Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126)
ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126): Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes was 9.3% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2021)
9.3%
Change on year
up 0.8%
Rank
191st
of 221 groups
All-time high
9.3%
in 2021
All-time low
1.4%
in 1971
Years of data
52
1970–2021
Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126), 1970–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2021, gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126) stood at 9.3%. That is the highest value across all 52 years on record.
The figure is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 17.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126) peaked at 9.3% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1.4%, in 1971.
ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126) ranks 191st of 221 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126), year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1.4% | — |
| 1971 | 1.4% | -2.6% |
| 1972 | 1.5% | +5.8% |
| 1973 | 1.5% | -0.2% |
| 1974 | 1.5% | +4.8% |
| 1975 | 1.6% | +3.4% |
| 1976 | 1.6% | +3.9% |
| 1977 | 1.7% | +5.2% |
| 1978 | 1.8% | +6.3% |
| 1979 | 2.0% | +7.3% |
| 1980 | 2.1% | +5.0% |
| 1981 | 2.2% | +6.8% |
| 1982 | 2.4% | +6.9% |
| 1983 | 2.4% | +2.3% |
| 1984 | 2.5% | +2.0% |
| 1985 | 2.6% | +5.2% |
| 1986 | 2.7% | +4.0% |
| 1987 | 2.7% | +1.6% |
| 1988 | 2.9% | +5.0% |
| 1989 | 3.0% | +4.9% |
| 1990 | 3.1% | +1.8% |
| 1991 | 3.2% | +4.0% |
| 1992 | 3.3% | +3.9% |
| 1993 | 3.5% | +4.5% |
| 1994 | 3.6% | +4.8% |
| 1995 | 3.7% | +1.9% |
| 1996 | 3.8% | +2.2% |
| 1997 | 3.9% | +2.8% |
| 1998 | 4.0% | +2.3% |
| 1999 | 4.0% | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 4.4% | +8.8% |
| 2001 | 4.7% | +8.1% |
| 2002 | 5.1% | +7.4% |
| 2003 | 5.5% | +7.5% |
| 2004 | 5.7% | +4.8% |
| 2005 | 6.1% | +5.7% |
| 2006 | 6.3% | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 6.4% | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 6.8% | +5.1% |
| 2009 | 7.1% | +5.8% |
| 2010 | 7.6% | +6.2% |
| 2011 | 7.9% | +4.5% |
| 2012 | 8.2% | +4.0% |
| 2013 | 8.6% | +3.9% |
| 2014 | 8.7% | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 8.8% | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 8.9% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 9.0% | +1.6% |
| 2018 | 9.1% | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 9.1% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 9.2% | +1.1% |
| 2021 | 9.3% | +0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.6% | 1.4% | 2.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.5% | 2.1% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.6% | 3.1% | 4.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.8% | 4.4% | 7.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.6% | 7.6% | 9.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.2% | 9.2% | 9.3% | 2 |
Countries ranked near ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126)
- 188 Central African Republic 2.8% compare
- 189 Malawi 2.7% compare
- 190 Suriname 2.6% compare
- 191 Somalia 2.4% compare
- 192 Sierra Leone 2.0% compare
- 193 Papua New Guinea 1.9% compare
- 194 Haiti 1.1% compare
More education data for ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 5.89 million (2021)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 38.99 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 42.27 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.26 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 26.34 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 1.59 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 3.52 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 3.88 % change on previous year (2021)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.59 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126)?
- Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126) was 9.3% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes recorded in ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126)?
- The highest recorded value was 9.3% in 2021.
- What is the lowest gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes recorded in ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126)?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.4% in 1971.
- How does ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126) rank for gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes?
- ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126) ranks 191st out of 221 groups with data for 2021.
- Is gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes rising or falling in ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126) data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release