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

UIS: Sub-saharan Africa: School age population, early childhood education, both sexes was 118.60 million in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
118.60 million
Change on year
up 0.8%
Rank
28th
of 194 groups
All-time high
118.60 million
in 2024
All-time low
72.34 million
in 1997
Years of data
12
1997–2024

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

025.0M50.0M75.0M100.0M125.0M1997201020241997: 72.3M1998: 77.0M2015: 106.2M2016: 109.0M2017: 111.9M2018: 113.3M2019: 114.5M2020: 114.4M2021: 115.7M2022: 116.1M2023: 117.7M2024: 118.6M

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

The most recent figure for school age population, early childhood education, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa is 118.60 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 12 years on record.

The figure is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 11.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, school age population, early childhood education, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 118.60 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 72.34 million, in 1997.

That places UIS: Sub-saharan Africa 28th out of 194 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 12 years of available data.

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

Annual values for School age population, early childhood education, both sexes (number) in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa, 1997 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1997 72.34 million
1998 76.98 million +6.4%
2015 106.16 million +37.9%
2016 108.97 million +2.6%
2017 111.92 million +2.7%
2018 113.28 million +1.2%
2019 114.55 million +1.1%
2020 114.45 million -0.1%
2021 115.74 million +1.1%
2022 116.10 million +0.3%
2023 117.65 million +1.3%
2024 118.60 million +0.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 74.66 million 72.34 million 76.98 million 2
2010s 110.97 million 106.16 million 114.55 million 5
2020s 116.51 million 114.45 million 118.60 million 5

Countries ranked near UIS: Sub-saharan Africa

  1. 25 Thailand 3.46 million compare
  2. 26 Mozambique 3.33 million compare
  3. 27 Uzbekistan 3.25 million compare
  4. 28 Peru 3.22 million compare
  5. 29 Argentina 3.16 million compare
  6. 30 Morocco 3.16 million compare
  7. 31 Sudan 2.93 million compare

See the full ranking of 401 places →

More education data for UIS: Sub-saharan Africa

All data for UIS: Sub-saharan Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is school age population, early childhood education, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa?
School age population, early childhood education, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa was 118.60 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest school age population, early childhood education, both sexes recorded in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa?
The highest recorded value was 118.60 million in 2024.
What is the lowest school age population, early childhood education, both sexes recorded in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 72.34 million in 1997.
How does UIS: Sub-saharan Africa rank for school age population, early childhood education, both sexes?
UIS: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 28th out of 194 groups with data for 2024.
Is school age population, early childhood education, both sexes rising or falling in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 11.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this UIS: 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 UIS: Sub-saharan Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/school-age-population-early-childhood-education-both-sexes-number-2/uis-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