Primary education, pupils in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Primary education, pupils was 75.77 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
75.77 million
Change on year
up 0.9%
Rank
29th
of 45 groups
All-time high
75.77 million
in 2024
All-time low
8.06 million
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Primary education, pupils in Africa Western and Central, 1970–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Analysis
In 2024, primary education, pupils in Africa Western and Central stood at 75.77 million. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
The figure is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 28.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary education, pupils in Africa Western and Central peaked at 75.77 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 8.06 million, in 1970.
Africa Western and Central ranks 29th of 45 groups on this measure, 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 Western and Central, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 8.06 million | — |
| 1971 | 8.61 million | +6.8% |
| 1972 | 9.26 million | +7.6% |
| 1973 | 9.84 million | +6.2% |
| 1974 | 10.16 million | +3.2% |
| 1975 | 10.55 million | +3.9% |
| 1976 | 10.98 million | +4.1% |
| 1977 | 12.62 million | +15.0% |
| 1978 | 14.89 million | +18.0% |
| 1979 | 17.07 million | +14.6% |
| 1980 | 18.39 million | +7.7% |
| 1981 | 20.07 million | +9.1% |
| 1982 | 22.06 million | +9.9% |
| 1983 | 22.90 million | +3.8% |
| 1984 | 23.43 million | +2.3% |
| 1985 | 23.55 million | +0.5% |
| 1986 | 22.44 million | -4.7% |
| 1987 | 22.69 million | +1.1% |
| 1988 | 22.84 million | +0.7% |
| 1989 | 23.28 million | +1.9% |
| 1990 | 24.44 million | +5.0% |
| 1991 | 25.11 million | +2.7% |
| 1992 | 26.40 million | +5.1% |
| 1993 | 27.89 million | +5.7% |
| 1994 | 28.70 million | +2.9% |
| 1995 | 28.82 million | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 27.62 million | -4.2% |
| 1997 | 29.69 million | +7.5% |
| 1998 | 31.64 million | +6.6% |
| 1999 | 33.67 million | +6.4% |
| 2000 | 35.91 million | +6.7% |
| 2001 | 37.07 million | +3.2% |
| 2002 | 38.85 million | +4.8% |
| 2003 | 40.22 million | +3.5% |
| 2004 | 42.23 million | +5.0% |
| 2005 | 43.82 million | +3.8% |
| 2006 | 45.45 million | +3.7% |
| 2007 | 45.40 million | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 45.48 million | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 47.81 million | +5.1% |
| 2010 | 49.76 million | +4.1% |
| 2011 | 53.31 million | +7.1% |
| 2012 | 55.90 million | +4.9% |
| 2013 | 58.29 million | +4.3% |
| 2014 | 59.05 million | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 59.49 million | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 60.99 million | +2.5% |
| 2017 | 62.86 million | +3.1% |
| 2018 | 64.51 million | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 66.82 million | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 68.84 million | +3.0% |
| 2021 | 70.30 million | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 72.81 million | +3.6% |
| 2023 | 75.09 million | +3.1% |
| 2024 | 75.77 million | +0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 11.21 million | 8.06 million | 17.07 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 22.16 million | 18.39 million | 23.55 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 28.40 million | 24.44 million | 33.67 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 42.22 million | 35.91 million | 47.81 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 59.10 million | 49.76 million | 66.82 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 72.56 million | 68.84 million | 75.77 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central
More education data for Africa Western and Central
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 2.08 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 35.36 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 75.77 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.9058 % change on previous year (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)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1455 units per person (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 56.1% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 40.9% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary education, pupils in Africa Western and Central?
- Primary education, pupils in Africa Western and Central was 75.77 million in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest primary education, pupils recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 75.77 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest primary education, pupils recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.06 million in 1970.
- How does Africa Western and Central rank for primary education, pupils?
- Africa Western and Central ranks 29th out of 45 groups with data for 2024.
- Is primary education, pupils rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Africa Western and Central 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.