School age population, early childhood education, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa
UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa: School age population, early childhood education, both sexes was 52.67 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
School age population, early childhood education, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa, 1997–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school age population, early childhood education, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa is 52.67 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.7% on the previous year and up 15.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school age population, early childhood education, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa peaked at 52.67 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 27.23 million, in 1997.
That places UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa 92nd out of 194 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.
School age population, early childhood education, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 27.23 million | — |
| 1998 | 31.08 million | +14.1% |
| 1999 | 35.82 million | +15.3% |
| 2000 | 36.44 million | +1.7% |
| 2001 | 37.06 million | +1.7% |
| 2002 | 36.72 million | -0.9% |
| 2003 | 37.35 million | +1.7% |
| 2004 | 38.08 million | +1.9% |
| 2005 | 38.92 million | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 39.82 million | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 39.14 million | -1.7% |
| 2008 | 40.10 million | +2.4% |
| 2009 | 41.17 million | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 42.36 million | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 43.39 million | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 44.31 million | +2.1% |
| 2013 | 45.27 million | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 45.82 million | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 46.47 million | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 50.81 million | +9.3% |
| 2019 | 51.28 million | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 50.54 million | -1.4% |
| 2021 | 51.35 million | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 51.28 million | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 52.32 million | +2.0% |
| 2024 | 52.67 million | +0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 31.38 million | 27.23 million | 35.82 million | 3 |
| 2000s | 38.48 million | 36.44 million | 41.17 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 46.21 million | 42.36 million | 51.28 million | 8 |
| 2020s | 51.63 million | 50.54 million | 52.67 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa
More education data for UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 49.26 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 1.01 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2.50 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 2.77 % change on previous year (2022)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 36.30 million (2022)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.22 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 50.69 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.32 % change on previous year (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 8.67 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 9.20 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school age population, early childhood education, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa?
- School age population, early childhood education, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa was 52.67 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school age population, early childhood education, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 52.67 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest school age population, early childhood education, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.23 million in 1997.
- How does UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa rank for school age population, early childhood education, both sexes?
- UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa ranks 92nd out of 194 groups with data for 2024.
- Is school age population, early childhood education, both sexes rising or falling in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this UNICEF: Eastern and Southern 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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About this data
February 2026 Data Release