School age population, pre-primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa
UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa: School age population, pre-primary education, both sexes was 48.69 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
48.69 million
Change on year
up 0.8%
Rank
74th
of 221 groups
All-time high
48.69 million
in 2024
All-time low
13.05 million
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2024
School age population, pre-primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, school age population, pre-primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa stood at 48.69 million. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
The figure is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 15.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school age population, pre-primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa peaked at 48.69 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 13.05 million, in 1970.
UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa ranks 74th of 221 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 55 years of available data.
School age population, pre-primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 13.05 million | — |
| 1971 | 13.37 million | +2.5% |
| 1972 | 13.73 million | +2.7% |
| 1973 | 14.08 million | +2.6% |
| 1974 | 14.45 million | +2.6% |
| 1975 | 14.80 million | +2.4% |
| 1976 | 15.14 million | +2.3% |
| 1977 | 15.50 million | +2.4% |
| 1978 | 15.81 million | +2.0% |
| 1979 | 16.21 million | +2.5% |
| 1980 | 16.60 million | +2.5% |
| 1981 | 16.95 million | +2.1% |
| 1982 | 17.45 million | +2.9% |
| 1983 | 17.52 million | +0.4% |
| 1984 | 17.97 million | +2.6% |
| 1985 | 18.44 million | +2.6% |
| 1986 | 18.88 million | +2.4% |
| 1987 | 19.69 million | +4.3% |
| 1988 | 20.13 million | +2.3% |
| 1989 | 20.61 million | +2.4% |
| 1990 | 21.18 million | +2.7% |
| 1991 | 21.80 million | +3.0% |
| 1992 | 22.41 million | +2.8% |
| 1993 | 22.96 million | +2.4% |
| 1994 | 23.45 million | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 23.94 million | +2.1% |
| 1996 | 24.41 million | +2.0% |
| 1997 | 23.77 million | -2.6% |
| 1998 | 27.62 million | +16.2% |
| 1999 | 31.54 million | +14.2% |
| 2000 | 32.21 million | +2.1% |
| 2001 | 32.87 million | +2.1% |
| 2002 | 33.64 million | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 34.32 million | +2.0% |
| 2004 | 35.02 million | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 35.80 million | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 36.59 million | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 35.79 million | -2.2% |
| 2008 | 36.67 million | +2.4% |
| 2009 | 37.61 million | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 38.64 million | +2.7% |
| 2011 | 39.65 million | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 40.61 million | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 41.55 million | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 42.09 million | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 42.67 million | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 43.18 million | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 45.67 million | +5.8% |
| 2018 | 46.12 million | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 46.58 million | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 45.76 million | -1.8% |
| 2021 | 46.44 million | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 47.26 million | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 48.30 million | +2.2% |
| 2024 | 48.69 million | +0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 14.61 million | 13.05 million | 16.21 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 18.42 million | 16.60 million | 20.61 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 24.31 million | 21.18 million | 31.54 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 35.05 million | 32.21 million | 37.61 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 42.67 million | 38.64 million | 46.58 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 47.29 million | 45.76 million | 48.69 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, pre-primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa?
- School age population, pre-primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa was 48.69 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school age population, pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 48.69 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest school age population, pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.05 million in 1970.
- How does UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa rank for school age population, pre-primary education, both sexes?
- UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa ranks 74th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is school age population, pre-primary education, both sexes rising or falling in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.7%. 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, pre-primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release