Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income)
WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income): Enrolment in primary education, both sexes was 196.79 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
196.79 million
Change on year
up 1.0%
Rank
36th
of 221 groups
All-time high
196.79 million
in 2024
All-time low
27.82 million
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income), 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income) recorded 196.79 million for enrolment in primary education, both sexes in 2024. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 23.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in primary education, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income) peaked at 196.79 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 27.82 million, in 1970.
WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income) ranks 36th of 221 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 27.82 million | — |
| 1971 | 27.84 million | +0.1% |
| 1972 | 29.25 million | +5.0% |
| 1973 | 30.69 million | +4.9% |
| 1974 | 32.77 million | +6.8% |
| 1975 | 34.45 million | +5.1% |
| 1976 | 36.08 million | +4.7% |
| 1977 | 38.96 million | +8.0% |
| 1978 | 42.30 million | +8.6% |
| 1979 | 46.33 million | +9.5% |
| 1980 | 49.65 million | +7.2% |
| 1981 | 52.75 million | +6.3% |
| 1982 | 55.72 million | +5.6% |
| 1983 | 57.24 million | +2.7% |
| 1984 | 58.22 million | +1.7% |
| 1985 | 58.14 million | -0.1% |
| 1986 | 57.81 million | -0.6% |
| 1987 | 58.54 million | +1.3% |
| 1988 | 59.46 million | +1.6% |
| 1989 | 61.74 million | +3.8% |
| 1990 | 62.72 million | +1.6% |
| 1991 | 65.27 million | +4.1% |
| 1992 | 66.83 million | +2.4% |
| 1993 | 70.01 million | +4.8% |
| 1994 | 71.89 million | +2.7% |
| 1995 | 74.35 million | +3.4% |
| 1996 | 74.13 million | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 79.70 million | +7.5% |
| 1998 | 83.26 million | +4.5% |
| 1999 | 85.78 million | +3.0% |
| 2000 | 90.48 million | +5.5% |
| 2001 | 94.86 million | +4.8% |
| 2002 | 99.80 million | +5.2% |
| 2003 | 105.46 million | +5.7% |
| 2004 | 110.70 million | +5.0% |
| 2005 | 116.50 million | +5.2% |
| 2006 | 121.78 million | +4.5% |
| 2007 | 127.19 million | +4.4% |
| 2008 | 132.36 million | +4.1% |
| 2009 | 136.44 million | +3.1% |
| 2010 | 139.94 million | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 145.74 million | +4.2% |
| 2012 | 150.95 million | +3.6% |
| 2013 | 155.59 million | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 159.12 million | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 160.96 million | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 165.82 million | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 171.25 million | +3.3% |
| 2018 | 176.91 million | +3.3% |
| 2019 | 182.66 million | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 187.96 million | +2.9% |
| 2021 | 190.04 million | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 191.16 million | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 194.90 million | +2.0% |
| 2024 | 196.79 million | +1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 34.65 million | 27.82 million | 46.33 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 56.93 million | 49.65 million | 61.74 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 73.39 million | 62.72 million | 85.78 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 113.56 million | 90.48 million | 136.44 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 160.89 million | 139.94 million | 182.66 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 192.17 million | 187.96 million | 196.79 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income)
More education data for WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 3.88 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 39.08 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.55 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 42.34 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.19 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 26.36 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 1.56 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 10.53 million (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 5.90 million (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 4.34 % change on previous year (2021)
All data for WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income) →
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in primary education, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income)?
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income) was 196.79 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income)?
- The highest recorded value was 196.79 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income)?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.82 million in 1970.
- How does WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income) rank for enrolment in primary education, both sexes?
- WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income) ranks 36th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in primary education, both sexes rising or falling in WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income) 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