Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in WB: Africa Eastern and Southern
WB: Africa Eastern and Southern: Population of compulsory school age, both sexes was 136.51 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
136.51 million
Change on year
up 0.6%
Rank
86th
of 221 groups
All-time high
136.51 million
in 2024
All-time low
57.95 million
in 1997
Years of data
28
1997–2024
Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in WB: Africa Eastern and Southern, 1997–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
WB: Africa Eastern and Southern recorded 136.51 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 0.6% on the previous year and up 27.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population of compulsory school age, both sexes in WB: Africa Eastern and Southern peaked at 136.51 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 57.95 million, in 1997.
WB: Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 86th 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 WB: Africa Eastern and Southern, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 57.95 million | — |
| 1998 | 57.96 million | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 59.34 million | +2.4% |
| 2000 | 60.66 million | +2.2% |
| 2001 | 61.99 million | +2.2% |
| 2002 | 63.38 million | +2.2% |
| 2003 | 64.88 million | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 66.42 million | +2.4% |
| 2005 | 73.22 million | +10.2% |
| 2006 | 74.81 million | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 77.56 million | +3.7% |
| 2008 | 85.74 million | +10.5% |
| 2009 | 87.80 million | +2.4% |
| 2010 | 92.83 million | +5.7% |
| 2011 | 95.15 million | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 97.54 million | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 104.39 million | +7.0% |
| 2014 | 106.87 million | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 109.57 million | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 115.25 million | +5.2% |
| 2017 | 117.99 million | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 120.66 million | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 123.14 million | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 125.42 million | +1.9% |
| 2021 | 131.30 million | +4.7% |
| 2022 | 133.49 million | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 135.67 million | +1.6% |
| 2024 | 136.51 million | +0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 58.42 million | 57.95 million | 59.34 million | 3 |
| 2000s | 71.65 million | 60.66 million | 87.80 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 108.34 million | 92.83 million | 123.14 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 132.48 million | 125.42 million | 136.51 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near WB: Africa Eastern and Southern
- 83 Turkmenistan 1.78 million compare
- 84 Belgium 1.75 million compare
- 85 Paraguay 1.67 million compare
- 86 Congo 1.65 million compare
- 87 Central African Republic 1.60 million compare
- 88 El Salvador 1.58 million compare
- 89 Kyrgyzstan 1.54 million compare
More education data for WB: Africa Eastern and Southern
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 20.71 million (2022)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 2.23 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 5.92 million (2021)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 1.75 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 18.88 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 2.91 % change on previous year (2022)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 23.18 million (2022)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 2.98 % change on previous year (2022)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate 0.9717 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 46.07 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population of compulsory school age, both sexes in WB: Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in WB: Africa Eastern and Southern was 136.51 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population of compulsory school age, both sexes recorded in WB: Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The highest recorded value was 136.51 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest population of compulsory school age, both sexes recorded in WB: Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The lowest recorded value was 57.95 million in 1997.
- How does WB: Africa Eastern and Southern rank for population of compulsory school age, both sexes?
- WB: Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 86th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is population of compulsory school age, both sexes rising or falling in WB: Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this WB: Africa Eastern and Southern 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