Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central
WB: Africa Western and Central: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 4.61 million in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2021)
4.61 million
Change on year
up 6.1%
Rank
163rd
of 221 groups
All-time high
4.61 million
in 2021
All-time low
63,514
in 1970
Years of data
52
1970–2021
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central, 1970–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central is 4.61 million, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 52 years on record.
That represents a change of up 6.1% on the previous year and up 62.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central peaked at 4.61 million in 2021 and was at its lowest, 63,514, in 1970.
That places WB: Africa Western and Central 163rd 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 WB: Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 63,514 | — |
| 1971 | 64,832 | +2.1% |
| 1972 | 70,727 | +9.1% |
| 1973 | 79,536 | +12.5% |
| 1974 | 89,041 | +12.0% |
| 1975 | 96,848 | +8.8% |
| 1976 | 111,131 | +14.7% |
| 1977 | 134,245 | +20.8% |
| 1978 | 156,297 | +16.4% |
| 1979 | 196,054 | +25.4% |
| 1980 | 223,260 | +13.9% |
| 1981 | 268,101 | +20.1% |
| 1982 | 295,072 | +10.1% |
| 1983 | 318,185 | +7.8% |
| 1984 | 336,725 | +5.8% |
| 1985 | 375,280 | +11.4% |
| 1986 | 411,791 | +9.7% |
| 1987 | 417,032 | +1.3% |
| 1988 | 460,765 | +10.5% |
| 1989 | 497,167 | +7.9% |
| 1990 | 532,912 | +7.2% |
| 1991 | 568,864 | +6.7% |
| 1992 | 616,327 | +8.3% |
| 1993 | 675,302 | +9.6% |
| 1994 | 732,946 | +8.5% |
| 1995 | 791,801 | +8.0% |
| 1996 | 866,635 | +9.5% |
| 1997 | 952,329 | +9.9% |
| 1998 | 1.02 million | +7.6% |
| 1999 | 1.10 million | +7.6% |
| 2000 | 1.30 million | +17.5% |
| 2001 | 1.46 million | +12.9% |
| 2002 | 1.64 million | +12.2% |
| 2003 | 1.83 million | +11.2% |
| 2004 | 1.93 million | +5.6% |
| 2005 | 2.10 million | +8.9% |
| 2006 | 2.16 million | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 2.28 million | +5.4% |
| 2008 | 2.41 million | +5.7% |
| 2009 | 2.51 million | +4.2% |
| 2010 | 2.67 million | +6.2% |
| 2011 | 2.84 million | +6.3% |
| 2012 | 3.04 million | +7.2% |
| 2013 | 3.30 million | +8.6% |
| 2014 | 3.48 million | +5.3% |
| 2015 | 3.59 million | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 3.61 million | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 3.75 million | +4.1% |
| 2018 | 3.94 million | +5.0% |
| 2019 | 4.13 million | +4.7% |
| 2020 | 4.35 million | +5.3% |
| 2021 | 4.61 million | +6.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 106,222 | 63,514 | 196,054 | 10 |
| 1980s | 360,338 | 223,260 | 497,167 | 10 |
| 1990s | 786,391 | 532,912 | 1.10 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.96 million | 1.30 million | 2.51 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.44 million | 2.67 million | 4.13 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.48 million | 4.35 million | 4.61 million | 2 |
Countries ranked near WB: Africa Western and Central
- 160 Papua New Guinea 9,943 compare
- 161 Belize 9,819 compare
- 162 Grenada 9,260 compare
- 163 Barbados 9,227 compare
- 164 Sierra Leone 9,041 compare
- 165 Luxembourg 8,364 compare
- 166 Eswatini 8,057 compare
More education data for WB: Africa Western and Central
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 4.61 million (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 7.4 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1.89 million (2021)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2.08 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.08 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 0.7294 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.00 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 6.08 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.09 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 18.05 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central was 4.61 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 Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 4.61 million in 2021.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 63,514 in 1970.
- How does WB: Africa Western and Central rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- WB: Africa Western and Central ranks 163rd out of 221 groups with data for 2021.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 62.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this WB: Africa Western and Central 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