Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central
WB: Africa Western and Central: Enrolment in primary education, both sexes was 75.77 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
75.77 million
Change on year
up 0.9%
Rank
94th
of 221 groups
All-time high
75.77 million
in 2024
All-time low
8.06 million
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in primary education, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central is 75.77 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
The figure is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 28.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in primary education, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central peaked at 75.77 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 8.06 million, in 1970.
That places WB: Africa Western and Central 94th 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 WB: Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 8.06 million | — |
| 1971 | 8.61 million | +6.8% |
| 1972 | 9.26 million | +7.6% |
| 1973 | 9.84 million | +6.2% |
| 1974 | 10.16 million | +3.2% |
| 1975 | 10.55 million | +3.9% |
| 1976 | 10.98 million | +4.1% |
| 1977 | 12.62 million | +15.0% |
| 1978 | 14.89 million | +18.0% |
| 1979 | 17.07 million | +14.6% |
| 1980 | 18.39 million | +7.7% |
| 1981 | 20.07 million | +9.1% |
| 1982 | 22.06 million | +9.9% |
| 1983 | 22.90 million | +3.8% |
| 1984 | 23.43 million | +2.3% |
| 1985 | 23.55 million | +0.5% |
| 1986 | 22.44 million | -4.7% |
| 1987 | 22.69 million | +1.1% |
| 1988 | 22.84 million | +0.7% |
| 1989 | 23.28 million | +1.9% |
| 1990 | 24.44 million | +5.0% |
| 1991 | 25.11 million | +2.7% |
| 1992 | 26.40 million | +5.1% |
| 1993 | 27.89 million | +5.7% |
| 1994 | 28.70 million | +2.9% |
| 1995 | 28.82 million | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 27.62 million | -4.2% |
| 1997 | 29.69 million | +7.5% |
| 1998 | 31.64 million | +6.6% |
| 1999 | 33.67 million | +6.4% |
| 2000 | 35.91 million | +6.7% |
| 2001 | 37.07 million | +3.2% |
| 2002 | 38.85 million | +4.8% |
| 2003 | 40.22 million | +3.5% |
| 2004 | 42.23 million | +5.0% |
| 2005 | 43.82 million | +3.8% |
| 2006 | 45.45 million | +3.7% |
| 2007 | 45.40 million | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 45.48 million | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 47.81 million | +5.1% |
| 2010 | 49.76 million | +4.1% |
| 2011 | 53.31 million | +7.1% |
| 2012 | 55.90 million | +4.9% |
| 2013 | 58.29 million | +4.3% |
| 2014 | 59.05 million | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 59.49 million | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 60.99 million | +2.5% |
| 2017 | 62.86 million | +3.1% |
| 2018 | 64.51 million | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 66.82 million | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 68.84 million | +3.0% |
| 2021 | 70.30 million | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 72.81 million | +3.6% |
| 2023 | 75.09 million | +3.1% |
| 2024 | 75.77 million | +0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 11.21 million | 8.06 million | 17.07 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 22.16 million | 18.39 million | 23.55 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 28.40 million | 24.44 million | 33.67 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 42.22 million | 35.91 million | 47.81 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 59.10 million | 49.76 million | 66.82 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 72.56 million | 68.84 million | 75.77 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near WB: Africa Western and Central
- 91 Belgium 814,388 compare
- 92 Central African Republic 813,767 compare
- 93 Libya 755,338 compare
- 94 Lao People's Democratic Republic 739,554 compare
- 95 Paraguay 710,209 compare
- 96 Cuba 698,052 compare
- 97 Turkmenistan 631,199 compare
More education data for WB: Africa Western and Central
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 4.61 million (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 7.4 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1.89 million (2021)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2.08 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.08 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 0.7294 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.00 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 6.08 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.09 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 18.05 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in primary education, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central was 75.77 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 75.77 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.06 million in 1970.
- How does WB: Africa Western and Central rank for enrolment in primary education, both sexes?
- WB: Africa Western and Central ranks 94th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in primary education, both sexes rising or falling in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this WB: Africa Western and Central 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