Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in ECA: East Africa (unsdcode:98102)
ECA: East Africa (unsdcode:98102): Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 3.00 million in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2021)
3.00 million
Change on year
up 3.5%
Rank
178th
of 221 groups
All-time high
3.00 million
in 2021
All-time low
48,675
in 1971
Years of data
52
1970–2021
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in ECA: East Africa (unsdcode:98102), 1970–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2021, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in ECA: East Africa (unsdcode:98102) stood at 3.00 million. That is the highest value across all 52 years on record.
The figure is up 3.5% on the previous year and up 55.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in ECA: East Africa (unsdcode:98102) peaked at 3.00 million in 2021 and was at its lowest, 48,675, in 1971.
That places ECA: East Africa (unsdcode:98102) 178th out of 221 groups with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in ECA: East Africa (unsdcode:98102), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 59,017 | — |
| 1971 | 48,675 | -17.5% |
| 1972 | 66,360 | +36.3% |
| 1973 | 58,338 | -12.1% |
| 1974 | 66,842 | +14.6% |
| 1975 | 70,086 | +4.9% |
| 1976 | 72,895 | +4.0% |
| 1977 | 79,188 | +8.6% |
| 1978 | 92,365 | +16.6% |
| 1979 | 100,894 | +9.2% |
| 1980 | 110,964 | +10.0% |
| 1981 | 114,578 | +3.3% |
| 1982 | 144,322 | +26.0% |
| 1983 | 152,243 | +5.5% |
| 1984 | 152,772 | +0.3% |
| 1985 | 167,034 | +9.3% |
| 1986 | 181,636 | +8.7% |
| 1987 | 193,196 | +6.4% |
| 1988 | 205,077 | +6.1% |
| 1989 | 219,605 | +7.1% |
| 1990 | 235,715 | +7.3% |
| 1991 | 267,991 | +13.7% |
| 1992 | 277,070 | +3.4% |
| 1993 | 291,055 | +5.0% |
| 1994 | 295,070 | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 311,049 | +5.4% |
| 1996 | 316,638 | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 322,973 | +2.0% |
| 1998 | 329,209 | +1.9% |
| 1999 | 337,481 | +2.5% |
| 2000 | 406,670 | +20.5% |
| 2001 | 467,623 | +15.0% |
| 2002 | 538,595 | +15.2% |
| 2003 | 643,128 | +19.4% |
| 2004 | 726,773 | +13.0% |
| 2005 | 800,544 | +10.2% |
| 2006 | 887,644 | +10.9% |
| 2007 | 962,460 | +8.4% |
| 2008 | 1.11 million | +15.5% |
| 2009 | 1.39 million | +24.8% |
| 2010 | 1.69 million | +21.9% |
| 2011 | 1.94 million | +14.6% |
| 2012 | 2.10 million | +8.6% |
| 2013 | 2.15 million | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 2.30 million | +7.0% |
| 2015 | 2.42 million | +4.9% |
| 2016 | 2.56 million | +6.1% |
| 2017 | 2.67 million | +4.2% |
| 2018 | 2.72 million | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 2.79 million | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 2.90 million | +4.1% |
| 2021 | 3.00 million | +3.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 71,466 | 48,675 | 100,894 | 10 |
| 1980s | 164,143 | 110,964 | 219,605 | 10 |
| 1990s | 298,425 | 235,715 | 337,481 | 10 |
| 2000s | 793,291 | 406,670 | 1.39 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.33 million | 1.69 million | 2.79 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.95 million | 2.90 million | 3.00 million | 2 |
Countries ranked near ECA: East Africa (unsdcode:98102)
- 175 United States Virgin Islands 2,488 compare
- 176 Sao Tome and Principe 2,336 compare
- 177 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2,035 compare
- 178 Saint Lucia 1,992 compare
- 179 American Samoa 1,607 compare
- 180 Micronesia (country) 1,539 compare
- 181 Marshall Islands 1,449 compare
More education data for ECA: East Africa (unsdcode:98102)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 3.24 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 1.85 million (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 4.03 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1.16 million (2021)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.13 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 848,606 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 3.55 % change on previous year (2021)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate 0.7756 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.12 % change on previous year (2024)
- Share of all students in secondary education enrolled in general 92.0% (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in ECA: East Africa (unsdcode:98102)?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in ECA: East Africa (unsdcode:98102) was 3.00 million in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in ECA: East Africa (unsdcode:98102)?
- The highest recorded value was 3.00 million in 2021.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in ECA: East Africa (unsdcode:98102)?
- The lowest recorded value was 48,675 in 1971.
- How does ECA: East Africa (unsdcode:98102) rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- ECA: East Africa (unsdcode:98102) ranks 178th out of 221 groups with data for 2021.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in ECA: East Africa (unsdcode:98102)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 55.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this ECA: East Africa (unsdcode:98102) data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release