Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central
WB: Africa Western and Central: Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes was 10.2% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central, 1970–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central is 10.2%, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 52 years on record.
The figure is up 2.6% on the previous year and up 23.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central peaked at 10.2% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 0.6%, in 1970.
WB: Africa Western and Central ranks 182nd 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 WB: Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.6% | — |
| 1971 | 0.6% | +0.2% |
| 1972 | 0.7% | +6.9% |
| 1973 | 0.7% | +9.4% |
| 1974 | 0.8% | +8.6% |
| 1975 | 0.8% | +5.8% |
| 1976 | 0.9% | +11.6% |
| 1977 | 1.1% | +17.5% |
| 1978 | 1.2% | +13.0% |
| 1979 | 1.5% | +21.8% |
| 1980 | 1.7% | +10.4% |
| 1981 | 1.9% | +16.3% |
| 1982 | 2.1% | +6.7% |
| 1983 | 2.1% | +4.3% |
| 1984 | 2.2% | +2.9% |
| 1985 | 2.4% | +8.3% |
| 1986 | 2.5% | +5.3% |
| 1987 | 2.5% | -1.6% |
| 1988 | 2.7% | +7.2% |
| 1989 | 2.8% | +4.5% |
| 1990 | 2.9% | +3.8% |
| 1991 | 3.0% | +3.5% |
| 1992 | 3.1% | +4.7% |
| 1993 | 3.3% | +5.6% |
| 1994 | 3.5% | +4.8% |
| 1995 | 3.6% | +4.1% |
| 1996 | 3.8% | +5.4% |
| 1997 | 4.0% | +6.0% |
| 1998 | 4.2% | +3.9% |
| 1999 | 4.3% | +4.0% |
| 2000 | 5.0% | +14.1% |
| 2001 | 5.4% | +9.7% |
| 2002 | 5.9% | +9.3% |
| 2003 | 6.4% | +8.3% |
| 2004 | 6.6% | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 7.0% | +6.3% |
| 2006 | 7.1% | +0.8% |
| 2007 | 7.3% | +3.1% |
| 2008 | 7.6% | +3.3% |
| 2009 | 7.7% | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 7.9% | +3.5% |
| 2011 | 8.2% | +3.7% |
| 2012 | 8.6% | +4.6% |
| 2013 | 9.1% | +6.1% |
| 2014 | 9.4% | +2.8% |
| 2015 | 9.5% | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 9.3% | -1.9% |
| 2017 | 9.4% | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 9.6% | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 9.7% | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 9.9% | +2.0% |
| 2021 | 10.2% | +2.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.9% | 0.6% | 1.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.3% | 1.7% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.6% | 2.9% | 4.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.6% | 5.0% | 7.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.1% | 7.9% | 9.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.1% | 9.9% | 10.2% | 2 |
Countries ranked near WB: Africa Western and Central
More education data for WB: Africa Western and Central
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 4.61 million (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 7.4 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1.89 million (2021)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2.08 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.08 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 0.7294 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.00 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 6.08 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.09 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 18.05 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central was 10.2% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes recorded in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 10.2% in 2021.
- What is the lowest gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes recorded in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.6% in 1970.
- How does WB: Africa Western and Central rank for gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes?
- WB: Africa Western and Central ranks 182nd out of 221 groups with data for 2021.
- Is gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes rising or falling in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this WB: Africa Western and Central 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