Percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Kenya
Kenya: Percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions was 41.2% in 2017. ▲ Rising
Percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Kenya, 2001–2017
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Kenya is 41.2%, measured in 2017. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.
The figure is up 3.5% on the previous year and up 3.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Kenya peaked at 41.2% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 34.9%, in 2001.
That places Kenya 130th out of 149 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 34.9% | — |
| 2004 | 36.8% | +5.4% |
| 2009 | 39.6% | +7.9% |
| 2015 | 40.5% | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 39.8% | -1.8% |
| 2017 | 41.2% | +3.5% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 41.2% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 50.3%, 82% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 41.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 41.8%, 99% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 37.1% | 34.9% | 39.6% | 3 |
| 2010s | 40.5% | 39.8% | 41.2% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 127 Comoros 44.1% compare
- 128 Mozambique 42.4% compare
- 129 Tajikistan 42.0% compare
- 131 Eritrea 41.0% compare
- 132 Burkina Faso 40.2% compare
- 133 Japan 40.0% compare
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 41.2% 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 41.2% in 2017.
- What is the lowest percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.9% in 2001.
- How does Kenya rank for percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions?
- Kenya ranks 130th out of 149 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 up 3.8%. 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, female (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 6 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release