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

UIS: Sub-saharan Africa: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps was 5.50 million in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
5.50 million
Change on year
up 3.6%
Rank
128th
of 221 groups
All-time high
5.50 million
in 2021
All-time low
151,856
in 1971
Years of data
52
1970–2021

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps in UIS: 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 UIS: Sub-saharan Africa stood at 5.50 million. That is the highest value across all 52 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is 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 UIS: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 5.50 million in 2021 and was at its lowest, 151,856, in 1971.

That places UIS: Sub-saharan Africa 128th 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, male (number), gaps in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year

Annual values for Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps filled in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa, 1970 to 2021.
Year Value Change
1970 157,816
1971 151,856 -3.8%
1972 176,477 +16.2%
1973 180,590 +2.3%
1974 202,312 +12.0%
1975 222,137 +9.8%
1976 243,666 +9.7%
1977 272,402 +11.8%
1978 308,264 +13.2%
1979 353,280 +14.6%
1980 389,884 +10.4%
1981 440,145 +12.9%
1982 497,334 +13.0%
1983 529,190 +6.4%
1984 554,995 +4.9%
1985 610,851 +10.1%
1986 663,148 +8.6%
1987 690,831 +4.2%
1988 764,298 +10.6%
1989 836,250 +9.4%
1990 883,196 +5.6%
1991 940,417 +6.5%
1992 996,398 +6.0%
1993 1.07 million +7.0%
1994 1.12 million +5.5%
1995 1.18 million +5.1%
1996 1.23 million +4.3%
1997 1.29 million +4.6%
1998 1.34 million +4.1%
1999 1.39 million +3.2%
2000 1.57 million +12.8%
2001 1.73 million +10.8%
2002 1.91 million +10.0%
2003 2.15 million +12.6%
2004 2.28 million +6.1%
2005 2.46 million +8.2%
2006 2.58 million +4.8%
2007 2.73 million +5.9%
2008 2.94 million +7.7%
2009 3.20 million +8.6%
2010 3.50 million +9.6%
2011 3.79 million +8.1%
2012 4.00 million +5.6%
2013 4.22 million +5.5%
2014 4.43 million +4.8%
2015 4.57 million +3.3%
2016 4.67 million +2.2%
2017 4.84 million +3.6%
2018 4.99 million +3.2%
2019 5.12 million +2.5%
2020 5.31 million +3.7%
2021 5.50 million +3.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 226,880 151,856 353,280 10
1980s 597,693 389,884 836,250 10
1990s 1.14 million 883,196 1.39 million 10
2000s 2.35 million 1.57 million 3.20 million 10
2010s 4.41 million 3.50 million 5.12 million 10
2020s 5.40 million 5.31 million 5.50 million 2

Countries ranked near UIS: Sub-saharan Africa

  1. 125 Republic of Moldova 33,513 compare
  2. 126 Congo 33,072 compare
  3. 127 Zambia 32,186 compare
  4. 128 Latvia 30,806 compare
  5. 129 Bosnia and Herzegovina 30,320 compare
  6. 130 Jamaica 27,890 compare
  7. 131 Liberia 27,165 compare

See the full ranking of 416 places →

More education data for UIS: Sub-saharan Africa

All data for UIS: Sub-saharan Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa?
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa was 5.50 million in 2021, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps recorded in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa?
The highest recorded value was 5.50 million in 2021.
What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps recorded in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 151,856 in 1971.
How does UIS: Sub-saharan Africa rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps?
UIS: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 128th out of 221 groups with data for 2021.
Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps rising or falling in UIS: 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 UIS: 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 UIS: Sub-saharan Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-male-number-gaps-filled/uis-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.