Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa

MDG: Sub-saharan Africa: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) was 4.63 million in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
4.63 million
Change on year
up 4.3%
Rank
126th
of 221 groups
All-time high
4.63 million
in 2021
All-time low
152,844
in 1970
Years of data
52
1970–2021

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa, 1970–2021

01.0M2.0M3.0M4.0M5.0M197019952021

Source: Statizoid (derived).

Analysis

The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa is 4.63 million, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 52 years on record.

That represents a change of up 4.3% on the previous year and up 65.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 4.63 million in 2021 and was at its lowest, 152,844, in 1970.

That places MDG: Sub-saharan Africa 126th 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, female (number) in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year

Annual values for Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number), gaps filled in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa, 1970 to 2021.
Year Value Change
1970 152,844
1971 155,494 +1.7%
1972 161,037 +3.6%
1973 166,080 +3.1%
1974 176,513 +6.3%
1975 185,864 +5.3%
1976 196,397 +5.7%
1977 209,792 +6.8%
1978 224,804 +7.2%
1979 243,855 +8.5%
1980 261,748 +7.3%
1981 284,254 +8.6%
1982 309,110 +8.7%
1983 326,536 +5.6%
1984 344,656 +5.5%
1985 369,662 +7.3%
1986 397,108 +7.4%
1987 421,919 +6.2%
1988 445,558 +5.6%
1989 480,844 +7.9%
1990 502,618 +4.5%
1991 548,355 +9.1%
1992 600,863 +9.6%
1993 656,497 +9.3%
1994 731,476 +11.4%
1995 789,071 +7.9%
1996 844,158 +7.0%
1997 904,771 +7.2%
1998 971,641 +7.4%
1999 1.03 million +6.4%
2000 1.16 million +12.1%
2001 1.28 million +10.6%
2002 1.42 million +11.0%
2003 1.56 million +9.3%
2004 1.70 million +9.0%
2005 1.85 million +9.2%
2006 1.98 million +7.1%
2007 2.09 million +5.5%
2008 2.24 million +7.2%
2009 2.45 million +9.0%
2010 2.66 million +8.6%
2011 2.81 million +5.7%
2012 3.05 million +8.7%
2013 3.28 million +7.5%
2014 3.42 million +4.3%
2015 3.58 million +4.6%
2016 3.71 million +3.6%
2017 3.89 million +4.8%
2018 4.08 million +5.0%
2019 4.24 million +3.9%
2020 4.44 million +4.7%
2021 4.63 million +4.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 187,268 152,844 243,855 10
1980s 364,140 261,748 480,844 10
1990s 758,300 502,618 1.03 million 10
2000s 1.77 million 1.16 million 2.45 million 10
2010s 3.47 million 2.66 million 4.24 million 10
2020s 4.53 million 4.44 million 4.63 million 2

Countries ranked near MDG: Sub-saharan Africa

  1. 123 Togo 41,135 compare
  2. 124 Malawi 40,807 compare
  3. 125 Burundi 39,547 compare
  4. 126 Guinea 35,943 compare
  5. 127 Cyprus 34,520 compare
  6. 128 North Macedonia 33,618 compare
  7. 129 Botswana 32,975 compare

See the full ranking of 416 places →

More education data for MDG: Sub-saharan Africa

All data for MDG: Sub-saharan Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa was 4.63 million in 2021, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) recorded in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
The highest recorded value was 4.63 million in 2021.
What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) recorded in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 152,844 in 1970.
How does MDG: Sub-saharan Africa rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number)?
MDG: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 126th out of 221 groups with data for 2021.
Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) rising or falling in MDG: 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 MDG: Sub-saharan Africa data come from?
The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number), gaps filled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 03 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-female-number-gaps-filled/mdg-sub-saharan-africa/

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How this figure is calculated

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) with 647 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, female (number), gaps filled
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
416 places, 17,894 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) with 647 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.