Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa

MDG: Sub-saharan Africa: Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes was 57.9% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
57.9%
Rank
191st
of 212 groups
All-time high
57.9%
in 2023
All-time low
41.8%
in 1998
Years of data
21
1998–2023

Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa, 1998–2023

02040601998201020231998: 41.8 %1999: 42 %2000: 43.2 %2001: 44.5 %2002: 45.8 %2003: 47.2 %2004: 48.6 %2005: 49.9 %2006: 51 %2007: 51.9 %2008: 53.2 %2009: 54 %2010: 54.8 %2011: 55.8 %2012: 56.7 %2013: 57.6 %2014: 57.3 %2015: 56.8 %2016: 56.7 %2017: 57.2 %2023: 57.9 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2023, gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa stood at 57.9%. That is the highest value across all 21 years on record.

The figure is up 0.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 57.9% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 41.8%, in 1998.

That places MDG: Sub-saharan Africa 191st out of 212 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.

Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year

Annual values for Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes (%) in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa, 1998 to 2023.
Year % Change
1998 41.8%
1999 42.0% +0.4%
2000 43.2% +2.8%
2001 44.5% +2.9%
2002 45.8% +2.9%
2003 47.2% +3.2%
2004 48.6% +2.9%
2005 49.9% +2.7%
2006 51.0% +2.2%
2007 51.9% +1.7%
2008 53.2% +2.4%
2009 54.0% +1.6%
2010 54.8% +1.4%
2011 55.8% +1.9%
2012 56.7% +1.6%
2013 57.6% +1.7%
2014 57.3% -0.6%
2015 56.8% -0.8%
2016 56.7% -0.1%
2017 57.2% +0.7%
2023 57.9% +1.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 41.9% 41.8% 42.0% 2
2000s 48.9% 43.2% 54.0% 10
2010s 56.6% 54.8% 57.6% 8
2020s 57.9% 57.9% 57.9% 1

Countries ranked near MDG: Sub-saharan Africa

  1. 188 Burkina Faso 44.0% compare
  2. 189 Sierra Leone 43.0%
  3. 190 Haiti 42.3%
  4. 191 Niger 41.2% compare
  5. 192 Central African Republic 38.8% compare
  6. 193 Papua New Guinea 37.4%

See the full ranking of 405 places →

More education data for MDG: Sub-saharan Africa

All data for MDG: Sub-saharan Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa was 57.9% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes recorded in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
The highest recorded value was 57.9% in 2023.
What is the lowest gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes recorded in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 41.8% in 1998.
How does MDG: Sub-saharan Africa rank for gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes?
MDG: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 191st out of 212 groups with data for 2023.
Is gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes rising or falling in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 0.4%. 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 to tertiary, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/gross-enrolment-ratio-primary-to-tertiary-both-sexes-percent-2/mdg-sub-saharan-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
405 places, 9,727 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release