Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa
WB: Sub-saharan Africa: 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
125th
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, 1970–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2021, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa stood at 10.53 million. That is the highest value across all 52 years on record.
The figure is up 3.9% on the previous year and up 53.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 10.53 million in 2021 and was at its lowest, 386,409, in 1971.
That places WB: Sub-saharan Africa 125th 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: Sub-saharan Africa, 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 | 6.87 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
More education data for WB: Sub-saharan Africa
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 26.37 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 0.7609 % change on previous year (2024)
- 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 42.35 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.19 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 3.88 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 4.63 million (2021)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 2.54 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 5.14 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa 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?
- 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?
- The lowest recorded value was 386,409 in 1971.
- How does WB: Sub-saharan Africa rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- WB: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 125th 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?
- Over the last ten years it is up 53.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this WB: 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