Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa
UIS: Sub-saharan Africa: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female was 4.24 million in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2021)
4.24 million
Change on year
up 4.5%
Rank
137th
of 221 groups
All-time high
4.24 million
in 2021
All-time low
65,959
in 1970
Years of data
52
1970–2021
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa, 1970–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2021, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa stood at 4.24 million. That is the highest value across all 52 years on record.
The figure is up 4.5% on the previous year and up 67.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 4.24 million in 2021 and was at its lowest, 65,959, in 1970.
UIS: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 137th 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, female in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 65,959 | — |
| 1971 | 68,610 | +4.0% |
| 1972 | 74,153 | +8.1% |
| 1973 | 79,196 | +6.8% |
| 1974 | 89,629 | +13.2% |
| 1975 | 98,980 | +10.4% |
| 1976 | 109,511 | +10.6% |
| 1977 | 122,904 | +12.2% |
| 1978 | 137,913 | +12.2% |
| 1979 | 156,937 | +13.8% |
| 1980 | 174,796 | +11.4% |
| 1981 | 197,266 | +12.9% |
| 1982 | 222,082 | +12.6% |
| 1983 | 239,462 | +7.8% |
| 1984 | 257,531 | +7.5% |
| 1985 | 282,480 | +9.7% |
| 1986 | 309,709 | +9.6% |
| 1987 | 334,399 | +8.0% |
| 1988 | 358,018 | +7.1% |
| 1989 | 393,247 | +9.8% |
| 1990 | 415,105 | +5.6% |
| 1991 | 460,751 | +11.0% |
| 1992 | 513,134 | +11.4% |
| 1993 | 568,505 | +10.8% |
| 1994 | 643,272 | +13.2% |
| 1995 | 700,848 | +9.0% |
| 1996 | 755,766 | +7.8% |
| 1997 | 816,433 | +8.0% |
| 1998 | 883,207 | +8.2% |
| 1999 | 941,314 | +6.6% |
| 2000 | 1.06 million | +12.3% |
| 2001 | 1.16 million | +9.4% |
| 2002 | 1.28 million | +10.4% |
| 2003 | 1.42 million | +11.0% |
| 2004 | 1.53 million | +7.7% |
| 2005 | 1.66 million | +8.6% |
| 2006 | 1.75 million | +5.8% |
| 2007 | 1.86 million | +6.2% |
| 2008 | 1.99 million | +7.0% |
| 2009 | 2.18 million | +9.3% |
| 2010 | 2.37 million | +8.8% |
| 2011 | 2.53 million | +6.9% |
| 2012 | 2.75 million | +8.7% |
| 2013 | 2.94 million | +6.7% |
| 2014 | 3.09 million | +5.2% |
| 2015 | 3.25 million | +5.0% |
| 2016 | 3.36 million | +3.6% |
| 2017 | 3.53 million | +5.0% |
| 2018 | 3.71 million | +5.0% |
| 2019 | 3.86 million | +4.2% |
| 2020 | 4.05 million | +4.9% |
| 2021 | 4.24 million | +4.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 100,379 | 65,959 | 156,937 | 10 |
| 1980s | 276,899 | 174,796 | 393,247 | 10 |
| 1990s | 669,834 | 415,105 | 941,314 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.59 million | 1.06 million | 2.18 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.14 million | 2.37 million | 3.86 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.14 million | 4.05 million | 4.24 million | 2 |
Countries ranked near UIS: Sub-saharan Africa
More education data for UIS: Sub-saharan Africa
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 1.63 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 3.6 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 5.50 million (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 4.53 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 4.24 million (2021)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.52 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 2.38 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 4 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 9.73 million (2021)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 4.91 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa was 4.24 million in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female recorded in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 4.24 million in 2021.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female recorded in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 65,959 in 1970.
- How does UIS: Sub-saharan Africa rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female?
- UIS: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 137th out of 221 groups with data for 2021.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female rising or falling in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 67.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this UIS: Sub-saharan Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release