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

SDG: Sub-saharan Africa: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps was 5.52 million in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
5.52 million
Change on year
up 3.6%
Rank
127th
of 221 groups
All-time high
5.52 million
in 2021
All-time low
152,216
in 1971
Years of data
52
1970–2021

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

02.0M4.0M6.0M197019952021

Source: Statizoid (derived).

Analysis

In 2021, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa stood at 5.52 million. That is the highest value across all 52 years on record.

That represents a change of up 3.6% on the previous year and up 45.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 5.52 million in 2021 and was at its lowest, 152,216, in 1971.

SDG: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 127th 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, male (number), gaps in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year

Annual values for Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps filled in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa, 1970 to 2021.
Year Value Change
1970 158,178
1971 152,216 -3.8%
1972 176,835 +16.2%
1973 180,947 +2.3%
1974 202,670 +12.0%
1975 222,504 +9.8%
1976 244,047 +9.7%
1977 272,798 +11.8%
1978 308,695 +13.2%
1979 353,931 +14.7%
1980 390,817 +10.4%
1981 441,346 +12.9%
1982 498,823 +13.0%
1983 530,989 +6.4%
1984 557,126 +4.9%
1985 613,337 +10.1%
1986 667,121 +8.8%
1987 695,535 +4.3%
1988 769,010 +10.6%
1989 841,306 +9.4%
1990 888,340 +5.6%
1991 944,997 +6.4%
1992 1.00 million +6.0%
1993 1.07 million +7.1%
1994 1.13 million +5.4%
1995 1.19 million +5.1%
1996 1.24 million +4.4%
1997 1.30 million +4.7%
1998 1.35 million +4.1%
1999 1.40 million +3.2%
2000 1.57 million +12.7%
2001 1.74 million +10.7%
2002 1.91 million +9.9%
2003 2.15 million +12.6%
2004 2.29 million +6.1%
2005 2.47 million +8.1%
2006 2.59 million +4.8%
2007 2.74 million +5.9%
2008 2.96 million +7.7%
2009 3.21 million +8.5%
2010 3.52 million +9.6%
2011 3.80 million +8.2%
2012 4.02 million +5.6%
2013 4.24 million +5.5%
2014 4.44 million +4.8%
2015 4.59 million +3.2%
2016 4.69 million +2.2%
2017 4.86 million +3.6%
2018 5.01 million +3.2%
2019 5.14 million +2.5%
2020 5.33 million +3.7%
2021 5.52 million +3.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 227,282 152,216 353,931 10
1980s 600,541 390,817 841,306 10
1990s 1.15 million 888,340 1.40 million 10
2000s 2.36 million 1.57 million 3.21 million 10
2010s 4.43 million 3.52 million 5.14 million 10
2020s 5.42 million 5.33 million 5.52 million 2

Countries ranked near SDG: Sub-saharan Africa

  1. 124 Slovenia 33,799 compare
  2. 125 Republic of Moldova 33,513 compare
  3. 126 Congo 33,072 compare
  4. 127 Zambia 32,186 compare
  5. 128 Latvia 30,806 compare
  6. 129 Bosnia and Herzegovina 30,320 compare
  7. 130 Jamaica 27,890 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, male (number), gaps in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa was 5.52 million in 2021, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps recorded in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
The highest recorded value was 5.52 million in 2021.
What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps recorded in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 152,216 in 1971.
How does SDG: Sub-saharan Africa rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps?
SDG: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 127th out of 221 groups with data for 2021.
Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps rising or falling in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 45.1%. 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, male (number), gaps filled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-male-number-gaps-filled/sdg-sub-saharan-africa/

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How this figure is calculated

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) with 661 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, male (number), gaps filled
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
416 places, 17,882 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) with 661 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.