Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 programmes, both sexes in SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia
SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia: Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 programmes, both sexes was 4.86 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
4.86 million
Change on year
up 8.8%
Rank
50th
of 218 groups
All-time high
4.86 million
in 2024
All-time low
875,246
in 1997
Years of data
28
1997–2024
Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 programmes, both sexes in SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia, 1997–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes in SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia stood at 4.86 million. That is the highest value across all 28 years on record.
The figure is up 8.8% on the previous year and up 77.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes in SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia peaked at 4.86 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 875,246, in 1997.
That places SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia 50th out of 218 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 programmes, both sexes in SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 875,246 | — |
| 1998 | 911,631 | +4.2% |
| 1999 | 967,480 | +6.1% |
| 2000 | 1.01 million | +4.7% |
| 2001 | 1.04 million | +2.5% |
| 2002 | 1.09 million | +5.1% |
| 2003 | 1.32 million | +21.0% |
| 2004 | 1.35 million | +1.9% |
| 2005 | 1.40 million | +3.9% |
| 2006 | 1.50 million | +7.2% |
| 2007 | 1.54 million | +3.0% |
| 2008 | 1.61 million | +4.2% |
| 2009 | 1.74 million | +8.3% |
| 2010 | 1.92 million | +10.0% |
| 2011 | 1.97 million | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 2.16 million | +10.2% |
| 2013 | 2.47 million | +14.3% |
| 2014 | 2.73 million | +10.5% |
| 2015 | 2.99 million | +9.4% |
| 2016 | 3.29 million | +9.9% |
| 2017 | 3.60 million | +9.4% |
| 2018 | 3.89 million | +8.2% |
| 2019 | 4.07 million | +4.6% |
| 2020 | 4.35 million | +6.9% |
| 2021 | 4.41 million | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 4.30 million | -2.4% |
| 2023 | 4.47 million | +3.8% |
| 2024 | 4.86 million | +8.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 918,119 | 875,246 | 967,480 | 3 |
| 2000s | 1.36 million | 1.01 million | 1.74 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.91 million | 1.92 million | 4.07 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.48 million | 4.30 million | 4.86 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia
- 47 Hong Kong, China 58,415 compare
- 48 Singapore 56,675 compare
- 49 Benin 49,126 compare
- 50 Azerbaijan 46,245 compare
- 51 Sri Lanka 45,291 compare
- 52 Sweden 44,202 compare
- 53 Netherlands 39,988 compare
More education data for SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 32.09 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 0.2663 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 4.45 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 9.09 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 61.67 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 0.5703 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 29.58 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.7875 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.19 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 26.40 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes in SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes in SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia was 4.86 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes recorded in SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 4.86 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes recorded in SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 875,246 in 1997.
- How does SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia rank for enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes?
- SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia ranks 50th out of 218 groups with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes rising or falling in SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 77.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release