Percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Kenya
Kenya: Percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions was 81.0% in 2017. ▲ Rising
Percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Kenya, 2001–2017
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2017, percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Kenya stood at 81.0%.
That represents a change of down 5.3% on the previous year and down 6.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Kenya peaked at 87.1% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 69.3%, in 2001.
Kenya ranks 59th of 155 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 69.3% | — |
| 2004 | 86.5% | +24.7% |
| 2009 | 86.8% | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 87.1% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 85.6% | -1.8% |
| 2017 | 81.0% | -5.3% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 81.0% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 71.5%, 1.1× the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 81.0% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 75.0%, 1.1× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 80.9% | 69.3% | 86.8% | 3 |
| 2010s | 84.6% | 81.0% | 87.1% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More education data for Kenya
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 168,396 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 235,728 (2016)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.44 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.44 million (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.74 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 8.04 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.7181 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1453 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Kenya?
- Percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Kenya was 81.0% in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 87.1% in 2015.
- What is the lowest percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 69.3% in 2001.
- How does Kenya rank for percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions?
- Kenya ranks 59th out of 155 countries with data for 2017.
- Is percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release