Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa
UNICEF: West and Central Africa: Population of compulsory school age, both sexes was 131.76 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
131.76 million
Change on year
up 0.1%
Rank
91st
of 221 groups
All-time high
131.76 million
in 2024
All-time low
34.19 million
in 1997
Years of data
28
1997–2024
Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa, 1997–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
UNICEF: West and Central Africa recorded 131.76 million for population of compulsory school age, both sexes in 2024. That is the highest value across all 28 years on record.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 27.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population of compulsory school age, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa peaked at 131.76 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 34.19 million, in 1997.
That places UNICEF: West and Central Africa 91st out of 221 groups with data for 2024, putting it 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: West and Central Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 34.19 million | — |
| 1998 | 34.19 million | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 35.15 million | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 36.09 million | +2.7% |
| 2001 | 37.77 million | +4.7% |
| 2002 | 38.80 million | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 40.32 million | +3.9% |
| 2004 | 75.90 million | +88.2% |
| 2005 | 77.86 million | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 81.00 million | +4.0% |
| 2007 | 84.68 million | +4.5% |
| 2008 | 87.09 million | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 89.43 million | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 91.95 million | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 94.55 million | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 97.28 million | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 100.15 million | +3.0% |
| 2014 | 103.20 million | +3.0% |
| 2015 | 106.50 million | +3.2% |
| 2016 | 109.78 million | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 113.14 million | +3.1% |
| 2018 | 116.49 million | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 119.75 million | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 122.91 million | +2.6% |
| 2021 | 126.04 million | +2.5% |
| 2022 | 128.96 million | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 131.63 million | +2.1% |
| 2024 | 131.76 million | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 34.51 million | 34.19 million | 35.15 million | 3 |
| 2000s | 64.89 million | 36.09 million | 89.43 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 105.28 million | 91.95 million | 119.75 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 128.26 million | 122.91 million | 131.76 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near UNICEF: West and Central Africa
- 88 El Salvador 1.58 million compare
- 89 Kyrgyzstan 1.54 million compare
- 90 Haiti 1.47 million compare
- 91 Azerbaijan 1.44 million compare
- 92 Lao People's Democratic Republic 1.40 million compare
- 93 United Arab Emirates 1.37 million compare
- 94 Palestine, State of 1.36 million compare
More education data for UNICEF: West and Central Africa
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 4.92 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 20.41 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.9224 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 22.91 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 0.5411 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 8.34 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 0.9535 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 5.20 million (2021)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.46 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 5.73 % change on previous year (2021)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population of compulsory school age, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa?
- Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa was 131.76 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population of compulsory school age, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: West and Central Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 131.76 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest population of compulsory school age, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: West and Central Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.19 million in 1997.
- How does UNICEF: West and Central Africa rank for population of compulsory school age, both sexes?
- UNICEF: West and Central Africa ranks 91st out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is population of compulsory school age, both sexes rising or falling in UNICEF: West and Central Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this UNICEF: West and Central 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