School age population, primary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa
SDG: Sub-saharan Africa: School age population, primary education, both sexes was 195.05 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
195.05 million
Change on year
up 0.6%
Rank
33rd
of 221 groups
All-time high
195.05 million
in 2024
All-time low
46.15 million
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2024
School age population, primary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school age population, primary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa is 195.05 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.6% on the previous year and up 22.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school age population, primary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 195.05 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 46.15 million, in 1970.
That places SDG: Sub-saharan Africa 33rd out of 221 groups with data for 2024, putting it 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 SDG: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 46.15 million | — |
| 1971 | 47.56 million | +3.1% |
| 1972 | 49.00 million | +3.0% |
| 1973 | 50.39 million | +2.8% |
| 1974 | 51.93 million | +3.0% |
| 1975 | 53.28 million | +2.6% |
| 1976 | 54.92 million | +3.1% |
| 1977 | 56.40 million | +2.7% |
| 1978 | 58.05 million | +2.9% |
| 1979 | 59.88 million | +3.1% |
| 1980 | 61.69 million | +3.0% |
| 1981 | 63.51 million | +3.0% |
| 1982 | 65.45 million | +3.0% |
| 1983 | 67.44 million | +3.0% |
| 1984 | 69.48 million | +3.0% |
| 1985 | 71.70 million | +3.2% |
| 1986 | 73.99 million | +3.2% |
| 1987 | 76.68 million | +3.6% |
| 1988 | 79.06 million | +3.1% |
| 1989 | 81.41 million | +3.0% |
| 1990 | 83.78 million | +2.9% |
| 1991 | 86.11 million | +2.8% |
| 1992 | 88.41 million | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 91.08 million | +3.0% |
| 1994 | 93.44 million | +2.6% |
| 1995 | 96.06 million | +2.8% |
| 1996 | 98.51 million | +2.5% |
| 1997 | 101.34 million | +2.9% |
| 1998 | 104.19 million | +2.8% |
| 1999 | 106.68 million | +2.4% |
| 2000 | 109.22 million | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 111.86 million | +2.4% |
| 2002 | 114.64 million | +2.5% |
| 2003 | 117.64 million | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 120.69 million | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 123.75 million | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 126.95 million | +2.6% |
| 2007 | 131.44 million | +3.5% |
| 2008 | 134.98 million | +2.7% |
| 2009 | 138.55 million | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 142.33 million | +2.7% |
| 2011 | 146.23 million | +2.7% |
| 2012 | 150.24 million | +2.7% |
| 2013 | 154.85 million | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 158.99 million | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 163.53 million | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 168.13 million | +2.8% |
| 2017 | 172.67 million | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 176.99 million | +2.5% |
| 2019 | 181.01 million | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 184.76 million | +2.1% |
| 2021 | 188.31 million | +1.9% |
| 2022 | 191.62 million | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 193.79 million | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 195.05 million | +0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 52.76 million | 46.15 million | 59.88 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 71.04 million | 61.69 million | 81.41 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 94.96 million | 83.78 million | 106.68 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 122.97 million | 109.22 million | 138.55 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 161.50 million | 142.33 million | 181.01 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 190.71 million | 184.76 million | 195.05 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near SDG: Sub-saharan Africa
More education data for SDG: Sub-saharan Africa
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 78.55 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)
- 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 secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.49 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.17 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 191.30 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.02 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 40.94 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school age population, primary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- School age population, primary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa was 195.05 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school age population, primary education, both sexes recorded in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 195.05 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest school age population, primary education, both sexes recorded in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 46.15 million in 1970.
- How does SDG: Sub-saharan Africa rank for school age population, primary education, both sexes?
- SDG: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 33rd out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is school age population, primary education, both sexes rising or falling in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.7%. 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, primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release