Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in WB: Middle East & North Africa (excluding High Income)
WB: Middle East & North Africa (excluding High Income): Population of compulsory school age, both sexes was 165.95 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in WB: Middle East & North Africa (excluding High Income), 1997–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
WB: Middle East & North Africa (excluding High Income) recorded 165.95 million for population of compulsory school age, both sexes in 2024. That is the highest value across all 28 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.7% on the previous year and up 23.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population of compulsory school age, both sexes in WB: Middle East & North Africa (excluding High Income) peaked at 165.95 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 102.86 million, in 1997.
WB: Middle East & North Africa (excluding High Income) ranks 75th 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: Middle East & North Africa (excluding High Income), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 102.86 million | — |
| 1998 | 102.86 million | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 104.50 million | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 108.00 million | +3.3% |
| 2001 | 108.96 million | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 111.42 million | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 112.25 million | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 113.14 million | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 118.92 million | +5.1% |
| 2006 | 119.77 million | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 120.56 million | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 123.26 million | +2.2% |
| 2009 | 124.41 million | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 125.53 million | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 126.79 million | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 128.50 million | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 131.69 million | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 133.96 million | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 142.03 million | +6.0% |
| 2016 | 144.71 million | +1.9% |
| 2017 | 147.50 million | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 150.39 million | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 153.49 million | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 156.59 million | +2.0% |
| 2021 | 159.66 million | +2.0% |
| 2022 | 162.41 million | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 164.77 million | +1.5% |
| 2024 | 165.95 million | +0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 103.41 million | 102.86 million | 104.50 million | 3 |
| 2000s | 116.07 million | 108.00 million | 124.41 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 138.46 million | 125.53 million | 153.49 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 161.87 million | 156.59 million | 165.95 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near WB: Middle East & North Africa (excluding High Income)
- 72 South Sudan 2.46 million compare
- 73 Netherlands 2.44 million compare
- 74 Togo 2.38 million compare
- 75 Benin 2.38 million compare
- 76 Guinea 2.31 million compare
- 77 Tajikistan 2.22 million compare
- 78 Romania 2.14 million compare
More education data for WB: Middle East & North Africa (excluding High Income)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 2.74 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 8.74 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 3.82 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 8.80 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 1.85 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.02 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 29.02 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.80 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 32.64 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 4.06 % change on previous year (2024)
All data for WB: Middle East & North Africa (excluding High Income) →
Frequently asked questions
- What is population of compulsory school age, both sexes in WB: Middle East & North Africa (excluding High Income)?
- Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in WB: Middle East & North Africa (excluding High Income) was 165.95 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population of compulsory school age, both sexes recorded in WB: Middle East & North Africa (excluding High Income)?
- The highest recorded value was 165.95 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest population of compulsory school age, both sexes recorded in WB: Middle East & North Africa (excluding High Income)?
- The lowest recorded value was 102.86 million in 1997.
- How does WB: Middle East & North Africa (excluding High Income) rank for population of compulsory school age, both sexes?
- WB: Middle East & North Africa (excluding High Income) ranks 75th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is population of compulsory school age, both sexes rising or falling in WB: Middle East & North Africa (excluding High Income)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this WB: Middle East & North Africa (excluding High Income) 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