Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 8 programmes, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)

Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income): Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 8 programmes, both sexes was 102,664 number in 2019. ▲ Rising

Latest (2019)
102,664 number
Change on year
down 2.6%
Rank
35th
of 45 groups
All-time high
105,355 number
in 2018
All-time low
25,356 number
in 1998
Years of data
22
1998–2019

Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 8 programmes, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), 1998–2019

20.0k40.0k60.0k80.0k100.0k1998200820191998: 25.4k number1999: 25.6k number2000: 27.6k number2001: 29.0k number2002: 33.8k number2003: 39.5k number2004: 44.8k number2005: 48.8k number2006: 51.0k number2007: 53.7k number2008: 52.7k number2009: 53.3k number2010: 56.4k number2011: 59.3k number2012: 63.3k number2013: 72.5k number2014: 79.9k number2015: 85.4k number2016: 103.1k number2017: 100.6k number2018: 105.4k number2019: 102.7k number

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.

Analysis

The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, isced 8 programmes, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) is 102,664 number, measured in 2019.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.6% on the previous year and up 92.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, isced 8 programmes, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) peaked at 105,355 number in 2018 and was at its lowest, 25,356 number, in 1998.

That places Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) 35th out of 45 groups with data for 2019, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.

Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 8 programmes, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), year by year

Annual values for Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 8 programmes, both sexes (number) in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), 1998 to 2019.
Year number Change
1998 25,356 number
1999 25,622 number +1.0%
2000 27,588 number +7.7%
2001 29,021 number +5.2%
2002 33,792 number +16.4%
2003 39,464 number +16.8%
2004 44,810 number +13.5%
2005 48,802 number +8.9%
2006 51,007 number +4.5%
2007 53,677 number +5.2%
2008 52,663 number -1.9%
2009 53,337 number +1.3%
2010 56,378 number +5.7%
2011 59,350 number +5.3%
2012 63,325 number +6.7%
2013 72,501 number +14.5%
2014 79,855 number +10.1%
2015 85,410 number +7.0%
2016 103,118 number +20.7%
2017 100,570 number -2.5%
2018 105,355 number +4.8%
2019 102,664 number -2.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 25,489 number 25,356 number 25,622 number 2
2000s 43,416 number 27,588 number 53,677 number 10
2010s 82,853 number 56,378 number 105,355 number 10

Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)

  1. 32 Austria 20,396 number compare
  2. 33 Portugal 20,239 number compare
  3. 34 Romania 19,756 number compare
  4. 35 Sweden 19,682 number compare
  5. 36 Finland 18,621 number compare
  6. 37 Belgium 17,339 number compare
  7. 38 Netherlands 15,650 number compare

See the full ranking of 178 places →

More education data for Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)

All data for Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) →

Frequently asked questions

What is enrolment in tertiary education, isced 8 programmes, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
Enrolment in tertiary education, isced 8 programmes, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) was 102,664 number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, isced 8 programmes, both sexes recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
The highest recorded value was 105,355 number in 2018.
What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, isced 8 programmes, both sexes recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
The lowest recorded value was 25,356 number in 1998.
How does Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) rank for enrolment in tertiary education, isced 8 programmes, both sexes?
Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) ranks 35th out of 45 groups with data for 2019.
Is enrolment in tertiary education, isced 8 programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
Over the last ten years it is up 92.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) 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 Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income). Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-isced-8-programmes-both-sexes-number/sub-saharan-africa-excluding-high-income/

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About this data

Indicator
Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 8 programmes, both sexes (number)
Unit
number
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
178 places, 2,921 data points, 1997–2020
Last refreshed

Total number of students enrolled in public and private tertiary education institutions in programmes on the doctoral or equivalent (ISCED 8) level.