 groups
All-time high
224.47 million
in 2024
All-time low
35.77 million
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Africa, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, enrolment in primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Africa stood at 224.47 million. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.0% on the previous year and up 24.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Africa peaked at 224.47 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 35.77 million, in 1970.
That places UNICEF: Africa 21st out of 221 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 35.77 million | — |
| 1971 | 36.00 million | +0.6% |
| 1972 | 37.83 million | +5.1% |
| 1973 | 39.63 million | +4.7% |
| 1974 | 41.89 million | +5.7% |
| 1975 | 43.99 million | +5.0% |
| 1976 | 45.98 million | +4.5% |
| 1977 | 49.19 million | +7.0% |
| 1978 | 52.87 million | +7.5% |
| 1979 | 57.26 million | +8.3% |
| 1980 | 61.00 million | +6.5% |
| 1981 | 64.45 million | +5.7% |
| 1982 | 67.91 million | +5.4% |
| 1983 | 70.01 million | +3.1% |
| 1984 | 71.49 million | +2.1% |
| 1985 | 71.70 million | +0.3% |
| 1986 | 71.86 million | +0.2% |
| 1987 | 73.16 million | +1.8% |
| 1988 | 74.66 million | +2.1% |
| 1989 | 77.29 million | +3.5% |
| 1990 | 77.74 million | +0.6% |
| 1991 | 81.19 million | +4.4% |
| 1992 | 82.61 million | +1.8% |
| 1993 | 86.28 million | +4.4% |
| 1994 | 89.37 million | +3.6% |
| 1995 | 91.58 million | +2.5% |
| 1996 | 92.39 million | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 98.12 million | +6.2% |
| 1998 | 101.75 million | +3.7% |
| 1999 | 104.42 million | +2.6% |
| 2000 | 109.19 million | +4.6% |
| 2001 | 113.48 million | +3.9% |
| 2002 | 118.50 million | +4.4% |
| 2003 | 124.12 million | +4.7% |
| 2004 | 129.24 million | +4.1% |
| 2005 | 136.40 million | +5.5% |
| 2006 | 141.67 million | +3.9% |
| 2007 | 147.10 million | +3.8% |
| 2008 | 152.23 million | +3.5% |
| 2009 | 155.81 million | +2.3% |
| 2010 | 159.67 million | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 165.27 million | +3.5% |
| 2012 | 171.29 million | +3.6% |
| 2013 | 176.28 million | +2.9% |
| 2014 | 180.05 million | +2.1% |
| 2015 | 182.40 million | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 187.89 million | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 194.04 million | +3.3% |
| 2018 | 200.48 million | +3.3% |
| 2019 | 207.15 million | +3.3% |
| 2020 | 213.51 million | +3.1% |
| 2021 | 216.29 million | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 217.01 million | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 222.16 million | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 224.47 million | +1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 44.04 million | 35.77 million | 57.26 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 70.35 million | 61.00 million | 77.29 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 90.54 million | 77.74 million | 104.42 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 132.78 million | 109.19 million | 155.81 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 182.45 million | 159.67 million | 207.15 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 218.69 million | 213.51 million | 224.47 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near UNICEF: Africa
- 18 Kenya 8.04 million compare
- 19 Mozambique 7.66 million compare
- 20 Russian Federation 7.55 million compare
- 21 South Africa 7.52 million compare
- 22 Afghanistan 7.51 million compare
- 23 Japan 6.25 million compare
- 24 Türkiye 5.54 million compare
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 primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Africa?
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Africa was 224.47 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 224.47 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.77 million in 1970.
- How does UNICEF: Africa rank for enrolment in primary education, both sexes?
- UNICEF: Africa ranks 21st out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in primary education, both sexes rising or falling in UNICEF: Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.7%. 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 primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release