Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa
SDG: Sub-saharan Africa: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 9.77 million in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2021)
9.77 million
Change on year
up 4.0%
Rank
130th
of 221 groups
All-time high
9.77 million
in 2021
All-time low
220,864
in 1971
Years of data
52
1970–2021
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa, 1970–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa is 9.77 million, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 52 years on record.
The figure is up 4.0% on the previous year and up 53.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 9.77 million in 2021 and was at its lowest, 220,864, in 1971.
That places SDG: Sub-saharan Africa 130th out of 221 groups with data for 2021, 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 tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 224,176 | — |
| 1971 | 220,864 | -1.5% |
| 1972 | 251,027 | +13.7% |
| 1973 | 260,181 | +3.6% |
| 1974 | 292,338 | +12.4% |
| 1975 | 321,523 | +10.0% |
| 1976 | 353,599 | +10.0% |
| 1977 | 395,744 | +11.9% |
| 1978 | 446,654 | +12.9% |
| 1979 | 510,940 | +14.4% |
| 1980 | 565,720 | +10.7% |
| 1981 | 638,754 | +12.9% |
| 1982 | 721,088 | +12.9% |
| 1983 | 770,679 | +6.9% |
| 1984 | 814,936 | +5.7% |
| 1985 | 896,153 | +10.0% |
| 1986 | 977,383 | +9.1% |
| 1987 | 1.03 million | +5.4% |
| 1988 | 1.13 million | +9.4% |
| 1989 | 1.24 million | +9.5% |
| 1990 | 1.30 million | +5.6% |
| 1991 | 1.41 million | +7.9% |
| 1992 | 1.52 million | +7.7% |
| 1993 | 1.64 million | +8.4% |
| 1994 | 1.78 million | +8.1% |
| 1995 | 1.89 million | +6.5% |
| 1996 | 2.00 million | +5.7% |
| 1997 | 2.12 million | +5.9% |
| 1998 | 2.24 million | +5.7% |
| 1999 | 2.34 million | +4.6% |
| 2000 | 2.63 million | +12.5% |
| 2001 | 2.90 million | +10.2% |
| 2002 | 3.19 million | +10.1% |
| 2003 | 3.57 million | +12.0% |
| 2004 | 3.81 million | +6.7% |
| 2005 | 4.13 million | +8.3% |
| 2006 | 4.35 million | +5.2% |
| 2007 | 4.61 million | +6.0% |
| 2008 | 4.95 million | +7.4% |
| 2009 | 5.39 million | +8.9% |
| 2010 | 5.89 million | +9.3% |
| 2011 | 6.34 million | +7.7% |
| 2012 | 6.78 million | +6.8% |
| 2013 | 7.19 million | +6.0% |
| 2014 | 7.54 million | +5.0% |
| 2015 | 7.84 million | +4.0% |
| 2016 | 8.06 million | +2.8% |
| 2017 | 8.40 million | +4.2% |
| 2018 | 8.73 million | +3.9% |
| 2019 | 9.01 million | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 9.39 million | +4.2% |
| 2021 | 9.77 million | +4.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 327,705 | 220,864 | 510,940 | 10 |
| 1980s | 877,834 | 565,720 | 1.24 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.82 million | 1.30 million | 2.34 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.95 million | 2.63 million | 5.39 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.58 million | 5.89 million | 9.01 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.58 million | 9.39 million | 9.77 million | 2 |
Countries ranked near SDG: Sub-saharan Africa
More education data for SDG: Sub-saharan Africa
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.49 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 40.94 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.68 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 37.60 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 0.8202 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 4.94 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 97.68 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.02 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 93.62 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.31 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa was 9.77 million in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 9.77 million in 2021.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 220,864 in 1971.
- How does SDG: Sub-saharan Africa rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- SDG: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 130th out of 221 groups with data for 2021.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 53.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this SDG: Sub-saharan Africa 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