Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income)
WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income): Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes was 9.3% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income), 1970–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income) recorded 9.3% for gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in 2021. That is the highest value across all 52 years on record.
That represents a change of 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 WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income) peaked at 9.3% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1.4%, in 1971.
WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income) ranks 194th 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: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income), 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% | +3.8% |
| 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% | +4.1% |
| 1987 | 2.7% | +1.7% |
| 1988 | 2.9% | +5.0% |
| 1989 | 3.0% | +4.9% |
| 1990 | 3.1% | +1.8% |
| 1991 | 3.2% | +3.9% |
| 1992 | 3.3% | +4.0% |
| 1993 | 3.5% | +4.6% |
| 1994 | 3.6% | +4.8% |
| 1995 | 3.7% | +1.9% |
| 1996 | 3.8% | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 3.9% | +2.9% |
| 1998 | 4.0% | +2.3% |
| 1999 | 4.0% | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 4.4% | +8.7% |
| 2001 | 4.7% | +8.0% |
| 2002 | 5.1% | +7.3% |
| 2003 | 5.5% | +7.5% |
| 2004 | 5.7% | +4.8% |
| 2005 | 6.1% | +5.7% |
| 2006 | 6.2% | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 6.4% | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 6.8% | +5.1% |
| 2009 | 7.1% | +5.7% |
| 2010 | 7.6% | +6.2% |
| 2011 | 7.9% | +4.4% |
| 2012 | 8.2% | +4.0% |
| 2013 | 8.6% | +3.9% |
| 2014 | 8.7% | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 8.8% | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 8.8% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 9.0% | +1.5% |
| 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 WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income)
- 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 WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 3.88 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 39.08 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.55 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 42.34 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.19 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 26.36 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 1.56 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 10.53 million (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 5.90 million (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 4.34 % change on previous year (2021)
All data for WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income) →
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income)?
- Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income) 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 WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income)?
- The highest recorded value was 9.3% in 2021.
- What is the lowest gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes recorded in WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income)?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.4% in 1971.
- How does WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income) rank for gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes?
- WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income) ranks 194th out of 221 groups with data for 2021.
- Is gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes rising or falling in WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this WB: Sub-saharan Africa (excluding High Income) 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