School age population, pre-primary education, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central
WB: Africa Western and Central: School age population, pre-primary education, both sexes was 29.08 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
29.08 million
Change on year
up 0.5%
Rank
103rd
of 221 groups
All-time high
29.08 million
in 2024
All-time low
9.95 million
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2024
School age population, pre-primary education, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, school age population, pre-primary education, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central stood at 29.08 million. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.5% on the previous year and up 14.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school age population, pre-primary education, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central peaked at 29.08 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 9.95 million, in 1970.
That places WB: Africa Western and Central 103rd out of 221 groups with data for 2024, putting it 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 WB: Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 9.95 million | — |
| 1971 | 10.22 million | +2.8% |
| 1972 | 10.52 million | +2.9% |
| 1973 | 10.84 million | +3.1% |
| 1974 | 11.08 million | +2.2% |
| 1975 | 11.44 million | +3.2% |
| 1976 | 12.05 million | +5.4% |
| 1977 | 12.63 million | +4.8% |
| 1978 | 12.92 million | +2.3% |
| 1979 | 13.41 million | +3.8% |
| 1980 | 13.91 million | +3.7% |
| 1981 | 14.61 million | +5.0% |
| 1982 | 15.33 million | +4.9% |
| 1983 | 15.85 million | +3.4% |
| 1984 | 16.29 million | +2.8% |
| 1985 | 16.72 million | +2.6% |
| 1986 | 17.11 million | +2.4% |
| 1987 | 17.61 million | +2.9% |
| 1988 | 18.09 million | +2.7% |
| 1989 | 18.50 million | +2.3% |
| 1990 | 18.88 million | +2.0% |
| 1991 | 19.25 million | +2.0% |
| 1992 | 19.71 million | +2.4% |
| 1993 | 20.21 million | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 21.37 million | +5.7% |
| 1995 | 21.90 million | +2.5% |
| 1996 | 22.46 million | +2.6% |
| 1997 | 23.04 million | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 23.69 million | +2.8% |
| 1999 | 16.46 million | -30.5% |
| 2000 | 16.87 million | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 17.34 million | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 17.84 million | +2.9% |
| 2003 | 18.35 million | +2.9% |
| 2004 | 18.93 million | +3.2% |
| 2005 | 19.55 million | +3.3% |
| 2006 | 20.20 million | +3.3% |
| 2007 | 20.77 million | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 21.40 million | +3.0% |
| 2009 | 22.00 million | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 22.69 million | +3.1% |
| 2011 | 23.37 million | +3.0% |
| 2012 | 24.05 million | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 24.70 million | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 25.42 million | +2.9% |
| 2015 | 26.11 million | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 26.76 million | +2.5% |
| 2017 | 26.64 million | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 27.18 million | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 27.69 million | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 28.17 million | +1.8% |
| 2021 | 28.52 million | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 28.75 million | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 28.94 million | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 29.08 million | +0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 11.51 million | 9.95 million | 13.41 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 16.40 million | 13.91 million | 18.50 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 20.70 million | 16.46 million | 23.69 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 19.33 million | 16.87 million | 22.00 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.46 million | 22.69 million | 27.69 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.69 million | 28.17 million | 29.08 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, pre-primary education, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- School age population, pre-primary education, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central was 29.08 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school age population, pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 29.08 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest school age population, pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.95 million in 1970.
- How does WB: Africa Western and Central rank for school age population, pre-primary education, both sexes?
- WB: Africa Western and Central ranks 103rd out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is school age population, pre-primary education, both sexes rising or falling in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.4%. 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, 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