Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female was 3.85 million number in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1970–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
Sub-Saharan Africa recorded 3.85 million number for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in 2018. That is the highest value across all 49 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.2% on the previous year and up 73.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 3.85 million number in 2018 and was at its lowest, 155,222 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, female in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 155,222 number | — |
| 1971 | 159,232 number | +2.6% |
| 1972 | 163,832 number | +2.9% |
| 1973 | 169,503 number | +3.5% |
| 1974 | 180,532 number | +6.5% |
| 1975 | 190,405 number | +5.5% |
| 1976 | 201,216 number | +5.7% |
| 1977 | 215,009 number | +6.9% |
| 1978 | 230,461 number | +7.2% |
| 1979 | 250,228 number | +8.6% |
| 1980 | 268,905 number | +7.5% |
| 1981 | 291,029 number | +8.2% |
| 1982 | 314,152 number | +7.9% |
| 1983 | 330,641 number | +5.2% |
| 1984 | 349,408 number | +5.7% |
| 1985 | 374,202 number | +7.1% |
| 1986 | 401,182 number | +7.2% |
| 1987 | 425,485 number | +6.1% |
| 1988 | 448,777 number | +5.5% |
| 1989 | 484,109 number | +7.9% |
| 1990 | 506,011 number | +4.5% |
| 1991 | 551,010 number | +8.9% |
| 1992 | 598,302 number | +8.6% |
| 1993 | 661,306 number | +10.5% |
| 1994 | 736,603 number | +11.4% |
| 1995 | 787,140 number | +6.9% |
| 1996 | 843,942 number | +7.2% |
| 1997 | 897,190 number | +6.3% |
| 1998 | 959,386 number | +6.9% |
| 1999 | 1.03 million number | +7.1% |
| 2000 | 1.16 million number | +12.6% |
| 2001 | 1.29 million number | +11.1% |
| 2002 | 1.42 million number | +10.8% |
| 2003 | 1.55 million number | +9.0% |
| 2004 | 1.68 million number | +8.4% |
| 2005 | 1.83 million number | +8.7% |
| 2006 | 1.96 million number | +7.1% |
| 2007 | 2.07 million number | +5.6% |
| 2008 | 2.22 million number | +7.4% |
| 2009 | 2.43 million number | +9.4% |
| 2010 | 2.65 million number | +8.9% |
| 2011 | 2.80 million number | +5.8% |
| 2012 | 3.04 million number | +8.5% |
| 2013 | 3.27 million number | +7.5% |
| 2014 | 3.40 million number | +4.2% |
| 2015 | 3.53 million number | +3.8% |
| 2016 | 3.62 million number | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 3.73 million number | +3.0% |
| 2018 | 3.85 million number | +3.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 191,564 number | 155,222 number | 250,228 number | 10 |
| 1980s | 368,789 number | 268,905 number | 484,109 number | 10 |
| 1990s | 756,853 number | 506,011 number | 1.03 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.76 million number | 1.16 million number | 2.43 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.32 million number | 2.65 million number | 3.85 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, female in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in Sub-Saharan Africa was 3.85 million number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 3.85 million number in 2018.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 155,222 number in 1970.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 32nd out of 43 groups with data for 2018.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 73.1%. 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, female (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The total number of female students enrolled at public and private tertiary education institutions.