Primary education, pupils in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income): Primary education, pupils was 196.79 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Primary education, pupils in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), 1970–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for primary education, pupils in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) is 196.79 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.0% on the previous year and up 23.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary education, pupils 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 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)
More education data for Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 196.79 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 81.42 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.9733 % change on previous year (2024)
- 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)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 5.14 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 56.4% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 40.4% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary education, pupils in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- Primary education, pupils in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) was 196.79 million in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest primary education, pupils 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 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?
- Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) ranks 12th out of 45 groups with data for 2024.
- Is primary education, pupils 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 Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Primary education, pupils. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Primary education pupils is the total number of pupils enrolled at primary level in public and private schools.