School age population, early childhood education, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa

MDG: Sub-saharan Africa: School age population, early childhood education, both sexes was 122.49 million in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
122.49 million
Change on year
up 0.8%
Rank
20th
of 194 groups
All-time high
122.49 million
in 2024
All-time low
74.76 million
in 1997
Years of data
28
1997–2024

School age population, early childhood education, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa, 1997–2024

025.0M50.0M75.0M100.0M125.0M1997201020241997: 74.8M1998: 79.4M1999: 77.1M2000: 78.9M2001: 80.4M2002: 81.3M2003: 83.2M2004: 84.3M2005: 86.7M2006: 89.1M2007: 89.8M2008: 92.2M2009: 94.7M2010: 97.5M2011: 100.1M2012: 102.7M2013: 105.2M2014: 107.3M2015: 109.4M2016: 112.3M2017: 115.3M2018: 116.7M2019: 118.0M2020: 118.0M2021: 119.4M2022: 119.9M2023: 121.5M2024: 122.5M

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

The most recent figure for school age population, early childhood education, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa is 122.49 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 28 years on record.

The figure is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 14.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, school age population, early childhood education, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 122.49 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 74.76 million, in 1997.

That places MDG: Sub-saharan Africa 20th out of 194 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 28 years of available data.

School age population, early childhood education, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year

Annual values for School age population, early childhood education, both sexes (number) in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa, 1997 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1997 74.76 million
1998 79.41 million +6.2%
1999 77.13 million -2.9%
2000 78.86 million +2.2%
2001 80.40 million +2.0%
2002 81.26 million +1.1%
2003 83.21 million +2.4%
2004 84.35 million +1.4%
2005 86.72 million +2.8%
2006 89.09 million +2.7%
2007 89.79 million +0.8%
2008 92.19 million +2.7%
2009 94.69 million +2.7%
2010 97.47 million +2.9%
2011 100.07 million +2.7%
2012 102.69 million +2.6%
2013 105.20 million +2.4%
2014 107.31 million +2.0%
2015 109.44 million +2.0%
2016 112.31 million +2.6%
2017 115.30 million +2.7%
2018 116.71 million +1.2%
2019 118.04 million +1.1%
2020 118.03 million -0.0%
2021 119.42 million +1.2%
2022 119.86 million +0.4%
2023 121.52 million +1.4%
2024 122.49 million +0.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 77.10 million 74.76 million 79.41 million 3
2000s 86.05 million 78.86 million 94.69 million 10
2010s 108.45 million 97.47 million 118.04 million 10
2020s 120.26 million 118.03 million 122.49 million 5

Countries ranked near MDG: Sub-saharan Africa

  1. 17 Uganda 4.69 million compare
  2. 18 Germany 4.60 million compare
  3. 19 Colombia 4.51 million compare
  4. 20 Myanmar 4.38 million compare
  5. 21 Ghana 4.22 million compare
  6. 22 Kenya 4.16 million compare
  7. 23 Angola 3.66 million compare

See the full ranking of 401 places →

More education data for MDG: Sub-saharan Africa

All data for MDG: Sub-saharan Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is school age population, early childhood education, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
School age population, early childhood education, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa was 122.49 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest school age population, early childhood education, both sexes recorded in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
The highest recorded value was 122.49 million in 2024.
What is the lowest school age population, early childhood education, both sexes recorded in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 74.76 million in 1997.
How does MDG: Sub-saharan Africa rank for school age population, early childhood education, both sexes?
MDG: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 20th out of 194 groups with data for 2024.
Is school age population, early childhood education, both sexes rising or falling in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 14.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this MDG: Sub-saharan Africa data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of School age population, early childhood education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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School age population, early childhood education, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/school-age-population-early-childhood-education-both-sexes-number-2/mdg-sub-saharan-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
School age population, early childhood education, both sexes (number)
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
401 places, 9,808 data points, 1971–2025
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release