Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in WB: Africa Western and Central
WB: Africa Western and Central: Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both was 14.44 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
14.44 million
Change on year
up 0.5%
Rank
93rd
of 221 groups
All-time high
14.44 million
in 2024
All-time low
3.41 million
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in WB: Africa Western and Central, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in WB: Africa Western and Central stood at 14.44 million. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.5% on the previous year and up 19.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in WB: Africa Western and Central peaked at 14.44 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 3.41 million, in 1970.
WB: Africa Western and Central ranks 93rd of 221 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 55 years of available data.
Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in WB: Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 3.41 million | — |
| 1971 | 3.50 million | +2.7% |
| 1972 | 3.60 million | +2.7% |
| 1973 | 3.70 million | +2.9% |
| 1974 | 3.81 million | +3.1% |
| 1975 | 3.94 million | +3.2% |
| 1976 | 4.07 million | +3.2% |
| 1977 | 4.19 million | +3.0% |
| 1978 | 4.32 million | +3.1% |
| 1979 | 4.48 million | +3.7% |
| 1980 | 4.64 million | +3.6% |
| 1981 | 4.82 million | +3.9% |
| 1982 | 4.99 million | +3.6% |
| 1983 | 5.17 million | +3.5% |
| 1984 | 5.35 million | +3.5% |
| 1985 | 5.54 million | +3.5% |
| 1986 | 5.70 million | +2.9% |
| 1987 | 5.83 million | +2.3% |
| 1988 | 5.98 million | +2.6% |
| 1989 | 6.16 million | +3.1% |
| 1990 | 6.35 million | +3.1% |
| 1991 | 6.47 million | +1.8% |
| 1992 | 6.60 million | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 6.74 million | +2.2% |
| 1994 | 6.89 million | +2.2% |
| 1995 | 7.06 million | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 7.25 million | +2.7% |
| 1997 | 7.42 million | +2.4% |
| 1998 | 7.61 million | +2.5% |
| 1999 | 7.81 million | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 8.01 million | +2.6% |
| 2001 | 8.21 million | +2.5% |
| 2002 | 8.44 million | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 8.66 million | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 8.90 million | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 9.15 million | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 9.47 million | +3.5% |
| 2007 | 9.83 million | +3.8% |
| 2008 | 10.14 million | +3.1% |
| 2009 | 10.42 million | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 10.73 million | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 11.03 million | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 11.38 million | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 11.72 million | +3.0% |
| 2014 | 12.04 million | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 12.39 million | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 12.72 million | +2.6% |
| 2017 | 13.06 million | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 13.37 million | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 13.61 million | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 13.83 million | +1.7% |
| 2021 | 14.12 million | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 14.28 million | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 14.37 million | +0.6% |
| 2024 | 14.44 million | +0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.90 million | 3.41 million | 4.48 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.42 million | 4.64 million | 6.16 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.02 million | 6.35 million | 7.81 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.12 million | 8.01 million | 10.42 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.21 million | 10.73 million | 13.61 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.21 million | 13.83 million | 14.44 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near WB: Africa Western and Central
- 90 Congo 170,789 compare
- 91 Central African Republic 169,610 compare
- 92 Turkmenistan 166,047 compare
- 93 Kyrgyzstan 160,009 compare
- 94 Laos 159,515 compare
- 95 Mauritania 151,653 compare
- 96 Liberia 148,678 compare
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 the official entrance age to primary education, both in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in WB: Africa Western and Central was 14.44 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population of the official entrance age to primary education, both recorded in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 14.44 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest population of the official entrance age to primary education, both recorded in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.41 million in 1970.
- How does WB: Africa Western and Central rank for population of the official entrance age to primary education, both?
- WB: Africa Western and Central ranks 93rd out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is population of the official entrance age to primary education, both rising or falling in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.9%. 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 the official entrance age to primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release