Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in ECA: West Africa (unsdcode:98105)
ECA: West Africa (unsdcode:98105): Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 3.80 million in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in ECA: West Africa (unsdcode:98105), 1970–2020
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in ECA: West Africa (unsdcode:98105) is 3.80 million, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 51 years on record.
That represents a change of up 5.3% on the previous year and up 61.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in ECA: West Africa (unsdcode:98105) peaked at 3.80 million in 2020 and was at its lowest, 57,275, in 1970.
ECA: West Africa (unsdcode:98105) ranks 166th of 221 groups on this measure, 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: West Africa (unsdcode:98105), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 57,275 | — |
| 1971 | 58,435 | +2.0% |
| 1972 | 63,627 | +8.9% |
| 1973 | 70,489 | +10.8% |
| 1974 | 77,764 | +10.3% |
| 1975 | 84,058 | +8.1% |
| 1976 | 96,632 | +15.0% |
| 1977 | 117,624 | +21.7% |
| 1978 | 137,329 | +16.8% |
| 1979 | 174,142 | +26.8% |
| 1980 | 196,820 | +13.0% |
| 1981 | 241,877 | +22.9% |
| 1982 | 264,608 | +9.4% |
| 1983 | 285,486 | +7.9% |
| 1984 | 300,384 | +5.2% |
| 1985 | 335,484 | +11.7% |
| 1986 | 367,649 | +9.6% |
| 1987 | 369,406 | +0.5% |
| 1988 | 409,215 | +10.8% |
| 1989 | 445,643 | +8.9% |
| 1990 | 476,312 | +6.9% |
| 1991 | 507,854 | +6.6% |
| 1992 | 549,471 | +8.2% |
| 1993 | 600,537 | +9.3% |
| 1994 | 653,856 | +8.9% |
| 1995 | 708,206 | +8.3% |
| 1996 | 777,609 | +9.8% |
| 1997 | 857,397 | +10.3% |
| 1998 | 923,631 | +7.7% |
| 1999 | 994,591 | +7.7% |
| 2000 | 1.18 million | +18.9% |
| 2001 | 1.35 million | +14.0% |
| 2002 | 1.52 million | +12.7% |
| 2003 | 1.70 million | +11.8% |
| 2004 | 1.79 million | +5.6% |
| 2005 | 1.94 million | +8.5% |
| 2006 | 1.98 million | +2.1% |
| 2007 | 2.08 million | +4.9% |
| 2008 | 2.19 million | +5.1% |
| 2009 | 2.26 million | +3.2% |
| 2010 | 2.36 million | +4.4% |
| 2011 | 2.49 million | +5.7% |
| 2012 | 2.66 million | +6.7% |
| 2013 | 2.86 million | +7.7% |
| 2014 | 3.00 million | +4.8% |
| 2015 | 3.08 million | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 3.18 million | +3.3% |
| 2017 | 3.31 million | +4.0% |
| 2018 | 3.45 million | +4.3% |
| 2019 | 3.61 million | +4.5% |
| 2020 | 3.80 million | +5.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 93,738 | 57,275 | 174,142 | 10 |
| 1980s | 321,657 | 196,820 | 445,643 | 10 |
| 1990s | 704,946 | 476,312 | 994,591 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.80 million | 1.18 million | 2.26 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.00 million | 2.36 million | 3.61 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.80 million | 3.80 million | 3.80 million | 1 |
Countries ranked near ECA: West Africa (unsdcode:98105)
More education data for ECA: West Africa (unsdcode:98105)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes 31.31 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female 15.44 million (2024)
- Share of all students in secondary education enrolled in vocational 3.6% (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male 15.86 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes 6.60 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes 1.82 million (2023)
- Share of all students in secondary education enrolled in general 96.4% (2024)
- School age population, upper secondary education, female 14.51 million (2024)
- School age population, upper secondary education, both sexes 29.54 million (2024)
- School age population, upper secondary education, male 15.03 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in ECA: West Africa (unsdcode:98105)?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in ECA: West Africa (unsdcode:98105) was 3.80 million in 2020, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in ECA: West Africa (unsdcode:98105)?
- The highest recorded value was 3.80 million in 2020.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in ECA: West Africa (unsdcode:98105)?
- The lowest recorded value was 57,275 in 1970.
- How does ECA: West Africa (unsdcode:98105) rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- ECA: West Africa (unsdcode:98105) ranks 166th out of 221 groups with data for 2020.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in ECA: West Africa (unsdcode:98105)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 61.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this ECA: West Africa (unsdcode:98105) 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