Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Middle East and North Africa Programme Countries

UNICEF: Middle East and North Africa Programme Countries: Enrolment in primary education, both sexes was 63.60 million in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
63.60 million
Change on year
up 0.9%
Rank
109th
of 221 groups
All-time high
63.60 million
in 2024
All-time low
21.12 million
in 1971
Years of data
55
1970–2024

Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Middle East and North Africa Programme Countries, 1970–2024

20.0M30.0M40.0M50.0M60.0M197019972024

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

In 2024, enrolment in primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Middle East and North Africa Programme Countries stood at 63.60 million. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.

That represents a change of up 0.9% on the previous year and up 25.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, enrolment in primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Middle East and North Africa Programme Countries peaked at 63.60 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 21.12 million, in 1971.

UNICEF: Middle East and North Africa Programme Countries ranks 109th of 221 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 55 years of available data.

Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Middle East and North Africa Programme Countries, year by year

Annual values for Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) in UNICEF: Middle East and North Africa Programme Countries, 1970 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1970 21.67 million
1971 21.12 million -2.5%
1972 21.62 million +2.4%
1973 22.47 million +3.9%
1974 23.12 million +2.9%
1975 24.25 million +4.9%
1976 25.34 million +4.5%
1977 26.26 million +3.6%
1978 27.05 million +3.0%
1979 24.79 million -8.4%
1980 28.61 million +15.4%
1981 28.99 million +1.3%
1982 30.17 million +4.1%
1983 31.19 million +3.4%
1984 32.36 million +3.8%
1985 33.26 million +2.8%
1986 34.53 million +3.8%
1987 35.93 million +4.1%
1988 37.30 million +3.8%
1989 38.38 million +2.9%
1990 38.79 million +1.1%
1991 40.52 million +4.5%
1992 40.52 million -0.0%
1993 41.36 million +2.1%
1994 42.75 million +3.3%
1995 42.51 million -0.5%
1996 43.52 million +2.4%
1997 43.75 million +0.5%
1998 43.94 million +0.4%
1999 44.18 million +0.6%
2000 44.22 million +0.1%
2001 44.46 million +0.5%
2002 44.62 million +0.4%
2003 43.84 million -1.7%
2004 43.75 million -0.2%
2005 45.03 million +2.9%
2006 45.65 million +1.4%
2007 45.48 million -0.4%
2008 45.85 million +0.8%
2009 45.75 million -0.2%
2010 46.44 million +1.5%
2011 46.70 million +0.6%
2012 48.12 million +3.0%
2013 49.53 million +2.9%
2014 50.69 million +2.4%
2015 51.97 million +2.5%
2016 53.60 million +3.1%
2017 55.24 million +3.1%
2018 56.73 million +2.7%
2019 58.26 million +2.7%
2020 59.78 million +2.6%
2021 60.86 million +1.8%
2022 61.09 million +0.4%
2023 63.05 million +3.2%
2024 63.60 million +0.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 23.77 million 21.12 million 27.05 million 10
1980s 33.07 million 28.61 million 38.38 million 10
1990s 42.18 million 38.79 million 44.18 million 10
2000s 44.87 million 43.75 million 45.85 million 10
2010s 51.73 million 46.44 million 58.26 million 10
2020s 61.68 million 59.78 million 63.60 million 5

Countries ranked near UNICEF: Middle East and North Africa Programme Countries

  1. 106 Liberia 569,741 compare
  2. 107 Switzerland 556,945 compare
  3. 108 Ireland 548,873 compare
  4. 109 Lebanon 533,550 compare
  5. 110 Palestine, State of 514,700 compare
  6. 111 Somalia 464,607 compare
  7. 112 Costa Rica 460,126 compare

See the full ranking of 439 places →

More education data for UNICEF: Middle East and North Africa Programme Countries

All data for UNICEF: Middle East and North Africa Programme Countries →

Frequently asked questions

What is enrolment in primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Middle East and North Africa Programme Countries?
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Middle East and North Africa Programme Countries was 63.60 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: Middle East and North Africa Programme Countries?
The highest recorded value was 63.60 million in 2024.
What is the lowest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: Middle East and North Africa Programme Countries?
The lowest recorded value was 21.12 million in 1971.
How does UNICEF: Middle East and North Africa Programme Countries rank for enrolment in primary education, both sexes?
UNICEF: Middle East and North Africa Programme Countries ranks 109th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
Is enrolment in primary education, both sexes rising or falling in UNICEF: Middle East and North Africa Programme Countries?
Over the last ten years it is up 25.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this UNICEF: Middle East and North Africa Programme Countries 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.

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Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Middle East and North Africa Programme Countries. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 12 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-primary-education-both-sexes-number/unicef-middle-east-and-north-africa-programme-countries/

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About this data

Indicator
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number)
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
439 places, 21,055 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release