Population of compulsory school age, female in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa
SDG: Sub-saharan Africa: Population of compulsory school age, female was 118.86 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Population of compulsory school age, female in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa, 1997–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, population of compulsory school age, female in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa stood at 118.86 million. That is the highest value across all 28 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.4% on the previous year and up 27.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population of compulsory school age, female in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 118.86 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 41.90 million, in 1997.
That places SDG: Sub-saharan Africa 52nd out of 221 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 28 years of available data.
Population of compulsory school age, female in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 41.90 million | — |
| 1998 | 41.90 million | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 42.93 million | +2.4% |
| 2000 | 44.00 million | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 45.35 million | +3.1% |
| 2002 | 46.37 million | +2.2% |
| 2003 | 47.69 million | +2.9% |
| 2004 | 65.84 million | +38.0% |
| 2005 | 67.37 million | +2.3% |
| 2006 | 69.50 million | +3.2% |
| 2007 | 72.46 million | +4.3% |
| 2008 | 77.55 million | +7.0% |
| 2009 | 79.51 million | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 82.12 million | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 84.27 million | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 86.50 million | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 91.01 million | +5.2% |
| 2014 | 93.43 million | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 96.07 million | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 100.17 million | +4.3% |
| 2017 | 102.81 million | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 105.41 million | +2.5% |
| 2019 | 107.87 million | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 110.20 million | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 114.27 million | +3.7% |
| 2022 | 116.40 million | +1.9% |
| 2023 | 118.38 million | +1.7% |
| 2024 | 118.86 million | +0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 42.24 million | 41.90 million | 42.93 million | 3 |
| 2000s | 61.56 million | 44.00 million | 79.51 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 94.96 million | 82.12 million | 107.87 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 115.62 million | 110.20 million | 118.86 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near SDG: Sub-saharan Africa
More education data for SDG: Sub-saharan Africa
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 78.55 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.68 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 37.60 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 0.8202 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 4.94 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.49 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.17 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 191.30 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.02 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 40.94 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population of compulsory school age, female in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Population of compulsory school age, female in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa was 118.86 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population of compulsory school age, female recorded in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 118.86 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest population of compulsory school age, female recorded in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 41.90 million in 1997.
- How does SDG: Sub-saharan Africa rank for population of compulsory school age, female?
- SDG: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 52nd out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is population of compulsory school age, female rising or falling in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this SDG: Sub-saharan Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population of compulsory school age, female (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release