Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income)
WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income): Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 10.53 million in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2021)
10.53 million
Change on year
up 3.9%
Rank
127th
of 221 groups
All-time high
10.53 million
in 2021
All-time low
386,409
in 1971
Years of data
52
1970–2021
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income), 1970–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income) is 10.53 million, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 52 years on record.
The figure is up 3.9% on the previous year and up 53.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income) peaked at 10.53 million in 2021 and was at its lowest, 386,409, in 1971.
WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income) ranks 127th 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: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 389,721 | — |
| 1971 | 386,409 | -0.8% |
| 1972 | 416,572 | +7.8% |
| 1973 | 425,726 | +2.2% |
| 1974 | 457,883 | +7.6% |
| 1975 | 487,068 | +6.4% |
| 1976 | 519,144 | +6.6% |
| 1977 | 561,290 | +8.1% |
| 1978 | 612,199 | +9.1% |
| 1979 | 676,485 | +10.5% |
| 1980 | 731,265 | +8.1% |
| 1981 | 804,300 | +10.0% |
| 1982 | 886,632 | +10.2% |
| 1983 | 936,224 | +5.6% |
| 1984 | 980,481 | +4.7% |
| 1985 | 1.06 million | +8.3% |
| 1986 | 1.14 million | +7.7% |
| 1987 | 1.20 million | +4.7% |
| 1988 | 1.29 million | +8.1% |
| 1989 | 1.40 million | +8.3% |
| 1990 | 1.47 million | +4.9% |
| 1991 | 1.57 million | +7.0% |
| 1992 | 1.68 million | +6.9% |
| 1993 | 1.81 million | +7.6% |
| 1994 | 1.94 million | +7.4% |
| 1995 | 2.06 million | +5.9% |
| 1996 | 2.16 million | +5.2% |
| 1997 | 2.28 million | +5.5% |
| 1998 | 2.40 million | +5.3% |
| 1999 | 2.51 million | +4.5% |
| 2000 | 2.81 million | +12.1% |
| 2001 | 3.13 million | +11.3% |
| 2002 | 3.46 million | +10.5% |
| 2003 | 3.83 million | +10.7% |
| 2004 | 4.13 million | +7.9% |
| 2005 | 4.49 million | +8.8% |
| 2006 | 4.77 million | +6.0% |
| 2007 | 5.03 million | +5.5% |
| 2008 | 5.43 million | +7.9% |
| 2009 | 5.89 million | +8.5% |
| 2010 | 6.41 million | +8.9% |
| 2011 | 6.86 million | +7.1% |
| 2012 | 7.32 million | +6.7% |
| 2013 | 7.82 million | +6.8% |
| 2014 | 8.17 million | +4.5% |
| 2015 | 8.49 million | +3.9% |
| 2016 | 8.73 million | +2.8% |
| 2017 | 9.09 million | +4.1% |
| 2018 | 9.45 million | +4.0% |
| 2019 | 9.74 million | +3.0% |
| 2020 | 10.13 million | +4.1% |
| 2021 | 10.53 million | +3.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 493,250 | 386,409 | 676,485 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.04 million | 731,265 | 1.40 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.99 million | 1.47 million | 2.51 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.30 million | 2.81 million | 5.89 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.21 million | 6.41 million | 9.74 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.33 million | 10.13 million | 10.53 million | 2 |
Countries ranked near WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income)
More education data for WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 3.88 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 39.08 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.55 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 42.34 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.19 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 26.36 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 1.56 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 10.53 million (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 5.90 million (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 4.34 % change on previous year (2021)
All data for WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income) →
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income)?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income) was 10.53 million in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income)?
- The highest recorded value was 10.53 million in 2021.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income)?
- The lowest recorded value was 386,409 in 1971.
- How does WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income) rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income) ranks 127th out of 221 groups with data for 2021.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 53.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income) 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