Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa

UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 5.76 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
5.76 million
Change on year
up 2.4%
Rank
157th
of 221 groups
All-time high
5.76 million
in 2023
All-time low
309,215
in 1971
Years of data
54
1970–2023

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa, 1970–2023

02.0M4.0M6.0M197019962023

Source: Statizoid (derived).

Analysis

The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa is 5.76 million, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 54 years on record.

The figure is up 2.4% on the previous year and up 41.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa peaked at 5.76 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 309,215, in 1971.

UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa ranks 157th 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 UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa, year by year

Annual values for Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number), gaps filled in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa, 1970 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1970 313,971
1971 309,215 -1.5%
1972 330,846 +7.0%
1973 330,136 -0.2%
1974 350,474 +6.2%
1975 369,199 +5.3%
1976 383,160 +3.8%
1977 401,424 +4.8%
1978 428,756 +6.8%
1979 452,001 +5.4%
1980 481,305 +6.5%
1981 507,705 +5.5%
1982 557,659 +9.8%
1983 585,281 +5.0%
1984 605,376 +3.4%
1985 647,762 +7.0%
1986 690,260 +6.6%
1987 733,391 +6.2%
1988 779,703 +6.3%
1989 842,260 +8.0%
1990 870,131 +3.3%
1991 922,954 +6.1%
1992 982,543 +6.5%
1993 1.05 million +6.7%
1994 1.12 million +7.0%
1995 1.17 million +4.5%
1996 1.21 million +3.5%
1997 1.26 million +3.6%
1998 1.31 million +4.5%
1999 1.35 million +2.8%
2000 1.44 million +6.7%
2001 1.57 million +9.0%
2002 1.70 million +8.2%
2003 1.86 million +9.5%
2004 2.03 million +9.4%
2005 2.20 million +8.1%
2006 2.37 million +8.0%
2007 2.51 million +5.8%
2008 2.71 million +7.9%
2009 3.00 million +10.7%
2010 3.31 million +10.6%
2011 3.54 million +6.9%
2012 3.77 million +6.5%
2013 4.08 million +8.1%
2014 4.24 million +4.0%
2015 4.44 million +4.8%
2016 4.66 million +4.9%
2017 4.84 million +3.9%
2018 4.99 million +3.1%
2019 5.07 million +1.5%
2020 5.22 million +3.1%
2021 5.34 million +2.1%
2022 5.62 million +5.3%
2023 5.76 million +2.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 366,918 309,215 452,001 10
1980s 643,070 481,305 842,260 10
1990s 1.12 million 870,131 1.35 million 10
2000s 2.14 million 1.44 million 3.00 million 10
2010s 4.30 million 3.31 million 5.07 million 10
2020s 5.48 million 5.22 million 5.76 million 4

Countries ranked near UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa

  1. 154 Central African Republic 12,522 compare
  2. 155 Comoros 12,149 compare
  3. 156 Cape Verde 11,659 compare
  4. 157 Bhutan 11,290 compare
  5. 158 Eritrea 10,231 compare
  6. 159 Gabon 10,076 compare
  7. 160 Papua New Guinea 9,943 compare

See the full ranking of 421 places →

More education data for UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa

All data for UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa?
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa was 5.76 million in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) recorded in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa?
The highest recorded value was 5.76 million in 2023.
What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) recorded in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 309,215 in 1971.
How does UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number)?
UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa ranks 157th out of 221 groups with data for 2023.
Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) rising or falling in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 41.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this UNICEF: Eastern and Southern 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 UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 11 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-both-sexes-number-gaps-filled/unicef-eastern-and-southern-africa/

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<a href="https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-both-sexes-number-gaps-filled/unicef-eastern-and-southern-africa/">Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa</a> — Statizoid

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.