Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa

SDG: Sub-saharan Africa: Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes was 78.55 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
78.55 million
Change on year
up 1.5%
Rank
69th
of 221 groups
All-time high
78.55 million
in 2024
All-time low
4.48 million
in 1971
Years of data
55
1970–2024

Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa, 1970–2024

020.0M40.0M60.0M80.0M197019972024

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

SDG: Sub-saharan Africa recorded 78.55 million for enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in 2024. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.

The figure is up 1.5% on the previous year and up 42.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 78.55 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 4.48 million, in 1971.

That places SDG: Sub-saharan Africa 69th 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 secondary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year

Annual values for Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number) in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa, 1970 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1970 4.49 million
1971 4.48 million -0.3%
1972 4.91 million +9.7%
1973 5.23 million +6.4%
1974 5.49 million +5.1%
1975 5.94 million +8.0%
1976 6.26 million +5.4%
1977 6.72 million +7.4%
1978 7.33 million +9.1%
1979 8.02 million +9.3%
1980 8.91 million +11.2%
1981 9.95 million +11.7%
1982 10.91 million +9.6%
1983 11.96 million +9.6%
1984 13.07 million +9.3%
1985 13.79 million +5.5%
1986 13.58 million -1.5%
1987 14.15 million +4.1%
1988 14.59 million +3.2%
1989 14.56 million -0.2%
1990 15.15 million +4.0%
1991 15.82 million +4.4%
1992 16.26 million +2.8%
1993 16.91 million +4.0%
1994 17.57 million +3.9%
1995 18.64 million +6.1%
1996 19.40 million +4.1%
1997 19.96 million +2.9%
1998 21.02 million +5.3%
1999 21.81 million +3.8%
2000 22.94 million +5.2%
2001 24.85 million +8.3%
2002 26.52 million +6.7%
2003 28.38 million +7.0%
2004 30.55 million +7.7%
2005 32.31 million +5.8%
2006 34.29 million +6.1%
2007 35.98 million +4.9%
2008 39.03 million +8.5%
2009 41.94 million +7.4%
2010 45.37 million +8.2%
2011 48.11 million +6.1%
2012 50.74 million +5.5%
2013 55.17 million +8.7%
2014 55.05 million -0.2%
2015 57.34 million +4.1%
2016 58.59 million +2.2%
2017 60.67 million +3.5%
2018 63.00 million +3.8%
2019 66.10 million +4.9%
2020 69.13 million +4.6%
2021 72.22 million +4.5%
2022 74.45 million +3.1%
2023 77.39 million +4.0%
2024 78.55 million +1.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 5.89 million 4.48 million 8.02 million 10
1980s 12.55 million 8.91 million 14.59 million 10
1990s 18.25 million 15.15 million 21.81 million 10
2000s 31.68 million 22.94 million 41.94 million 10
2010s 56.01 million 45.37 million 66.10 million 10
2020s 74.35 million 69.13 million 78.55 million 5

Countries ranked near SDG: Sub-saharan Africa

  1. 66 Belgium 1.18 million compare
  2. 67 Cambodia 1.17 million compare
  3. 68 Sierra Leone 1.16 million compare
  4. 69 Malawi 1.16 million compare
  5. 70 Guatemala 1.13 million compare
  6. 71 Mozambique 1.07 million compare
  7. 72 Azerbaijan 1.06 million compare

See the full ranking of 440 places →

More education data for SDG: Sub-saharan Africa

All data for SDG: Sub-saharan Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa was 78.55 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest enrolment in secondary education, both sexes recorded in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
The highest recorded value was 78.55 million in 2024.
What is the lowest enrolment in secondary education, both sexes recorded in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 4.48 million in 1971.
How does SDG: Sub-saharan Africa rank for enrolment in secondary education, both sexes?
SDG: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 69th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
Is enrolment in secondary education, both sexes rising or falling in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 42.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this SDG: Sub-saharan Africa 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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Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-secondary-education-both-sexes-number/sdg-sub-saharan-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number)
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
440 places, 19,778 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release