Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa
WB: Sub-saharan Africa: 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, 1970–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
WB: Sub-saharan Africa 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.
Compared with earlier readings it 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 WB: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 9.3% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1.4%, in 1971.
That places WB: Sub-saharan Africa 192nd out of 221 groups with data for 2021, putting it 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, 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 | 6.7% | +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
More education data for WB: Sub-saharan Africa
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 5.90 million (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 42.35 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 26.37 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 1.55 % 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 2.60 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa 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?
- 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?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.4% in 1971.
- How does WB: Sub-saharan Africa rank for gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes?
- WB: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 192nd 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?
- 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 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