Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 8 programmes, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa: Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 8 programmes, both sexes was 103,019 number in 2019. ▲ Rising

Latest (2019)
103,019 number
Change on year
down 2.5%
Rank
31st
of 43 groups
All-time high
105,709 number
in 2018
All-time low
25,471 number
in 1998
Years of data
22
1998–2019

Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 8 programmes, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1998–2019

20.0k40.0k60.0k80.0k100.0k1998200820191998: 25.5k number1999: 25.8k number2000: 27.7k number2001: 29.2k number2002: 34.0k number2003: 39.6k number2004: 45.0k number2005: 49.0k number2006: 51.3k number2007: 53.9k number2008: 53.0k number2009: 53.4k number2010: 56.5k number2011: 59.4k number2012: 63.4k number2013: 72.7k number2014: 80.1k number2015: 85.6k number2016: 103.4k number2017: 100.9k number2018: 105.7k number2019: 103.0k 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 is 103,019 number, measured in 2019.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.5% on the previous year and up 92.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, isced 8 programmes, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 105,709 number in 2018 and was at its lowest, 25,471 number, in 1998.

That places Sub-Saharan Africa 31st out of 43 groups with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.

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, year by year

Annual values for Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 8 programmes, both sexes (number) in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1998 to 2019.
Year number Change
1998 25,471 number
1999 25,762 number +1.1%
2000 27,736 number +7.7%
2001 29,166 number +5.2%
2002 33,969 number +16.5%
2003 39,590 number +16.5%
2004 44,976 number +13.6%
2005 49,027 number +9.0%
2006 51,267 number +4.6%
2007 53,945 number +5.2%
2008 53,049 number -1.7%
2009 53,407 number +0.7%
2010 56,478 number +5.8%
2011 59,442 number +5.2%
2012 63,403 number +6.7%
2013 72,719 number +14.7%
2014 80,136 number +10.2%
2015 85,627 number +6.9%
2016 103,384 number +20.7%
2017 100,925 number -2.4%
2018 105,709 number +4.7%
2019 103,019 number -2.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 25,616 number 25,471 number 25,762 number 2
2000s 43,613 number 27,736 number 53,945 number 10
2010s 83,084 number 56,478 number 105,709 number 10

Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa

  1. 28 Philippines 23,827 number compare
  2. 29 South Africa 23,730 number compare
  3. 30 Czechia 22,457 number compare
  4. 31 Pakistan 22,147 number compare
  5. 32 Austria 20,396 number compare
  6. 33 Portugal 20,239 number compare
  7. 34 Romania 19,756 number compare

See the full ranking of 178 places →

More education data for Sub-Saharan Africa

All data for Sub-Saharan Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is enrolment in tertiary education, isced 8 programmes, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa?
Enrolment in tertiary education, isced 8 programmes, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa was 103,019 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?
The highest recorded value was 105,709 number in 2018.
What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, isced 8 programmes, both sexes recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 25,471 number in 1998.
How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for enrolment in tertiary education, isced 8 programmes, both sexes?
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 31st out of 43 groups with data for 2019.
Is enrolment in tertiary education, isced 8 programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 92.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this 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 Sub-Saharan Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-isced-8-programmes-both-sexes-number/sub-saharan-africa/

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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.