Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia
SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 23.78 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia stood at 23.78 million. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.2% on the previous year and up 42.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia peaked at 23.78 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.41 million, in 1971.
SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia ranks 71st of 221 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
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 SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 4.17 million | — |
| 1971 | 1.41 million | -66.2% |
| 1972 | 1.47 million | +4.6% |
| 1973 | 1.57 million | +6.3% |
| 1974 | 1.86 million | +18.5% |
| 1975 | 1.88 million | +1.3% |
| 1976 | 2.26 million | +20.0% |
| 1977 | 2.22 million | -1.4% |
| 1978 | 2.21 million | -0.6% |
| 1979 | 2.26 million | +2.1% |
| 1980 | 2.30 million | +1.9% |
| 1981 | 2.44 million | +6.3% |
| 1982 | 2.54 million | +4.0% |
| 1983 | 2.66 million | +4.5% |
| 1984 | 2.81 million | +6.0% |
| 1985 | 3.09 million | +9.9% |
| 1986 | 3.15 million | +1.9% |
| 1987 | 3.22 million | +2.2% |
| 1988 | 4.25 million | +31.9% |
| 1989 | 3.40 million | -20.0% |
| 1990 | 3.57 million | +5.0% |
| 1991 | 3.62 million | +1.5% |
| 1992 | 4.01 million | +10.8% |
| 1993 | 4.28 million | +6.6% |
| 1994 | 4.89 million | +14.3% |
| 1995 | 5.12 million | +4.7% |
| 1996 | 5.85 million | +14.4% |
| 1997 | 6.13 million | +4.7% |
| 1998 | 6.51 million | +6.2% |
| 1999 | 7.08 million | +8.7% |
| 2000 | 7.39 million | +4.5% |
| 2001 | 7.75 million | +4.8% |
| 2002 | 8.27 million | +6.7% |
| 2003 | 8.68 million | +5.1% |
| 2004 | 9.26 million | +6.6% |
| 2005 | 9.87 million | +6.6% |
| 2006 | 10.43 million | +5.6% |
| 2007 | 10.91 million | +4.7% |
| 2008 | 11.43 million | +4.7% |
| 2009 | 12.23 million | +7.0% |
| 2010 | 13.21 million | +8.0% |
| 2011 | 13.39 million | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 14.42 million | +7.7% |
| 2013 | 15.66 million | +8.6% |
| 2014 | 16.64 million | +6.3% |
| 2015 | 17.77 million | +6.8% |
| 2016 | 18.65 million | +5.0% |
| 2017 | 19.48 million | +4.4% |
| 2018 | 20.36 million | +4.5% |
| 2019 | 20.83 million | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 21.53 million | +3.4% |
| 2021 | 22.04 million | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 22.32 million | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 22.82 million | +2.2% |
| 2024 | 23.78 million | +4.2% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | -66.2% | 4.17 million | 1.41 million |
| 1988 | +31.9% | 3.22 million | 4.25 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.13 million | 1.41 million | 4.17 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.99 million | 2.30 million | 4.25 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.10 million | 3.57 million | 7.08 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.62 million | 7.39 million | 12.23 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.04 million | 13.21 million | 20.83 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.50 million | 21.53 million | 23.78 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia
More education data for SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 32.09 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 0.2663 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 4.45 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 9.09 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 61.67 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 0.5703 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 29.58 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.7875 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.19 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 26.40 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia was 23.78 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 23.78 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.41 million in 1971.
- How does SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia ranks 71st out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 42.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia 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