Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in WB: Africa Western and Central
WB: Africa Western and Central: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female was 1.89 million in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2021)
1.89 million
Change on year
up 7.4%
Rank
168th
of 221 groups
All-time high
1.89 million
in 2021
All-time low
13,028
in 1970
Years of data
52
1970–2021
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in WB: Africa Western and Central, 1970–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2021, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in WB: Africa Western and Central stood at 1.89 million. That is the highest value across all 52 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.4% on the previous year and up 78.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in WB: Africa Western and Central peaked at 1.89 million in 2021 and was at its lowest, 13,028, in 1970.
That places WB: Africa Western and Central 168th out of 221 groups with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in WB: Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 13,028 | — |
| 1971 | 13,250 | +1.7% |
| 1972 | 14,138 | +6.7% |
| 1973 | 15,619 | +10.5% |
| 1974 | 17,431 | +11.6% |
| 1975 | 19,337 | +10.9% |
| 1976 | 22,558 | +16.7% |
| 1977 | 28,341 | +25.6% |
| 1978 | 33,391 | +17.8% |
| 1979 | 42,988 | +28.7% |
| 1980 | 49,241 | +14.5% |
| 1981 | 60,239 | +22.3% |
| 1982 | 67,603 | +12.2% |
| 1983 | 73,251 | +8.4% |
| 1984 | 78,764 | +7.5% |
| 1985 | 88,686 | +12.6% |
| 1986 | 98,599 | +11.2% |
| 1987 | 105,019 | +6.5% |
| 1988 | 107,886 | +2.7% |
| 1989 | 113,961 | +5.6% |
| 1990 | 129,909 | +14.0% |
| 1991 | 147,425 | +13.5% |
| 1992 | 168,806 | +14.5% |
| 1993 | 193,466 | +14.6% |
| 1994 | 221,590 | +14.5% |
| 1995 | 251,082 | +13.3% |
| 1996 | 287,455 | +14.5% |
| 1997 | 328,139 | +14.2% |
| 1998 | 366,597 | +11.7% |
| 1999 | 410,107 | +11.9% |
| 2000 | 485,109 | +18.3% |
| 2001 | 543,423 | +12.0% |
| 2002 | 608,103 | +11.9% |
| 2003 | 671,520 | +10.4% |
| 2004 | 720,406 | +7.3% |
| 2005 | 788,252 | +9.4% |
| 2006 | 813,483 | +3.2% |
| 2007 | 859,426 | +5.6% |
| 2008 | 904,648 | +5.3% |
| 2009 | 955,841 | +5.7% |
| 2010 | 1.01 million | +6.0% |
| 2011 | 1.06 million | +4.6% |
| 2012 | 1.14 million | +7.9% |
| 2013 | 1.25 million | +9.5% |
| 2014 | 1.32 million | +5.5% |
| 2015 | 1.39 million | +4.9% |
| 2016 | 1.40 million | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 1.46 million | +3.9% |
| 2018 | 1.56 million | +6.7% |
| 2019 | 1.66 million | +6.7% |
| 2020 | 1.76 million | +6.0% |
| 2021 | 1.89 million | +7.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 22,008 | 13,028 | 42,988 | 10 |
| 1980s | 84,325 | 49,241 | 113,961 | 10 |
| 1990s | 250,458 | 129,909 | 410,107 | 10 |
| 2000s | 735,021 | 485,109 | 955,841 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.33 million | 1.01 million | 1.66 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.83 million | 1.76 million | 1.89 million | 2 |
Countries ranked near WB: Africa Western and Central
- 165 Central African Republic 3,369 compare
- 166 Sierra Leone 2,602 compare
- 167 Tonga 2,536 compare
- 168 Saint Kitts and Nevis 2,372 compare
- 169 Samoa 1,970 compare
- 170 United States Virgin Islands 1,900 compare
- 171 Djibouti 1,877 compare
More education data for WB: Africa Western and Central
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 18.05 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 0.8839 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2.08 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 0.7294 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 17.31 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.09 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 7.49 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 6.08 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 1.06 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 35.36 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in WB: Africa Western and Central was 1.89 million in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female recorded in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 1.89 million in 2021.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female recorded in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 13,028 in 1970.
- How does WB: Africa Western and Central rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female?
- WB: Africa Western and Central ranks 168th out of 221 groups with data for 2021.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female rising or falling in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 78.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this WB: Africa Western and Central 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