Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: Africa Eastern and Southern
WB: Africa Eastern and Southern: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 5.92 million in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2021)
5.92 million
Change on year
up 2.2%
Rank
156th
of 221 groups
All-time high
5.92 million
in 2021
All-time low
321,578
in 1971
Years of data
52
1970–2021
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: Africa Eastern and Southern, 1970–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
WB: Africa Eastern and Southern recorded 5.92 million for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in 2021. That is the highest value across all 52 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.2% on the previous year and up 46.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: Africa Eastern and Southern peaked at 5.92 million in 2021 and was at its lowest, 321,578, in 1971.
WB: Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 156th 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 WB: Africa Eastern and Southern, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 326,207 | — |
| 1971 | 321,578 | -1.4% |
| 1972 | 345,844 | +7.5% |
| 1973 | 346,190 | +0.1% |
| 1974 | 368,842 | +6.5% |
| 1975 | 390,220 | +5.8% |
| 1976 | 408,013 | +4.6% |
| 1977 | 427,044 | +4.7% |
| 1978 | 455,902 | +6.8% |
| 1979 | 480,431 | +5.4% |
| 1980 | 508,005 | +5.7% |
| 1981 | 536,198 | +5.5% |
| 1982 | 591,560 | +10.3% |
| 1983 | 618,039 | +4.5% |
| 1984 | 643,756 | +4.2% |
| 1985 | 686,418 | +6.6% |
| 1986 | 731,138 | +6.5% |
| 1987 | 779,122 | +6.6% |
| 1988 | 832,503 | +6.9% |
| 1989 | 903,682 | +8.5% |
| 1990 | 936,745 | +3.7% |
| 1991 | 1.00 million | +7.1% |
| 1992 | 1.06 million | +6.1% |
| 1993 | 1.13 million | +6.4% |
| 1994 | 1.21 million | +6.7% |
| 1995 | 1.26 million | +4.7% |
| 1996 | 1.30 million | +2.5% |
| 1997 | 1.33 million | +2.5% |
| 1998 | 1.38 million | +3.6% |
| 1999 | 1.41 million | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 1.52 million | +7.8% |
| 2001 | 1.67 million | +9.9% |
| 2002 | 1.82 million | +9.0% |
| 2003 | 2.00 million | +10.1% |
| 2004 | 2.20 million | +10.0% |
| 2005 | 2.39 million | +8.7% |
| 2006 | 2.60 million | +8.6% |
| 2007 | 2.75 million | +5.6% |
| 2008 | 3.01 million | +9.8% |
| 2009 | 3.37 million | +11.9% |
| 2010 | 3.74 million | +11.0% |
| 2011 | 4.03 million | +7.6% |
| 2012 | 4.28 million | +6.3% |
| 2013 | 4.52 million | +5.5% |
| 2014 | 4.69 million | +3.8% |
| 2015 | 4.90 million | +4.5% |
| 2016 | 5.13 million | +4.6% |
| 2017 | 5.33 million | +4.1% |
| 2018 | 5.51 million | +3.3% |
| 2019 | 5.61 million | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 5.79 million | +3.2% |
| 2021 | 5.92 million | +2.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 387,027 | 321,578 | 480,431 | 10 |
| 1980s | 683,042 | 508,005 | 903,682 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.20 million | 936,745 | 1.41 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.33 million | 1.52 million | 3.37 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.77 million | 3.74 million | 5.61 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.85 million | 5.79 million | 5.92 million | 2 |
Countries ranked near WB: Africa Eastern and Southern
- 153 Brunei Darussalam 13,210 compare
- 154 Central African Republic 12,522 compare
- 155 Comoros 12,149 compare
- 156 Cape Verde 11,659 compare
- 157 Bhutan 11,290 compare
- 158 Eritrea 10,231 compare
- 159 Gabon 10,076 compare
More education data for WB: Africa Eastern and Southern
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 20.71 million (2022)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 2.23 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 5.92 million (2021)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 1.75 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 18.88 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 2.91 % change on previous year (2022)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 23.18 million (2022)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 2.98 % change on previous year (2022)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate 0.9717 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 46.07 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: Africa Eastern and Southern was 5.92 million in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in WB: Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The highest recorded value was 5.92 million in 2021.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in WB: Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The lowest recorded value was 321,578 in 1971.
- How does WB: Africa Eastern and Southern rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- WB: Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 156th out of 221 groups with data for 2021.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in WB: Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Over the last ten years it is up 46.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this WB: Africa Eastern and Southern 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