Primary education, pupils, gaps filled in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income): Primary education, pupils, gaps filled was 196.79 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Primary education, pupils, gaps filled in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), 1970–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived).
Analysis
In 2024, primary education, pupils, gaps filled in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) stood at 196.79 million. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 23.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary education, pupils, gaps filled in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) peaked at 196.79 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 27.82 million, in 1970.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) 12th out of 45 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Primary education, pupils, gaps filled in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 27.82 million | — |
| 1971 | 27.84 million | +0.1% |
| 1972 | 29.25 million | +5.0% |
| 1973 | 30.69 million | +4.9% |
| 1974 | 32.77 million | +6.8% |
| 1975 | 34.45 million | +5.1% |
| 1976 | 36.08 million | +4.7% |
| 1977 | 38.96 million | +8.0% |
| 1978 | 42.30 million | +8.6% |
| 1979 | 46.33 million | +9.5% |
| 1980 | 49.65 million | +7.2% |
| 1981 | 52.75 million | +6.3% |
| 1982 | 55.72 million | +5.6% |
| 1983 | 57.24 million | +2.7% |
| 1984 | 58.22 million | +1.7% |
| 1985 | 58.14 million | -0.1% |
| 1986 | 57.81 million | -0.6% |
| 1987 | 58.54 million | +1.3% |
| 1988 | 59.46 million | +1.6% |
| 1989 | 61.74 million | +3.8% |
| 1990 | 62.72 million | +1.6% |
| 1991 | 65.27 million | +4.1% |
| 1992 | 66.83 million | +2.4% |
| 1993 | 70.01 million | +4.8% |
| 1994 | 71.89 million | +2.7% |
| 1995 | 74.35 million | +3.4% |
| 1996 | 74.13 million | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 79.70 million | +7.5% |
| 1998 | 83.26 million | +4.5% |
| 1999 | 85.78 million | +3.0% |
| 2000 | 90.48 million | +5.5% |
| 2001 | 94.86 million | +4.8% |
| 2002 | 99.80 million | +5.2% |
| 2003 | 105.46 million | +5.7% |
| 2004 | 110.70 million | +5.0% |
| 2005 | 116.50 million | +5.2% |
| 2006 | 121.78 million | +4.5% |
| 2007 | 127.19 million | +4.4% |
| 2008 | 132.36 million | +4.1% |
| 2009 | 136.44 million | +3.1% |
| 2010 | 139.94 million | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 145.74 million | +4.2% |
| 2012 | 150.95 million | +3.6% |
| 2013 | 155.59 million | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 159.12 million | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 160.96 million | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 165.82 million | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 171.25 million | +3.3% |
| 2018 | 176.91 million | +3.3% |
| 2019 | 182.66 million | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 187.96 million | +2.9% |
| 2021 | 190.04 million | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 191.16 million | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 194.90 million | +2.0% |
| 2024 | 196.79 million | +1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 34.65 million | 27.82 million | 46.33 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 56.93 million | 49.65 million | 61.74 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 73.39 million | 62.72 million | 85.78 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 113.56 million | 90.48 million | 136.44 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 160.89 million | 139.94 million | 182.66 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 192.17 million | 187.96 million | 196.79 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
- 9 Ethiopia 15.93 million compare
- 10 Egypt 15.40 million compare
- 11 Brazil 15.11 million compare
- 12 Mexico 13.19 million compare
- 13 Philippines 13.06 million compare
- 14 Tanzania, United Republic of 11.39 million compare
- 15 Iran, Islamic Republic of 9.09 million compare
More education data for Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.9733 % change on previous year (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 56.4% (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1526 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 40.4% (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 5.14 million (2024)
- School enrollment, primary 97.1% (2024)
- Primary education, teachers 5.14 million (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, per capita 0.004 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary education, pupils, gaps filled in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) was 196.79 million in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest primary education, pupils, gaps filled recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- The highest recorded value was 196.79 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest primary education, pupils, gaps filled recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.82 million in 1970.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) rank for primary education, pupils, gaps filled?
- Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) ranks 12th out of 45 groups with data for 2024.
- Is primary education, pupils, gaps filled rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Primary education, pupils, gaps filled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Primary education, pupils with 569 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.
Computed from
- Primary education, pupils Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Primary education, pupils with 569 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.