Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa
UNICEF: West and Central Africa: Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes was 43.32 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
43.32 million
Change on year
up 0.7%
Rank
118th
of 221 groups
All-time high
43.32 million
in 2024
All-time low
1.61 million
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
UNICEF: West and Central Africa recorded 43.32 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 0.7% on the previous year and up 51.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa peaked at 43.32 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.61 million, in 1970.
That places UNICEF: West and Central Africa 118th 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 UNICEF: West and Central Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1.61 million | — |
| 1971 | 1.70 million | +5.3% |
| 1972 | 1.86 million | +10.0% |
| 1973 | 2.03 million | +9.0% |
| 1974 | 2.15 million | +6.0% |
| 1975 | 2.41 million | +12.0% |
| 1976 | 2.64 million | +9.6% |
| 1977 | 2.93 million | +10.7% |
| 1978 | 3.33 million | +13.7% |
| 1979 | 3.80 million | +14.3% |
| 1980 | 4.30 million | +12.9% |
| 1981 | 4.88 million | +13.7% |
| 1982 | 5.50 million | +12.6% |
| 1983 | 6.17 million | +12.1% |
| 1984 | 6.77 million | +9.8% |
| 1985 | 7.03 million | +3.9% |
| 1986 | 6.56 million | -6.7% |
| 1987 | 6.78 million | +3.3% |
| 1988 | 6.97 million | +2.9% |
| 1989 | 6.90 million | -1.0% |
| 1990 | 7.20 million | +4.4% |
| 1991 | 7.46 million | +3.6% |
| 1992 | 7.73 million | +3.7% |
| 1993 | 8.10 million | +4.7% |
| 1994 | 8.46 million | +4.5% |
| 1995 | 8.87 million | +4.8% |
| 1996 | 9.18 million | +3.5% |
| 1997 | 9.45 million | +3.0% |
| 1998 | 9.82 million | +3.8% |
| 1999 | 10.23 million | +4.2% |
| 2000 | 10.96 million | +7.1% |
| 2001 | 11.97 million | +9.2% |
| 2002 | 12.90 million | +7.8% |
| 2003 | 14.04 million | +8.8% |
| 2004 | 15.18 million | +8.1% |
| 2005 | 15.99 million | +5.3% |
| 2006 | 16.60 million | +3.9% |
| 2007 | 17.20 million | +3.6% |
| 2008 | 19.14 million | +11.3% |
| 2009 | 21.09 million | +10.2% |
| 2010 | 23.25 million | +10.3% |
| 2011 | 25.03 million | +7.6% |
| 2012 | 26.49 million | +5.9% |
| 2013 | 29.69 million | +12.1% |
| 2014 | 28.60 million | -3.7% |
| 2015 | 30.32 million | +6.0% |
| 2016 | 30.70 million | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 32.08 million | +4.5% |
| 2018 | 33.58 million | +4.7% |
| 2019 | 35.72 million | +6.4% |
| 2020 | 37.69 million | +5.5% |
| 2021 | 39.78 million | +5.6% |
| 2022 | 41.10 million | +3.3% |
| 2023 | 43.01 million | +4.6% |
| 2024 | 43.32 million | +0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.45 million | 1.61 million | 3.80 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.18 million | 4.30 million | 7.03 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.65 million | 7.20 million | 10.23 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.51 million | 10.96 million | 21.09 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 29.55 million | 23.25 million | 35.72 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 40.98 million | 37.69 million | 43.32 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near UNICEF: West and Central Africa
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 secondary education, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa?
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa was 43.32 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in secondary education, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: West and Central Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 43.32 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest enrolment in secondary education, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: West and Central Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.61 million in 1970.
- How does UNICEF: West and Central Africa rank for enrolment in secondary education, both sexes?
- UNICEF: West and Central Africa ranks 118th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in secondary education, both sexes rising or falling in UNICEF: West and Central Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 51.4%. 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 secondary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release