Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in UNICEF: Economic Community of West African States (ecowas)
UNICEF: Economic Community of West African States (ecowas): Population of compulsory school age, both sexes was 98.75 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in UNICEF: Economic Community of West African States (ecowas), 1997–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, population of compulsory school age, both sexes in UNICEF: Economic Community of West African States (ecowas) stood at 98.75 million. That is the highest value across all 28 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 25.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population of compulsory school age, both sexes in UNICEF: Economic Community of West African States (ecowas) peaked at 98.75 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 20.54 million, in 1997.
UNICEF: Economic Community of West African States (ecowas) ranks 121st of 221 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 28 years of available data.
Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in UNICEF: Economic Community of West African States (ecowas), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 20.54 million | — |
| 1998 | 20.54 million | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 21.05 million | +2.5% |
| 2000 | 21.54 million | +2.3% |
| 2001 | 22.11 million | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 22.60 million | +2.2% |
| 2003 | 23.57 million | +4.3% |
| 2004 | 58.64 million | +148.8% |
| 2005 | 60.12 million | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 61.73 million | +2.7% |
| 2007 | 64.81 million | +5.0% |
| 2008 | 66.68 million | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 68.47 million | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 70.39 million | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 72.30 million | +2.7% |
| 2012 | 74.32 million | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 76.45 million | +2.9% |
| 2014 | 78.72 million | +3.0% |
| 2015 | 81.19 million | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 83.60 million | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 86.01 million | +2.9% |
| 2018 | 88.40 million | +2.8% |
| 2019 | 90.69 million | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 92.90 million | +2.4% |
| 2021 | 95.06 million | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 97.02 million | +2.1% |
| 2023 | 98.74 million | +1.8% |
| 2024 | 98.75 million | +0.0% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in UNICEF: Economic Community of West African States (ecowas) changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | +148.8% | 23.57 million | 58.64 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 20.71 million | 20.54 million | 21.05 million | 3 |
| 2000s | 47.03 million | 21.54 million | 68.47 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 80.21 million | 70.39 million | 90.69 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 96.49 million | 92.90 million | 98.75 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near UNICEF: Economic Community of West African States (ecowas)
More education data for UNICEF: Economic Community of West African States (ecowas)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 6.60 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 31.31 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 947,845 (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 0.7446 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 873,576 (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 5.35 % change on previous year (2020)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 3.80 million (2020)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 0.8591 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 2.59 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 15.44 million (2024)
All data for UNICEF: Economic Community of West African States (ecowas) →
Frequently asked questions
- What is population of compulsory school age, both sexes in UNICEF: Economic Community of West African States (ecowas)?
- Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in UNICEF: Economic Community of West African States (ecowas) was 98.75 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population of compulsory school age, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: Economic Community of West African States (ecowas)?
- The highest recorded value was 98.75 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest population of compulsory school age, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: Economic Community of West African States (ecowas)?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.54 million in 1997.
- How does UNICEF: Economic Community of West African States (ecowas) rank for population of compulsory school age, both sexes?
- UNICEF: Economic Community of West African States (ecowas) ranks 121st out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is population of compulsory school age, both sexes rising or falling in UNICEF: Economic Community of West African States (ecowas)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this UNICEF: Economic Community of West African States (ecowas) 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