Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number) in Kenya
Kenya: Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number) was 6.74 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in Kenya, 1970–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 6.74 million for enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in 2023. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.8% on the previous year and up 42.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in Kenya peaked at 6.74 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 299,881, in 1970.
That places Kenya 17th out of 219 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number) in Kenya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 299,881 | — |
| 1971 | 324,167 | +8.1% |
| 1972 | 355,842 | +9.8% |
| 1973 | 381,342 | +7.2% |
| 1974 | 422,242 | +10.7% |
| 1975 | 468,408 | +10.9% |
| 1976 | 538,962 | +15.1% |
| 1977 | 572,210 | +6.2% |
| 1978 | 636,200 | +11.2% |
| 1979 | 683,591 | +7.4% |
| 1980 | 788,005 | +15.3% |
| 1981 | 800,062 | +1.5% |
| 1982 | 830,553 | +3.8% |
| 1983 | 902,333 | +8.6% |
| 1984 | 986,034 | +9.3% |
| 1985 | 1.28 million | +29.3% |
| 1986 | 1.31 million | +2.8% |
| 1987 | 1.44 million | +9.7% |
| 1988 | 1.47 million | +2.6% |
| 1999 | 1.82 million | +23.6% |
| 2000 | 1.91 million | +4.7% |
| 2001 | 2.00 million | +4.8% |
| 2002 | 2.06 million | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 2.20 million | +6.5% |
| 2004 | 2.42 million | +10.2% |
| 2005 | 2.47 million | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 2.58 million | +4.7% |
| 2007 | 2.73 million | +5.6% |
| 2008 | 3.11 million | +13.8% |
| 2009 | 3.20 million | +3.1% |
| 2015 | 4.73 million | +47.5% |
| 2016 | 4.99 million | +5.5% |
| 2021 | 6.15 million | +23.3% |
| 2022 | 6.56 million | +6.6% |
| 2023 | 6.74 million | +2.8% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 6.74 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 929,099, 7.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 6.74 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 901,617, 7.5× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number) in Kenya changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | +47.5% | 3.20 million | 4.73 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 468,284 | 299,881 | 683,591 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.09 million | 788,005 | 1.47 million | 9 |
| 1990s | 1.82 million | 1.82 million | 1.82 million | 1 |
| 2000s | 2.47 million | 1.91 million | 3.20 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.86 million | 4.73 million | 4.99 million | 2 |
| 2020s | 6.48 million | 6.15 million | 6.74 million | 3 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More education data for Kenya
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 168,396 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 235,728 (2016)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.44 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.44 million (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.74 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 8.04 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.7181 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1453 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in Kenya?
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in Kenya was 6.74 million in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in secondary education, both sexes recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 6.74 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest enrolment in secondary education, both sexes recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 299,881 in 1970.
- How does Kenya rank for enrolment in secondary education, both sexes?
- Kenya ranks 17th out of 219 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in secondary education, both sexes rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 42.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release