School age population, early childhood education, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa
WB: Sub-saharan Africa: School age population, early childhood education, both sexes was 122.44 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
School age population, early childhood education, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa, 1997–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, school age population, early childhood education, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa stood at 122.44 million. That is the highest value across all 28 years on record.
That represents a change of 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 WB: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 122.44 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 74.72 million, in 1997.
WB: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 22nd of 194 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 28 years of available data.
School age population, early childhood education, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 74.72 million | — |
| 1998 | 79.37 million | +6.2% |
| 1999 | 77.08 million | -2.9% |
| 2000 | 78.82 million | +2.2% |
| 2001 | 80.36 million | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 81.22 million | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 83.17 million | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 84.30 million | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 86.67 million | +2.8% |
| 2006 | 89.05 million | +2.7% |
| 2007 | 89.75 million | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 92.14 million | +2.7% |
| 2009 | 94.64 million | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 97.42 million | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 100.02 million | +2.7% |
| 2012 | 102.64 million | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 105.16 million | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 107.27 million | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 109.39 million | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 112.27 million | +2.6% |
| 2017 | 115.26 million | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 116.67 million | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 117.99 million | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 117.98 million | -0.0% |
| 2021 | 119.38 million | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 119.82 million | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 121.47 million | +1.4% |
| 2024 | 122.44 million | +0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 77.06 million | 74.72 million | 79.37 million | 3 |
| 2000s | 86.01 million | 78.82 million | 94.64 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 108.41 million | 97.42 million | 117.99 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 120.22 million | 117.98 million | 122.44 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near WB: Sub-saharan Africa
More education data for WB: Sub-saharan Africa
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 5.90 million (2021)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 39.08 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.55 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 42.35 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.19 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 26.37 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 1.55 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 3.52 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 3.88 % change on previous year (2021)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.60 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school age population, early childhood education, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa?
- School age population, early childhood education, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa was 122.44 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school age population, early childhood education, both sexes recorded in WB: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 122.44 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest school age population, early childhood education, both sexes recorded in WB: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 74.72 million in 1997.
- How does WB: Sub-saharan Africa rank for school age population, early childhood education, both sexes?
- WB: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 22nd out of 194 groups with data for 2024.
- Is school age population, early childhood education, both sexes rising or falling in WB: 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 WB: 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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About this data
February 2026 Data Release