Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 8 programmes, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa
UIS: Sub-saharan Africa: Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 8 programmes, both sexes was 127,526 in 2021. ▲ Rising
Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 8 programmes, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa, 1998–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, isced 8 programmes, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa is 127,526, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 19.6% on the previous year and up 125.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, isced 8 programmes, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 127,526 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 24,663, in 1998.
UIS: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 131st 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 UIS: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 24,663 | — |
| 1999 | 24,743 | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 26,443 | +6.9% |
| 2001 | 27,316 | +3.3% |
| 2002 | 31,904 | +16.8% |
| 2003 | 37,700 | +18.2% |
| 2004 | 42,931 | +13.9% |
| 2005 | 46,950 | +9.4% |
| 2006 | 48,927 | +4.2% |
| 2007 | 51,622 | +5.5% |
| 2008 | 50,309 | -2.5% |
| 2009 | 50,394 | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 53,178 | +5.5% |
| 2011 | 56,619 | +6.5% |
| 2012 | 60,402 | +6.7% |
| 2013 | 68,256 | +13.0% |
| 2014 | 74,795 | +9.6% |
| 2015 | 79,698 | +6.6% |
| 2016 | 98,034 | +23.0% |
| 2017 | 95,842 | -2.2% |
| 2018 | 99,691 | +4.0% |
| 2019 | 104,226 | +4.5% |
| 2020 | 106,665 | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 127,526 | +19.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 24,703 | 24,663 | 24,743 | 2 |
| 2000s | 41,449 | 26,443 | 51,622 | 10 |
| 2010s | 79,074 | 53,178 | 104,226 | 10 |
| 2020s | 117,096 | 106,665 | 127,526 | 2 |
Countries ranked near UIS: Sub-saharan Africa
- 128 Barbados 133 compare
- 129 Montenegro 128 compare
- 130 El Salvador 116 compare
- 131 Turkmenistan 83 compare
- 132 Kuwait 73 compare
- 133 Cape Verde 62 compare
- 134 San Marino 35
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 8 programmes, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, isced 8 programmes, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa was 127,526 in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, isced 8 programmes, both sexes recorded in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 127,526 in 2021.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, isced 8 programmes, both sexes recorded in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 24,663 in 1998.
- How does UIS: Sub-saharan Africa rank for enrolment in tertiary education, isced 8 programmes, both sexes?
- UIS: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 131st out of 216 groups with data for 2021.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, isced 8 programmes, both sexes rising or falling in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 125.2%. 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 8 programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release