Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both was 31.29 million number in 2019. ▲ Rising
Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1970–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in Sub-Saharan Africa is 31.29 million number, measured in 2019. That is the highest value across all 50 years on record.
The figure is up 2.0% on the previous year and up 27.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 31.29 million number in 2019 and was at its lowest, 8.98 million number, in 1970.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa 13th out of 45 groups with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 50 years of available data.
Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 8.98 million number | — |
| 1971 | 9.18 million number | +2.2% |
| 1972 | 9.44 million number | +2.8% |
| 1973 | 9.69 million number | +2.6% |
| 1974 | 9.93 million number | +2.5% |
| 1975 | 10.17 million number | +2.3% |
| 1976 | 10.41 million number | +2.4% |
| 1977 | 10.74 million number | +3.1% |
| 1978 | 11.08 million number | +3.2% |
| 1979 | 11.42 million number | +3.1% |
| 1980 | 11.74 million number | +2.8% |
| 1981 | 12.05 million number | +2.7% |
| 1982 | 12.43 million number | +3.1% |
| 1983 | 12.80 million number | +2.9% |
| 1984 | 13.17 million number | +2.9% |
| 1985 | 13.52 million number | +2.7% |
| 1986 | 13.87 million number | +2.6% |
| 1987 | 14.31 million number | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 14.74 million number | +3.0% |
| 1989 | 15.15 million number | +2.8% |
| 1990 | 15.53 million number | +2.5% |
| 1991 | 15.90 million number | +2.3% |
| 1992 | 16.33 million number | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 16.74 million number | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 17.10 million number | +2.2% |
| 1995 | 17.43 million number | +1.9% |
| 1996 | 17.74 million number | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 18.14 million number | +2.2% |
| 1998 | 18.55 million number | +2.3% |
| 1999 | 18.91 million number | +2.0% |
| 2000 | 19.30 million number | +2.1% |
| 2001 | 19.72 million number | +2.2% |
| 2002 | 20.25 million number | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 20.82 million number | +2.8% |
| 2004 | 21.40 million number | +2.8% |
| 2005 | 21.97 million number | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 22.54 million number | +2.6% |
| 2007 | 23.20 million number | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 23.87 million number | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 24.55 million number | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 25.21 million number | +2.7% |
| 2011 | 25.86 million number | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 26.58 million number | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 27.31 million number | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 28.02 million number | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 28.70 million number | +2.4% |
| 2016 | 29.35 million number | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 30.03 million number | +2.3% |
| 2018 | 30.69 million number | +2.2% |
| 2019 | 31.29 million number | +2.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 10.10 million number | 8.98 million number | 11.42 million number | 10 |
| 1980s | 13.38 million number | 11.74 million number | 15.15 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 17.24 million number | 15.53 million number | 18.91 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 21.76 million number | 19.30 million number | 24.55 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.30 million number | 25.21 million number | 31.29 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
More education data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1526 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 196.80 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.9738 % change on previous year (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 81.43 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 56.4% (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 5.14 million (2024)
- Population ages 0-14 40.4% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in Sub-Saharan Africa was 31.29 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population of the official entrance age to primary education, both recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 31.29 million number in 2019.
- What is the lowest population of the official entrance age to primary education, both recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.98 million number in 1970.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for population of the official entrance age to primary education, both?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 13th out of 45 groups with data for 2019.
- Is population of the official entrance age to primary education, both rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa 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.
Download this data
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About this data
Population of the age-group theoretically corresponding to the official entrance age to primary education. The official entrance age is the age at which students would enter a given programme or level of education assuming they start at the official entrance age for the lowest level of education, study full-time throughout and progressed through the system without repeating or skipping a grade. The theoretical entrance age to a given programme or level is typically, but not always, the most common entrance age.