School age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa
SDG: Sub-saharan Africa: School age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes was 30.35 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
30.35 million
Change on year
up 0.6%
Rank
51st
of 221 groups
All-time high
30.35 million
in 2024
All-time low
6.79 million
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2024
School age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, school age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa stood at 30.35 million. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
The figure is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 27.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 30.35 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 6.79 million, in 1970.
SDG: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 51st of 221 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 55 years of available data.
School age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 6.79 million | — |
| 1971 | 7.01 million | +3.2% |
| 1972 | 7.23 million | +3.2% |
| 1973 | 7.47 million | +3.3% |
| 1974 | 7.70 million | +3.0% |
| 1975 | 7.94 million | +3.1% |
| 1976 | 8.17 million | +3.0% |
| 1977 | 8.42 million | +3.1% |
| 1978 | 8.67 million | +2.9% |
| 1979 | 8.95 million | +3.3% |
| 1980 | 9.24 million | +3.3% |
| 1981 | 9.53 million | +3.1% |
| 1982 | 9.81 million | +3.0% |
| 1983 | 10.10 million | +3.0% |
| 1984 | 10.40 million | +3.0% |
| 1985 | 10.70 million | +2.8% |
| 1986 | 11.03 million | +3.1% |
| 1987 | 11.39 million | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 11.77 million | +3.4% |
| 1989 | 12.16 million | +3.3% |
| 1990 | 12.54 million | +3.1% |
| 1991 | 12.90 million | +2.9% |
| 1992 | 13.25 million | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 13.64 million | +3.0% |
| 1994 | 14.09 million | +3.3% |
| 1995 | 14.54 million | +3.2% |
| 1996 | 14.93 million | +2.6% |
| 1997 | 15.29 million | +2.5% |
| 1998 | 15.74 million | +2.9% |
| 1999 | 16.19 million | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 16.58 million | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 17.00 million | +2.5% |
| 2002 | 17.38 million | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 17.78 million | +2.3% |
| 2004 | 18.22 million | +2.5% |
| 2005 | 18.75 million | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 19.21 million | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 19.71 million | +2.6% |
| 2008 | 20.20 million | +2.5% |
| 2009 | 20.71 million | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 21.22 million | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 21.81 million | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 22.49 million | +3.1% |
| 2013 | 23.17 million | +3.0% |
| 2014 | 23.74 million | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 24.41 million | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 25.06 million | +2.7% |
| 2017 | 25.85 million | +3.2% |
| 2018 | 26.68 million | +3.2% |
| 2019 | 27.42 million | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 28.17 million | +2.7% |
| 2021 | 28.82 million | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 29.46 million | +2.2% |
| 2023 | 30.16 million | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 30.35 million | +0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 7.83 million | 6.79 million | 8.95 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 10.61 million | 9.24 million | 12.16 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 14.31 million | 12.54 million | 16.19 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 18.55 million | 16.58 million | 20.71 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.18 million | 21.22 million | 27.42 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 29.39 million | 28.17 million | 30.35 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near SDG: Sub-saharan Africa
More education data for SDG: Sub-saharan Africa
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 191.30 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.31 % change on previous year (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 14.32 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.68 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 37.60 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 12.63 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 12.47 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 0.8202 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 4.94 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 97.68 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- School age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa was 30.35 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes recorded in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 30.35 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest school age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes recorded in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.79 million in 1970.
- How does SDG: Sub-saharan Africa rank for school age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes?
- SDG: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 51st out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is school age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes rising or falling in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this SDG: Sub-saharan Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of School age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release