Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa
UIS: Sub-saharan Africa: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 9.73 million in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2021)
9.73 million
Change on year
up 4.0%
Rank
131st
of 221 groups
All-time high
9.73 million
in 2021
All-time low
220,466
in 1971
Years of data
52
1970–2021
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in UIS: 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 UIS: Sub-saharan Africa is 9.73 million, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 52 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.0% on the previous year and up 54.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 9.73 million in 2021 and was at its lowest, 220,466, in 1971.
That places UIS: Sub-saharan Africa 131st 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 UIS: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 223,775 | — |
| 1971 | 220,466 | -1.5% |
| 1972 | 250,630 | +13.7% |
| 1973 | 259,786 | +3.7% |
| 1974 | 291,941 | +12.4% |
| 1975 | 321,117 | +10.0% |
| 1976 | 353,177 | +10.0% |
| 1977 | 395,306 | +11.9% |
| 1978 | 446,176 | +12.9% |
| 1979 | 510,217 | +14.4% |
| 1980 | 564,679 | +10.7% |
| 1981 | 637,411 | +12.9% |
| 1982 | 719,415 | +12.9% |
| 1983 | 768,652 | +6.8% |
| 1984 | 812,526 | +5.7% |
| 1985 | 893,332 | +9.9% |
| 1986 | 972,857 | +8.9% |
| 1987 | 1.03 million | +5.4% |
| 1988 | 1.12 million | +9.5% |
| 1989 | 1.23 million | +9.5% |
| 1990 | 1.30 million | +5.6% |
| 1991 | 1.40 million | +7.9% |
| 1992 | 1.51 million | +7.7% |
| 1993 | 1.63 million | +8.3% |
| 1994 | 1.77 million | +8.2% |
| 1995 | 1.88 million | +6.5% |
| 1996 | 1.99 million | +5.6% |
| 1997 | 2.11 million | +5.9% |
| 1998 | 2.23 million | +5.7% |
| 1999 | 2.33 million | +4.5% |
| 2000 | 2.62 million | +12.6% |
| 2001 | 2.89 million | +10.2% |
| 2002 | 3.18 million | +10.1% |
| 2003 | 3.56 million | +12.0% |
| 2004 | 3.80 million | +6.7% |
| 2005 | 4.12 million | +8.3% |
| 2006 | 4.33 million | +5.2% |
| 2007 | 4.60 million | +6.0% |
| 2008 | 4.94 million | +7.4% |
| 2009 | 5.38 million | +8.9% |
| 2010 | 5.87 million | +9.3% |
| 2011 | 6.32 million | +7.6% |
| 2012 | 6.75 million | +6.8% |
| 2013 | 7.16 million | +6.0% |
| 2014 | 7.52 million | +5.0% |
| 2015 | 7.82 million | +4.0% |
| 2016 | 8.04 million | +2.8% |
| 2017 | 8.37 million | +4.2% |
| 2018 | 8.70 million | +4.0% |
| 2019 | 8.98 million | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 9.36 million | +4.2% |
| 2021 | 9.73 million | +4.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 327,259 | 220,466 | 510,217 | 10 |
| 1980s | 874,592 | 564,679 | 1.23 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.81 million | 1.30 million | 2.33 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.94 million | 2.62 million | 5.38 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.55 million | 5.87 million | 8.98 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.55 million | 9.36 million | 9.73 million | 2 |
Countries ranked near UIS: Sub-saharan Africa
More education data for UIS: Sub-saharan Africa
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 9.73 million (2021)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 37.39 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.61 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 40.73 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.23 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 25.04 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 1.63 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 4.53 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 4.24 million (2021)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.52 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa was 9.73 million in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 9.73 million in 2021.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 220,466 in 1971.
- How does UIS: Sub-saharan Africa rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- UIS: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 131st out of 221 groups with data for 2021.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 54.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this UIS: 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