Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa
SDG: Sub-saharan Africa: Population of compulsory school age, both sexes was 240.32 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa, 1997–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, population of compulsory school age, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa stood at 240.32 million. That is the highest value across all 28 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.4% on the previous year and up 27.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population of compulsory school age, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 240.32 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 84.38 million, in 1997.
That places SDG: Sub-saharan Africa 52nd out of 221 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 28 years of available data.
Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 84.38 million | — |
| 1998 | 84.38 million | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 86.46 million | +2.5% |
| 2000 | 88.63 million | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 91.35 million | +3.1% |
| 2002 | 93.41 million | +2.2% |
| 2003 | 96.07 million | +2.9% |
| 2004 | 132.87 million | +38.3% |
| 2005 | 135.98 million | +2.3% |
| 2006 | 140.29 million | +3.2% |
| 2007 | 146.28 million | +4.3% |
| 2008 | 156.49 million | +7.0% |
| 2009 | 160.45 million | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 165.74 million | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 170.10 million | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 174.66 million | +2.7% |
| 2013 | 183.79 million | +5.2% |
| 2014 | 188.72 million | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 194.07 million | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 202.35 million | +4.3% |
| 2017 | 207.73 million | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 213.00 million | +2.5% |
| 2019 | 218.00 million | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 222.71 million | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 230.98 million | +3.7% |
| 2022 | 235.30 million | +1.9% |
| 2023 | 239.35 million | +1.7% |
| 2024 | 240.32 million | +0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 85.07 million | 84.38 million | 86.46 million | 3 |
| 2000s | 124.18 million | 88.63 million | 160.45 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 191.82 million | 165.74 million | 218.00 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 233.73 million | 222.71 million | 240.32 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near SDG: Sub-saharan Africa
More education data for SDG: Sub-saharan Africa
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 191.30 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.31 % change on previous year (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 14.32 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.68 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 37.60 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 12.63 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 12.47 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 0.8202 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 4.94 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 97.68 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population of compulsory school age, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa was 240.32 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population of compulsory school age, both sexes recorded in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 240.32 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest population of compulsory school age, both sexes recorded in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 84.38 million in 1997.
- How does SDG: Sub-saharan Africa rank for population of compulsory school age, both sexes?
- SDG: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 52nd out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is population of compulsory school age, both sexes rising or falling in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this SDG: Sub-saharan Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population of compulsory school age, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release