School age population, early childhood education, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central
WB: Africa Western and Central: School age population, early childhood education, both sexes was 59.17 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
School age population, early childhood education, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central, 1998–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, school age population, early childhood education, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central stood at 59.17 million. That is the highest value across all 27 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 10.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school age population, early childhood education, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central peaked at 59.17 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 36.39 million, in 1999.
That places WB: Africa Western and Central 72nd 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 27 years of available data.
School age population, early childhood education, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 43.67 million | — |
| 1999 | 36.39 million | -16.7% |
| 2000 | 37.29 million | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 38.04 million | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 39.17 million | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 40.37 million | +3.1% |
| 2004 | 40.61 million | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 41.93 million | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 43.22 million | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 44.44 million | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 45.71 million | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 46.96 million | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 48.32 million | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 49.65 million | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 51.08 million | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 52.37 million | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 53.66 million | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 54.84 million | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 55.92 million | +2.0% |
| 2017 | 56.12 million | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 56.85 million | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 57.43 million | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 57.87 million | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 58.13 million | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 58.29 million | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 58.56 million | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 59.17 million | +1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 40.03 million | 36.39 million | 43.67 million | 2 |
| 2000s | 41.77 million | 37.29 million | 46.96 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 53.62 million | 48.32 million | 57.43 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 58.40 million | 57.87 million | 59.17 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near WB: Africa Western and Central
More education data for WB: Africa Western and Central
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 4.61 million (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 7.4 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1.89 million (2021)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2.08 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.08 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 0.7294 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.00 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 6.08 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.09 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 18.05 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school age population, early childhood education, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- School age population, early childhood education, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central was 59.17 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school age population, early childhood education, both sexes recorded in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 59.17 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest school age population, early childhood education, both sexes recorded in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.39 million in 1999.
- How does WB: Africa Western and Central rank for school age population, early childhood education, both sexes?
- WB: Africa Western and Central ranks 72nd out of 194 groups with data for 2024.
- Is school age population, early childhood education, both sexes rising or falling in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this WB: Africa Western and Central 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