Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central
WB: Africa Western and Central: Population of compulsory school age, both sexes was 113.74 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central, 1997–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, population of compulsory school age, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central stood at 113.74 million. That is the highest value across all 28 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 26.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population of compulsory school age, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central peaked at 113.74 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 26.42 million, in 1997.
WB: Africa Western and Central ranks 109th 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 Western and Central, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 26.42 million | — |
| 1998 | 26.43 million | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 27.12 million | +2.6% |
| 2000 | 27.79 million | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 29.18 million | +5.0% |
| 2002 | 29.84 million | +2.2% |
| 2003 | 31.00 million | +3.9% |
| 2004 | 66.26 million | +113.7% |
| 2005 | 67.92 million | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 70.73 million | +4.1% |
| 2007 | 74.07 million | +4.7% |
| 2008 | 76.21 million | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 78.26 million | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 80.44 million | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 82.67 million | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 85.03 million | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 87.51 million | +2.9% |
| 2014 | 90.14 million | +3.0% |
| 2015 | 92.98 million | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 95.77 million | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 98.59 million | +2.9% |
| 2018 | 101.39 million | +2.8% |
| 2019 | 104.08 million | +2.7% |
| 2020 | 106.67 million | +2.5% |
| 2021 | 109.21 million | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 111.54 million | +2.1% |
| 2023 | 113.61 million | +1.9% |
| 2024 | 113.74 million | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 26.66 million | 26.42 million | 27.12 million | 3 |
| 2000s | 55.12 million | 27.79 million | 78.26 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 91.86 million | 80.44 million | 104.08 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 110.95 million | 106.67 million | 113.74 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near WB: Africa Western and Central
More education data for WB: Africa Western and Central
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 4.61 million (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 7.4 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1.89 million (2021)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2.08 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.08 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 0.7294 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.00 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 6.08 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.09 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 18.05 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population of compulsory school age, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central was 113.74 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population of compulsory school age, both sexes recorded in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 113.74 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest population of compulsory school age, both sexes recorded in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.42 million in 1997.
- How does WB: Africa Western and Central rank for population of compulsory school age, both sexes?
- WB: Africa Western and Central ranks 109th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is population of compulsory school age, both sexes rising or falling in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this WB: Africa Western and Central 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.
Download this data
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release