Percentage of enrolment in upper secondary education in public in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Percentage of enrolment in upper secondary education in public was 50.8% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Percentage of enrolment in upper secondary education in public in Sierra Leone, 2001–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for percentage of enrolment in upper secondary education in public in Sierra Leone is 50.8%, measured in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 11 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.9% on the previous year and down 22.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, percentage of enrolment in upper secondary education in public in Sierra Leone peaked at 65.2% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 50.8%, in 2021.
That places Sierra Leone 91st out of 179 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 11 years of available data.
Percentage of enrolment in upper secondary education in public in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 63.4% | — |
| 2011 | 65.2% | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 58.3% | -10.7% |
| 2013 | 57.4% | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 57.8% | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 54.4% | -5.9% |
| 2017 | 53.5% | -1.7% |
| 2018 | 53.7% | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 52.4% | -2.4% |
| 2020 | 51.8% | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 50.8% | -1.9% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 50.8% is below the median for low income countries, which is 53.0%, 96% of the median. (17 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 50.8% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 51.3%, 99% of the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 63.4% | 63.4% | 63.4% | 1 |
| 2010s | 56.6% | 52.4% | 65.2% | 8 |
| 2020s | 51.3% | 50.8% | 51.8% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
- 88 Thailand 51.0% compare
- 89 Republic of Moldova 51.0% compare
- 90 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 50.8% compare
- 92 Romania 50.7% compare
- 93 Montenegro 50.7% compare
- 94 Iceland 50.7% compare
More education data for Sierra Leone
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 38,043 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 73,295 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 85,708 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 92,723 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.16 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.07 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.52 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.2393 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is percentage of enrolment in upper secondary education in public in Sierra Leone?
- Percentage of enrolment in upper secondary education in public in Sierra Leone was 50.8% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest percentage of enrolment in upper secondary education in public recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 65.2% in 2011.
- What is the lowest percentage of enrolment in upper secondary education in public recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 50.8% in 2021.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for percentage of enrolment in upper secondary education in public?
- Sierra Leone ranks 91st out of 179 countries with data for 2021.
- Is percentage of enrolment in upper secondary education in public rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Percentage of enrolment in upper secondary education in public institutions, male (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release