Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 8 programmes, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa

MDG: Sub-saharan Africa: Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 8 programmes, both sexes was 135,783 in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
135,783
Change on year
up 18.4%
Rank
123rd
of 216 groups
All-time high
135,783
in 2021
All-time low
25,753
in 1998
Years of data
24
1998–2021

Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 8 programmes, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa, 1998–2021

25.0k50.0k75.0k100.0k125.0k1998200920211998: 25.8k1999: 25.9k2000: 27.6k2001: 28.8k2002: 33.7k2003: 39.4k2004: 45.0k2005: 49.3k2006: 51.7k2007: 54.4k2008: 53.4k2009: 53.7k2010: 56.6k2011: 60.1k2012: 64.0k2013: 73.4k2014: 80.8k2015: 86.5k2016: 105.0k2017: 103.2k2018: 107.3k2019: 111.9k2020: 114.7k2021: 135.8k

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

In 2021, enrolment in tertiary education, isced 8 programmes, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa stood at 135,783. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 18.4% on the previous year and up 126.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, isced 8 programmes, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 135,783 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 25,753, in 1998.

MDG: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 123rd of 216 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.

Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 8 programmes, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year

Annual values for Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 8 programmes, both sexes (number) in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa, 1998 to 2021.
Year Value Change
1998 25,753
1999 25,877 +0.5%
2000 27,642 +6.8%
2001 28,841 +4.3%
2002 33,672 +16.7%
2003 39,385 +17.0%
2004 45,021 +14.3%
2005 49,347 +9.6%
2006 51,696 +4.8%
2007 54,390 +5.2%
2008 53,442 -1.7%
2009 53,675 +0.4%
2010 56,621 +5.5%
2011 60,082 +6.1%
2012 64,032 +6.6%
2013 73,396 +14.6%
2014 80,808 +10.1%
2015 86,486 +7.0%
2016 105,028 +21.4%
2017 103,159 -1.8%
2018 107,310 +4.0%
2019 111,907 +4.3%
2020 114,722 +2.5%
2021 135,783 +18.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 25,815 25,753 25,877 2
2000s 43,711 27,642 54,390 10
2010s 84,883 56,621 111,907 10
2020s 125,252 114,722 135,783 2

Countries ranked near MDG: Sub-saharan Africa

  1. 120 Mauritania 321 compare
  2. 121 Guinea 306 compare
  3. 122 Oman 291 compare
  4. 123 Panama 286 compare
  5. 124 Bahrain 280 compare
  6. 125 Liechtenstein 213 compare
  7. 126 Honduras 159 compare

See the full ranking of 359 places →

More education data for MDG: Sub-saharan Africa

All data for MDG: Sub-saharan Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is enrolment in tertiary education, isced 8 programmes, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
Enrolment in tertiary education, isced 8 programmes, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa was 135,783 in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, isced 8 programmes, both sexes recorded in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
The highest recorded value was 135,783 in 2021.
What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, isced 8 programmes, both sexes recorded in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 25,753 in 1998.
How does MDG: Sub-saharan Africa rank for enrolment in tertiary education, isced 8 programmes, both sexes?
MDG: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 123rd out of 216 groups with data for 2021.
Is enrolment in tertiary education, isced 8 programmes, both sexes rising or falling in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 126.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this MDG: Sub-saharan Africa data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 8 programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 8 programmes, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-isced-8-programmes-both-sexes-number-2/mdg-sub-saharan-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 8 programmes, both sexes (number)
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
359 places, 7,935 data points, 1996–2025
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release