Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa
UNICEF: West and Central Africa: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 5.20 million in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2021)
5.20 million
Change on year
up 5.7%
Rank
160th
of 221 groups
All-time high
5.20 million
in 2021
All-time low
75,750
in 1970
Years of data
52
1970–2021
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa, 1970–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
UNICEF: West and Central Africa recorded 5.20 million for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in 2021. That is the highest value across all 52 years on record.
That represents a change of up 5.7% on the previous year and up 56.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa peaked at 5.20 million in 2021 and was at its lowest, 75,750, in 1970.
That places UNICEF: West and Central Africa 160th 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 UNICEF: West and Central Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 75,750 | — |
| 1971 | 77,195 | +1.9% |
| 1972 | 85,726 | +11.1% |
| 1973 | 95,590 | +11.5% |
| 1974 | 107,409 | +12.4% |
| 1975 | 117,869 | +9.7% |
| 1976 | 135,984 | +15.4% |
| 1977 | 159,865 | +17.6% |
| 1978 | 183,443 | +14.7% |
| 1979 | 224,484 | +22.4% |
| 1980 | 249,960 | +11.3% |
| 1981 | 296,594 | +18.7% |
| 1982 | 328,973 | +10.9% |
| 1983 | 350,943 | +6.7% |
| 1984 | 375,105 | +6.9% |
| 1985 | 413,936 | +10.4% |
| 1986 | 452,669 | +9.4% |
| 1987 | 462,763 | +2.2% |
| 1988 | 513,565 | +11.0% |
| 1989 | 558,589 | +8.8% |
| 1990 | 599,526 | +7.3% |
| 1991 | 649,097 | +8.3% |
| 1992 | 698,437 | +7.6% |
| 1993 | 759,938 | +8.8% |
| 1994 | 819,972 | +7.9% |
| 1995 | 885,067 | +7.9% |
| 1996 | 951,423 | +7.5% |
| 1997 | 1.03 million | +8.0% |
| 1998 | 1.09 million | +6.2% |
| 1999 | 1.16 million | +6.6% |
| 2000 | 1.38 million | +18.3% |
| 2001 | 1.56 million | +13.6% |
| 2002 | 1.76 million | +12.9% |
| 2003 | 1.97 million | +11.8% |
| 2004 | 2.10 million | +6.5% |
| 2005 | 2.30 million | +9.5% |
| 2006 | 2.39 million | +4.1% |
| 2007 | 2.52 million | +5.3% |
| 2008 | 2.72 million | +7.9% |
| 2009 | 2.89 million | +6.3% |
| 2010 | 3.10 million | +7.2% |
| 2011 | 3.33 million | +7.3% |
| 2012 | 3.55 million | +6.9% |
| 2013 | 3.75 million | +5.4% |
| 2014 | 3.93 million | +5.0% |
| 2015 | 4.05 million | +3.0% |
| 2016 | 4.07 million | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 4.25 million | +4.3% |
| 2018 | 4.46 million | +5.0% |
| 2019 | 4.67 million | +4.7% |
| 2020 | 4.92 million | +5.2% |
| 2021 | 5.20 million | +5.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 126,331 | 75,750 | 224,484 | 10 |
| 1980s | 400,310 | 249,960 | 558,589 | 10 |
| 1990s | 864,403 | 599,526 | 1.16 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.16 million | 1.38 million | 2.89 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.92 million | 3.10 million | 4.67 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.06 million | 4.92 million | 5.20 million | 2 |
Countries ranked near UNICEF: West and Central Africa
More education data for UNICEF: West and Central Africa
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 4.92 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 20.41 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.9224 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 22.91 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 0.5411 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 8.34 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 0.9535 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 5.20 million (2021)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.46 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 5.73 % change on previous year (2021)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa was 5.20 million in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: West and Central Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 5.20 million in 2021.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: West and Central Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 75,750 in 1970.
- How does UNICEF: West and Central Africa rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- UNICEF: West and Central Africa ranks 160th out of 221 groups with data for 2021.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in UNICEF: West and Central Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 56.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this UNICEF: West and Central 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