Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa
UNICEF: West and Central Africa: Enrolment in primary education, both sexes was 96.96 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
96.96 million
Change on year
up 0.7%
Rank
82nd
of 221 groups
All-time high
96.96 million
in 2024
All-time low
11.06 million
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
UNICEF: West and Central Africa recorded 96.96 million for enrolment in primary education, both sexes in 2024. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.7% on the previous year and up 33.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa peaked at 96.96 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 11.06 million, in 1970.
That places UNICEF: West and Central Africa 82nd out of 221 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 11.06 million | — |
| 1971 | 11.71 million | +5.9% |
| 1972 | 12.45 million | +6.4% |
| 1973 | 13.14 million | +5.5% |
| 1974 | 13.53 million | +2.9% |
| 1975 | 13.99 million | +3.4% |
| 1976 | 14.54 million | +3.9% |
| 1977 | 16.28 million | +12.0% |
| 1978 | 18.70 million | +14.8% |
| 1979 | 21.01 million | +12.4% |
| 1980 | 22.46 million | +6.9% |
| 1981 | 24.28 million | +8.1% |
| 1982 | 26.42 million | +8.8% |
| 1983 | 27.42 million | +3.8% |
| 1984 | 28.10 million | +2.5% |
| 1985 | 28.09 million | -0.0% |
| 1986 | 27.10 million | -3.5% |
| 1987 | 26.86 million | -0.9% |
| 1988 | 27.22 million | +1.3% |
| 1989 | 27.21 million | -0.0% |
| 1990 | 27.89 million | +2.5% |
| 1991 | 29.69 million | +6.5% |
| 1992 | 31.04 million | +4.5% |
| 1993 | 32.79 million | +5.6% |
| 1994 | 33.66 million | +2.7% |
| 1995 | 34.26 million | +1.8% |
| 1996 | 32.89 million | -4.0% |
| 1997 | 34.76 million | +5.7% |
| 1998 | 36.49 million | +5.0% |
| 1999 | 37.71 million | +3.4% |
| 2000 | 40.39 million | +7.1% |
| 2001 | 42.02 million | +4.0% |
| 2002 | 44.33 million | +5.5% |
| 2003 | 46.34 million | +4.5% |
| 2004 | 49.00 million | +5.7% |
| 2005 | 51.25 million | +4.6% |
| 2006 | 53.58 million | +4.5% |
| 2007 | 54.27 million | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 55.49 million | +2.3% |
| 2009 | 58.09 million | +4.7% |
| 2010 | 60.37 million | +3.9% |
| 2011 | 64.43 million | +6.7% |
| 2012 | 67.94 million | +5.5% |
| 2013 | 70.93 million | +4.4% |
| 2014 | 72.62 million | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 73.29 million | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 75.73 million | +3.3% |
| 2017 | 78.62 million | +3.8% |
| 2018 | 81.35 million | +3.5% |
| 2019 | 84.64 million | +4.0% |
| 2020 | 87.67 million | +3.6% |
| 2021 | 90.51 million | +3.2% |
| 2022 | 93.50 million | +3.3% |
| 2023 | 96.28 million | +3.0% |
| 2024 | 96.96 million | +0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 14.64 million | 11.06 million | 21.01 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 26.52 million | 22.46 million | 28.10 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 33.12 million | 27.89 million | 37.71 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 49.48 million | 40.39 million | 58.09 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 72.99 million | 60.37 million | 84.64 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 92.98 million | 87.67 million | 96.96 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near UNICEF: West and Central Africa
- 79 Tunisia 1.34 million compare
- 80 Dominican Republic 1.17 million compare
- 81 Netherlands 1.14 million compare
- 82 Jordan 1.12 million compare
- 83 Israel 1.05 million compare
- 84 Honduras 1.03 million compare
- 85 Tajikistan 1.01 million compare
More education data for UNICEF: West and Central Africa
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 4.92 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 20.41 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.9224 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 22.91 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 0.5411 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 8.34 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 0.9535 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 5.20 million (2021)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.46 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 5.73 % change on previous year (2021)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa?
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa was 96.96 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: West and Central Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 96.96 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: West and Central Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.06 million in 1970.
- How does UNICEF: West and Central Africa rank for enrolment in primary education, both sexes?
- UNICEF: West and Central Africa ranks 82nd out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in primary education, both sexes rising or falling in UNICEF: West and Central Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 33.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this UNICEF: West and Central 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.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release