Gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa
MDG: Sub-saharan Africa: Gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes was 73.2% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
73.2%
Change on year
up 0.4%
Rank
187th
of 221 groups
All-time high
73.6%
in 2020
All-time low
35.2%
in 1971
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
MDG: Sub-saharan Africa recorded 73.2% for gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.4% on the previous year and up 1.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 73.6% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 35.2%, in 1971.
That places MDG: Sub-saharan Africa 187th out of 221 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 55 years of available data.
Gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 36.2% | — |
| 1971 | 35.2% | -2.6% |
| 1972 | 36.1% | +2.7% |
| 1973 | 36.9% | +2.2% |
| 1974 | 38.2% | +3.4% |
| 1975 | 39.2% | +2.7% |
| 1976 | 39.9% | +1.8% |
| 1977 | 42.0% | +5.1% |
| 1978 | 44.3% | +5.6% |
| 1979 | 47.1% | +6.2% |
| 1980 | 49.3% | +4.6% |
| 1981 | 51.1% | +3.8% |
| 1982 | 52.9% | +3.5% |
| 1983 | 53.4% | +0.8% |
| 1984 | 53.3% | -0.2% |
| 1985 | 52.2% | -2.1% |
| 1986 | 50.8% | -2.5% |
| 1987 | 50.1% | -1.4% |
| 1988 | 49.6% | -1.1% |
| 1989 | 49.8% | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 49.4% | -0.8% |
| 1991 | 50.0% | +1.3% |
| 1992 | 49.9% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 50.7% | +1.6% |
| 1994 | 50.8% | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 51.2% | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 50.2% | -2.1% |
| 1997 | 52.2% | +4.0% |
| 1998 | 53.2% | +1.9% |
| 1999 | 53.5% | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 55.0% | +2.7% |
| 2001 | 56.5% | +2.9% |
| 2002 | 58.1% | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 60.0% | +3.3% |
| 2004 | 61.8% | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 63.5% | +2.7% |
| 2006 | 64.9% | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 66.0% | +1.7% |
| 2008 | 67.5% | +2.3% |
| 2009 | 68.5% | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 69.3% | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 70.5% | +1.7% |
| 2012 | 71.5% | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 72.6% | +1.6% |
| 2014 | 72.0% | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 71.4% | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 71.3% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 71.8% | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 72.3% | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 73.1% | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 73.6% | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 73.4% | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 72.7% | -0.9% |
| 2023 | 73.0% | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 73.2% | +0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 39.5% | 35.2% | 47.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 51.2% | 49.3% | 53.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 51.1% | 49.4% | 53.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 62.2% | 55.0% | 68.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 71.6% | 69.3% | 73.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 73.2% | 72.7% | 73.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near MDG: Sub-saharan Africa
- 184 Lebanon 72.8% compare
- 185 San Marino 71.9% compare
- 186 Angola 70.9% compare
- 187 Suriname 70.6% compare
- 188 Nigeria 69.7% compare
- 189 Tanzania, United Republic of 69.0% compare
- 190 Lao People's Democratic Republic 68.9% compare
More education data for MDG: Sub-saharan Africa
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 5.90 million (2021)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 39.14 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.62 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 42.42 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.27 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 26.38 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 2.60 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa was 73.2% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes recorded in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 73.6% in 2020.
- What is the lowest gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes recorded in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.2% in 1971.
- How does MDG: Sub-saharan Africa rank for gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes?
- MDG: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 187th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes rising or falling in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this MDG: Sub-saharan Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release