Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa
WB: Sub-saharan Africa: Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes was 81.43 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
81.43 million
Change on year
up 1.4%
Rank
65th
of 221 groups
All-time high
81.43 million
in 2024
All-time low
5.49 million
in 1971
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa stood at 81.43 million. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.4% on the previous year and up 42.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 81.43 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 5.49 million, in 1971.
That places WB: Sub-saharan Africa 65th 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 WB: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 5.49 million | — |
| 1971 | 5.49 million | -0.1% |
| 1972 | 5.92 million | +7.9% |
| 1973 | 6.24 million | +5.3% |
| 1974 | 6.50 million | +4.3% |
| 1975 | 6.94 million | +6.8% |
| 1976 | 7.27 million | +4.6% |
| 1977 | 7.71 million | +6.2% |
| 1978 | 8.33 million | +7.9% |
| 1979 | 9.02 million | +8.4% |
| 1980 | 9.92 million | +9.9% |
| 1981 | 10.96 million | +10.5% |
| 1982 | 11.92 million | +8.7% |
| 1983 | 12.96 million | +8.8% |
| 1984 | 14.08 million | +8.6% |
| 1985 | 14.79 million | +5.1% |
| 1986 | 14.59 million | -1.4% |
| 1987 | 15.15 million | +3.8% |
| 1988 | 15.60 million | +2.9% |
| 1989 | 15.56 million | -0.2% |
| 1990 | 16.15 million | +3.8% |
| 1991 | 16.82 million | +4.1% |
| 1992 | 17.26 million | +2.6% |
| 1993 | 17.91 million | +3.8% |
| 1994 | 18.57 million | +3.7% |
| 1995 | 19.64 million | +5.7% |
| 1996 | 20.40 million | +3.9% |
| 1997 | 20.96 million | +2.8% |
| 1998 | 21.96 million | +4.7% |
| 1999 | 22.83 million | +4.0% |
| 2000 | 23.99 million | +5.1% |
| 2001 | 25.92 million | +8.1% |
| 2002 | 27.61 million | +6.5% |
| 2003 | 29.47 million | +6.7% |
| 2004 | 31.84 million | +8.0% |
| 2005 | 33.62 million | +5.6% |
| 2006 | 35.58 million | +5.8% |
| 2007 | 37.27 million | +4.8% |
| 2008 | 40.44 million | +8.5% |
| 2009 | 43.53 million | +7.7% |
| 2010 | 46.95 million | +7.8% |
| 2011 | 49.59 million | +5.6% |
| 2012 | 52.41 million | +5.7% |
| 2013 | 56.98 million | +8.7% |
| 2014 | 56.97 million | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 59.34 million | +4.2% |
| 2016 | 60.57 million | +2.1% |
| 2017 | 62.81 million | +3.7% |
| 2018 | 65.15 million | +3.7% |
| 2019 | 68.34 million | +4.9% |
| 2020 | 71.90 million | +5.2% |
| 2021 | 75.04 million | +4.4% |
| 2022 | 77.33 million | +3.1% |
| 2023 | 80.33 million | +3.9% |
| 2024 | 81.43 million | +1.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6.89 million | 5.49 million | 9.02 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 13.55 million | 9.92 million | 15.60 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 19.25 million | 16.15 million | 22.83 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 32.93 million | 23.99 million | 43.53 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 57.91 million | 46.95 million | 68.34 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 77.21 million | 71.90 million | 81.43 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near WB: Sub-saharan Africa
- 62 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 1.30 million compare
- 63 Tajikistan 1.29 million compare
- 64 Senegal 1.28 million compare
- 65 Burkina Faso 1.19 million compare
- 66 Belgium 1.18 million compare
- 67 Cambodia 1.17 million compare
- 68 Sierra Leone 1.16 million compare
More education data for WB: Sub-saharan Africa
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 5.90 million (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 42.35 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 26.37 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 1.55 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 3.52 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 3.88 % change on previous year (2021)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.60 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa was 81.43 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in secondary education, both sexes recorded in WB: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 81.43 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest enrolment in secondary education, both sexes recorded in WB: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.49 million in 1971.
- How does WB: Sub-saharan Africa rank for enrolment in secondary education, both sexes?
- WB: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 65th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in secondary education, both sexes rising or falling in WB: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 42.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this WB: 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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About this data
February 2026 Data Release