School age population, primary education, both sexes in ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126)
ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126): School age population, primary education, both sexes was 201.94 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
201.94 million
Change on year
up 0.6%
Rank
32nd
of 221 groups
All-time high
201.94 million
in 2024
All-time low
50.46 million
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2024
School age population, primary education, both sexes in ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126), 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school age population, primary education, both sexes in ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126) is 201.94 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 22.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school age population, primary education, both sexes in ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126) peaked at 201.94 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 50.46 million, in 1970.
ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126) ranks 32nd 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, primary education, both sexes in ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 50.46 million | — |
| 1971 | 51.87 million | +2.8% |
| 1972 | 53.30 million | +2.8% |
| 1973 | 54.68 million | +2.6% |
| 1974 | 56.21 million | +2.8% |
| 1975 | 57.55 million | +2.4% |
| 1976 | 59.18 million | +2.8% |
| 1977 | 60.66 million | +2.5% |
| 1978 | 62.30 million | +2.7% |
| 1979 | 64.12 million | +2.9% |
| 1980 | 65.95 million | +2.9% |
| 1981 | 67.77 million | +2.8% |
| 1982 | 69.70 million | +2.8% |
| 1983 | 71.68 million | +2.8% |
| 1984 | 73.71 million | +2.8% |
| 1985 | 75.93 million | +3.0% |
| 1986 | 78.21 million | +3.0% |
| 1987 | 80.89 million | +3.4% |
| 1988 | 83.26 million | +2.9% |
| 1989 | 85.60 million | +2.8% |
| 1990 | 87.97 million | +2.8% |
| 1991 | 90.28 million | +2.6% |
| 1992 | 92.57 million | +2.5% |
| 1993 | 95.23 million | +2.9% |
| 1994 | 97.58 million | +2.5% |
| 1995 | 100.20 million | +2.7% |
| 1996 | 102.63 million | +2.4% |
| 1997 | 105.45 million | +2.8% |
| 1998 | 108.30 million | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 110.89 million | +2.4% |
| 2000 | 113.55 million | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 116.31 million | +2.4% |
| 2002 | 119.20 million | +2.5% |
| 2003 | 122.32 million | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 125.45 million | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 128.60 million | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 131.89 million | +2.6% |
| 2007 | 136.48 million | +3.5% |
| 2008 | 140.12 million | +2.7% |
| 2009 | 143.84 million | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 147.76 million | +2.7% |
| 2011 | 151.80 million | +2.7% |
| 2012 | 155.93 million | +2.7% |
| 2013 | 160.65 million | +3.0% |
| 2014 | 164.90 million | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 169.56 million | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 174.27 million | +2.8% |
| 2017 | 178.94 million | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 183.37 million | +2.5% |
| 2019 | 187.49 million | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 191.33 million | +2.0% |
| 2021 | 194.97 million | +1.9% |
| 2022 | 198.41 million | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 200.71 million | +1.2% |
| 2024 | 201.94 million | +0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 57.03 million | 50.46 million | 64.12 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 75.27 million | 65.95 million | 85.60 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 99.11 million | 87.97 million | 110.89 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 127.77 million | 113.55 million | 143.84 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 167.47 million | 147.76 million | 187.49 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 197.47 million | 191.33 million | 201.94 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126)
More education data for ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 3.52 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 10.51 million (2021)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 1.59 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 3.88 % change on previous year (2021)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 2.53 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.59 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 42.27 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.26 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 26.34 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 4.35 % change on previous year (2021)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school age population, primary education, both sexes in ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126)?
- School age population, primary education, both sexes in ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126) was 201.94 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school age population, primary education, both sexes recorded in ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126)?
- The highest recorded value was 201.94 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest school age population, primary education, both sexes recorded in ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126)?
- The lowest recorded value was 50.46 million in 1970.
- How does ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126) rank for school age population, primary education, both sexes?
- ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126) ranks 32nd out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is school age population, primary education, both sexes rising or falling in ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126) data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of School age population, primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release