Primary education, pupils in Africa Eastern and Southern
Africa Eastern and Southern: Primary education, pupils was 121.03 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
121.03 million
Change on year
up 1.0%
Rank
23rd
of 45 groups
All-time high
121.03 million
in 2024
All-time low
19.24 million
in 1971
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Primary education, pupils in Africa Eastern and Southern, 1970–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Analysis
Africa Eastern and Southern recorded 121.03 million for primary education, pupils in 2024. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
The figure is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 20.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary education, pupils in Africa Eastern and Southern peaked at 121.03 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 19.24 million, in 1971.
That places Africa Eastern and Southern 23rd out of 45 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Primary education, pupils in Africa Eastern and Southern, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 19.76 million | — |
| 1971 | 19.24 million | -2.6% |
| 1972 | 19.99 million | +3.9% |
| 1973 | 20.86 million | +4.3% |
| 1974 | 22.62 million | +8.4% |
| 1975 | 23.91 million | +5.7% |
| 1976 | 25.11 million | +5.0% |
| 1977 | 26.35 million | +4.9% |
| 1978 | 27.42 million | +4.1% |
| 1979 | 29.27 million | +6.8% |
| 1980 | 31.26 million | +6.8% |
| 1981 | 32.69 million | +4.6% |
| 1982 | 33.67 million | +3.0% |
| 1983 | 34.34 million | +2.0% |
| 1984 | 34.80 million | +1.3% |
| 1985 | 34.60 million | -0.6% |
| 1986 | 35.38 million | +2.3% |
| 1987 | 35.86 million | +1.4% |
| 1988 | 36.63 million | +2.2% |
| 1989 | 38.46 million | +5.0% |
| 1990 | 38.30 million | -0.4% |
| 1991 | 40.17 million | +4.9% |
| 1992 | 40.44 million | +0.7% |
| 1993 | 42.12 million | +4.2% |
| 1994 | 43.20 million | +2.6% |
| 1995 | 45.54 million | +5.4% |
| 1996 | 46.53 million | +2.2% |
| 1997 | 50.02 million | +7.5% |
| 1998 | 51.63 million | +3.2% |
| 1999 | 52.12 million | +1.0% |
| 2000 | 54.59 million | +4.7% |
| 2001 | 57.80 million | +5.9% |
| 2002 | 60.96 million | +5.5% |
| 2003 | 65.26 million | +7.1% |
| 2004 | 68.48 million | +4.9% |
| 2005 | 72.68 million | +6.1% |
| 2006 | 76.35 million | +5.0% |
| 2007 | 81.81 million | +7.2% |
| 2008 | 86.89 million | +6.2% |
| 2009 | 88.64 million | +2.0% |
| 2010 | 90.18 million | +1.7% |
| 2011 | 92.44 million | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 95.06 million | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 97.30 million | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 100.08 million | +2.9% |
| 2015 | 101.48 million | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 104.84 million | +3.3% |
| 2017 | 108.41 million | +3.4% |
| 2018 | 112.42 million | +3.7% |
| 2019 | 115.85 million | +3.1% |
| 2020 | 119.13 million | +2.8% |
| 2021 | 119.75 million | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 118.36 million | -1.2% |
| 2023 | 119.81 million | +1.2% |
| 2024 | 121.03 million | +1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 23.45 million | 19.24 million | 29.27 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 34.77 million | 31.26 million | 38.46 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 45.01 million | 38.30 million | 52.12 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 71.34 million | 54.59 million | 88.64 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 101.80 million | 90.18 million | 115.85 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 119.62 million | 118.36 million | 121.03 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Africa Eastern and Southern
More education data for Africa Eastern and Southern
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 46.07 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 121.03 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.02 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1573 units per person (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 56.6% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 40.0% (2025)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 3.06 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary education, pupils in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Primary education, pupils in Africa Eastern and Southern was 121.03 million in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest primary education, pupils recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The highest recorded value was 121.03 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest primary education, pupils recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.24 million in 1971.
- How does Africa Eastern and Southern rank for primary education, pupils?
- Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 23rd out of 45 groups with data for 2024.
- Is primary education, pupils rising or falling in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Africa Eastern and Southern data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Primary education, pupils. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Primary education pupils is the total number of pupils enrolled at primary level in public and private schools.