Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 8.90 million number in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2018)
8.90 million number
Change on year
up 2.3%
Rank
32nd
of 43 groups
All-time high
8.90 million number
in 2018
All-time low
383,613 number
in 1970
Years of data
49
1970–2018
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1970–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
Sub-Saharan Africa recorded 8.90 million number for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in 2018. That is the highest value across all 49 years on record.
The figure is up 2.3% on the previous year and up 65.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 8.90 million number in 2018 and was at its lowest, 383,613 number, in 1970.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 32nd of 43 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 Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 383,613 number | — |
| 1971 | 393,314 number | +2.5% |
| 1972 | 411,728 number | +4.7% |
| 1973 | 431,526 number | +4.8% |
| 1974 | 464,897 number | +7.7% |
| 1975 | 495,227 number | +6.5% |
| 1976 | 527,976 number | +6.6% |
| 1977 | 571,074 number | +8.2% |
| 1978 | 623,204 number | +9.1% |
| 1979 | 689,107 number | +10.6% |
| 1980 | 745,528 number | +8.2% |
| 1981 | 817,950 number | +9.7% |
| 1982 | 888,128 number | +8.6% |
| 1983 | 935,727 number | +5.4% |
| 1984 | 989,352 number | +5.7% |
| 1985 | 1.07 million number | +8.1% |
| 1986 | 1.15 million number | +7.5% |
| 1987 | 1.20 million number | +4.5% |
| 1988 | 1.30 million number | +8.0% |
| 1989 | 1.41 million number | +8.3% |
| 1990 | 1.48 million number | +5.0% |
| 1991 | 1.57 million number | +6.6% |
| 1992 | 1.67 million number | +6.2% |
| 1993 | 1.82 million number | +8.7% |
| 1994 | 1.95 million number | +7.4% |
| 1995 | 2.05 million number | +5.1% |
| 1996 | 2.16 million number | +5.4% |
| 1997 | 2.27 million number | +4.8% |
| 1998 | 2.38 million number | +4.8% |
| 1999 | 2.50 million number | +5.2% |
| 2000 | 2.81 million number | +12.5% |
| 2001 | 3.14 million number | +11.7% |
| 2002 | 3.46 million number | +10.3% |
| 2003 | 3.82 million number | +10.4% |
| 2004 | 4.11 million number | +7.4% |
| 2005 | 4.45 million number | +8.4% |
| 2006 | 4.72 million number | +6.1% |
| 2007 | 4.99 million number | +5.7% |
| 2008 | 5.39 million number | +8.1% |
| 2009 | 5.87 million number | +8.8% |
| 2010 | 6.40 million number | +9.1% |
| 2011 | 6.86 million number | +7.2% |
| 2012 | 7.31 million number | +6.4% |
| 2013 | 7.79 million number | +6.7% |
| 2014 | 8.13 million number | +4.3% |
| 2015 | 8.37 million number | +3.0% |
| 2016 | 8.50 million number | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 8.70 million number | +2.3% |
| 2018 | 8.90 million number | +2.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 499,167 number | 383,613 number | 689,107 number | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.05 million number | 745,528 number | 1.41 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.98 million number | 1.48 million number | 2.50 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.28 million number | 2.81 million number | 5.87 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.89 million number | 6.40 million number | 8.90 million number | 9 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
More education data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 5.14 million (2024)
- Population ages 0-14 40.4% (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 56.4% (2025)
- School enrollment, primary 97.1% (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, per capita 0.004 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, teachers 5.14 million (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, female 96.0% (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, male 98.2% (2024)
- Labor force, total 526.96 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa was 8.90 million number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 8.90 million number in 2018.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 383,613 number in 1970.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 32nd out of 43 groups with data for 2018.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 65.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this 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
The total number of students enrolled at public and private tertiary education institutions.