Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa
SDG: Sub-saharan Africa: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 9.77 million in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa, 1970–2021
Source: Statizoid (derived).
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa is 9.77 million, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 52 years on record.
The figure is up 4.0% on the previous year and up 53.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 9.77 million in 2021 and was at its lowest, 220,864, in 1971.
That places SDG: Sub-saharan Africa 130th 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 (number) in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 224,176 | — |
| 1971 | 220,864 | -1.5% |
| 1972 | 251,027 | +13.7% |
| 1973 | 260,181 | +3.6% |
| 1974 | 292,338 | +12.4% |
| 1975 | 321,523 | +10.0% |
| 1976 | 353,599 | +10.0% |
| 1977 | 395,744 | +11.9% |
| 1978 | 446,654 | +12.9% |
| 1979 | 510,940 | +14.4% |
| 1980 | 565,720 | +10.7% |
| 1981 | 638,754 | +12.9% |
| 1982 | 721,088 | +12.9% |
| 1983 | 770,679 | +6.9% |
| 1984 | 814,936 | +5.7% |
| 1985 | 896,153 | +10.0% |
| 1986 | 977,383 | +9.1% |
| 1987 | 1.03 million | +5.4% |
| 1988 | 1.13 million | +9.4% |
| 1989 | 1.24 million | +9.5% |
| 1990 | 1.30 million | +5.6% |
| 1991 | 1.41 million | +7.9% |
| 1992 | 1.52 million | +7.7% |
| 1993 | 1.64 million | +8.4% |
| 1994 | 1.78 million | +8.1% |
| 1995 | 1.89 million | +6.5% |
| 1996 | 2.00 million | +5.7% |
| 1997 | 2.12 million | +5.9% |
| 1998 | 2.24 million | +5.7% |
| 1999 | 2.34 million | +4.6% |
| 2000 | 2.63 million | +12.5% |
| 2001 | 2.90 million | +10.2% |
| 2002 | 3.19 million | +10.1% |
| 2003 | 3.57 million | +12.0% |
| 2004 | 3.81 million | +6.7% |
| 2005 | 4.13 million | +8.3% |
| 2006 | 4.35 million | +5.2% |
| 2007 | 4.61 million | +6.0% |
| 2008 | 4.95 million | +7.4% |
| 2009 | 5.39 million | +8.9% |
| 2010 | 5.89 million | +9.3% |
| 2011 | 6.34 million | +7.7% |
| 2012 | 6.78 million | +6.8% |
| 2013 | 7.19 million | +6.0% |
| 2014 | 7.54 million | +5.0% |
| 2015 | 7.84 million | +4.0% |
| 2016 | 8.06 million | +2.8% |
| 2017 | 8.40 million | +4.2% |
| 2018 | 8.73 million | +3.9% |
| 2019 | 9.01 million | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 9.39 million | +4.2% |
| 2021 | 9.77 million | +4.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 327,705 | 220,864 | 510,940 | 10 |
| 1980s | 877,834 | 565,720 | 1.24 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.82 million | 1.30 million | 2.34 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.95 million | 2.63 million | 5.39 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.58 million | 5.89 million | 9.01 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.58 million | 9.39 million | 9.77 million | 2 |
Countries ranked near SDG: Sub-saharan Africa
More education data for SDG: Sub-saharan Africa
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 25.10 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate 0.8778 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.49 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 4.94 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 0.8202 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 37.60 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.68 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 40.94 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.31 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 5.52 million (2021)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa was 9.77 million in 2021, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) recorded in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 9.77 million in 2021.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) recorded in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 220,864 in 1971.
- How does SDG: Sub-saharan Africa rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number)?
- SDG: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 130th out of 221 groups with data for 2021.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) rising or falling in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 53.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this SDG: 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 52 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
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
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes UNESCO Institute for Statistics
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
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.