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

SDG: Sub-saharan Africa: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) was 4.25 million in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
4.25 million
Change on year
up 4.5%
Rank
136th
of 221 groups
All-time high
4.25 million
in 2021
All-time low
65,998
in 1970
Years of data
52
1970–2021

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

01.0M2.0M3.0M4.0M197019952021

Source: Statizoid (derived).

Analysis

The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa is 4.25 million, measured in 2021. 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 (number) in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 4.25 million in 2021 and was at its lowest, 65,998, in 1970.

SDG: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 136th 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 (number) in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year

Annual values for Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number), gaps filled in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa, 1970 to 2021.
Year Value Change
1970 65,998
1971 68,648 +4.0%
1972 74,191 +8.1%
1973 79,234 +6.8%
1974 89,668 +13.2%
1975 99,019 +10.4%
1976 109,552 +10.6%
1977 122,947 +12.2%
1978 137,959 +12.2%
1979 157,009 +13.8%
1980 174,903 +11.4%
1981 197,408 +12.9%
1982 222,264 +12.6%
1983 239,690 +7.8%
1984 257,810 +7.6%
1985 282,816 +9.7%
1986 310,262 +9.7%
1987 335,073 +8.0%
1988 358,713 +7.1%
1989 393,999 +9.8%
1990 415,772 +5.5%
1991 461,510 +11.0%
1992 514,017 +11.4%
1993 569,651 +10.8%
1994 644,630 +13.2%
1995 702,225 +8.9%
1996 757,313 +7.8%
1997 817,926 +8.0%
1998 884,795 +8.2%
1999 943,177 +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 1.76 million +5.8%
2007 1.87 million +6.2%
2008 2.00 million +7.0%
2009 2.18 million +9.3%
2010 2.38 million +8.8%
2011 2.54 million +7.0%
2012 2.76 million +8.7%
2013 2.95 million +6.7%
2014 3.10 million +5.2%
2015 3.25 million +5.0%
2016 3.37 million +3.6%
2017 3.54 million +4.9%
2018 3.72 million +5.0%
2019 3.87 million +4.2%
2020 4.06 million +4.9%
2021 4.25 million +4.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 100,423 65,998 157,009 10
1980s 277,294 174,903 393,999 10
1990s 671,102 415,772 943,177 10
2000s 1.59 million 1.06 million 2.18 million 10
2010s 3.15 million 2.38 million 3.87 million 10
2020s 4.16 million 4.06 million 4.25 million 2

Countries ranked near SDG: Sub-saharan Africa

  1. 133 Niger 30,508 compare
  2. 134 Macau, China 30,211 compare
  3. 135 Estonia 26,591 compare
  4. 136 Mauritius 25,882 compare
  5. 137 Zambia 24,494 compare
  6. 138 Mali 24,246 compare
  7. 139 Lao People's Democratic Republic 22,851 compare

See the full ranking of 416 places →

More education data for SDG: Sub-saharan Africa

All data for SDG: Sub-saharan Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa was 4.25 million in 2021, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) recorded in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
The highest recorded value was 4.25 million in 2021.
What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) recorded in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 65,998 in 1970.
How does SDG: Sub-saharan Africa rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number)?
SDG: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 136th out of 221 groups with data for 2021.
Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) rising or falling in SDG: 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 SDG: 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 SDG: 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/sdg-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.