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
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Middle East and North Africa Programme Countries, 1970–2024
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
| 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
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | 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
- 106 Liberia 569,741 compare
- 107 Switzerland 556,945 compare
- 108 Ireland 548,873 compare
- 109 Lebanon 533,550 compare
- 110 Palestine, State of 514,700 compare
- 111 Somalia 464,607 compare
- 112 Costa Rica 460,126 compare
More education data for UNICEF: Middle East and North Africa Programme Countries
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 17.93 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 2.81 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 22.79 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 2.18 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 24.28 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.77 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 7.22 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual -0.3301 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 8.84 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 5.99 % change on previous year (2024)
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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About this data
February 2026 Data Release