Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 6 programmes, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa
UIS: Sub-saharan Africa: Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 6 programmes, both sexes was 6.89 million in 2021. ▲ Rising
Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 6 programmes, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa, 2011–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2021, enrolment in tertiary education, isced 6 programmes, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa stood at 6.89 million. That is the highest value across all 11 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.5% on the previous year and up 61.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, isced 6 programmes, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 6.89 million in 2021 and was at its lowest, 4.26 million, in 2011.
UIS: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 130th of 204 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.
Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 6 programmes, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 4.26 million | — |
| 2012 | 4.60 million | +7.9% |
| 2013 | 4.88 million | +6.1% |
| 2014 | 5.12 million | +5.1% |
| 2015 | 5.34 million | +4.2% |
| 2016 | 5.59 million | +4.6% |
| 2017 | 5.88 million | +5.2% |
| 2018 | 6.13 million | +4.2% |
| 2019 | 6.34 million | +3.5% |
| 2020 | 6.60 million | +4.1% |
| 2021 | 6.89 million | +4.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 5.35 million | 4.26 million | 6.34 million | 9 |
| 2020s | 6.75 million | 6.60 million | 6.89 million | 2 |
Countries ranked near UIS: Sub-saharan Africa
- 127 Monaco 762 compare
- 128 Saint Lucia 623 compare
- 129 Liechtenstein 433 compare
- 130 Sint Maarten (Dutch part) 82 compare
- 131 Bermuda 0 compare
More education data for UIS: Sub-saharan Africa
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 9.73 million (2021)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 37.39 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.61 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 40.73 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.23 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 25.04 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 1.63 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 5.50 million (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 4.24 million (2021)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.52 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, isced 6 programmes, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, isced 6 programmes, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa was 6.89 million in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, isced 6 programmes, both sexes recorded in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 6.89 million in 2021.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, isced 6 programmes, both sexes recorded in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.26 million in 2011.
- How does UIS: Sub-saharan Africa rank for enrolment in tertiary education, isced 6 programmes, both sexes?
- UIS: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 130th out of 204 groups with data for 2021.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, isced 6 programmes, both sexes rising or falling in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 61.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this UIS: Sub-saharan Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 6 programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release