Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa

MDG: Sub-saharan Africa: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 10.53 million in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
10.53 million
Change on year
up 3.9%
Rank
123rd
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 (number) in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa, 1970–2021

02.5M5.0M7.5M10.0M197019952021

Source: Statizoid (derived).

Analysis

In 2021, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa stood at 10.53 million. That is the highest value across all 52 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it 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 (number) in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 10.53 million in 2021 and was at its lowest, 386,409, in 1971.

MDG: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 123rd 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 (number) in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year

Annual values for Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number), gaps filled in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa, 1970 to 2021.
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 4.50 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 7.33 million +6.7%
2013 7.83 million +6.8%
2014 8.17 million +4.5%
2015 8.49 million +3.9%
2016 8.74 million +2.8%
2017 9.09 million +4.1%
2018 9.46 million +4.0%
2019 9.74 million +3.0%
2020 10.14 million +4.1%
2021 10.53 million +3.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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 10.34 million 10.14 million 10.53 million 2

Countries ranked near MDG: Sub-saharan Africa

  1. 120 Burundi 83,195 compare
  2. 121 Mali 83,150 compare
  3. 122 Niger 80,415 compare
  4. 123 Slovenia 79,987 compare
  5. 124 Republic of Moldova 79,541 compare
  6. 125 Bosnia and Herzegovina 76,962 compare
  7. 126 Jamaica 74,537 compare

See the full ranking of 421 places →

More education data for MDG: Sub-saharan Africa

All data for MDG: Sub-saharan Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa was 10.53 million in 2021, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) recorded in MDG: 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 (number) recorded in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 386,409 in 1971.
How does MDG: Sub-saharan Africa rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number)?
MDG: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 123rd out of 221 groups with data for 2021.
Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) rising or falling in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 53.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this MDG: Sub-saharan Africa data come from?
The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number), gaps filled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-both-sexes-number-gaps-filled/mdg-sub-saharan-africa/

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How this figure is calculated

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) with 690 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.

Computed from

Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.

About this data

Indicator
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number), gaps filled
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
421 places, 19,011 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) with 690 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.