School age population, primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa
UNICEF: West and Central Africa: School age population, primary education, both sexes was 101.23 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
101.23 million
Change on year
up 0.6%
Rank
82nd
of 221 groups
All-time high
101.23 million
in 2024
All-time low
21.82 million
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2024
School age population, primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school age population, primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa is 101.23 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 27.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school age population, primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa peaked at 101.23 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 21.82 million, in 1970.
That places UNICEF: West and Central Africa 82nd 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, primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 21.82 million | — |
| 1971 | 22.48 million | +3.0% |
| 1972 | 23.17 million | +3.1% |
| 1973 | 23.89 million | +3.1% |
| 1974 | 24.62 million | +3.1% |
| 1975 | 25.36 million | +3.0% |
| 1976 | 26.14 million | +3.1% |
| 1977 | 26.95 million | +3.1% |
| 1978 | 27.79 million | +3.1% |
| 1979 | 28.69 million | +3.2% |
| 1980 | 29.58 million | +3.1% |
| 1981 | 30.59 million | +3.4% |
| 1982 | 31.61 million | +3.3% |
| 1983 | 32.72 million | +3.5% |
| 1984 | 33.79 million | +3.3% |
| 1985 | 34.99 million | +3.5% |
| 1986 | 36.17 million | +3.4% |
| 1987 | 37.35 million | +3.3% |
| 1988 | 38.53 million | +3.1% |
| 1989 | 39.73 million | +3.1% |
| 1990 | 40.95 million | +3.1% |
| 1991 | 42.06 million | +2.7% |
| 1992 | 43.18 million | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 44.34 million | +2.7% |
| 1994 | 45.47 million | +2.5% |
| 1995 | 46.65 million | +2.6% |
| 1996 | 47.82 million | +2.5% |
| 1997 | 48.89 million | +2.2% |
| 1998 | 50.17 million | +2.6% |
| 1999 | 51.50 million | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 52.87 million | +2.6% |
| 2001 | 54.30 million | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 55.86 million | +2.9% |
| 2003 | 57.44 million | +2.8% |
| 2004 | 59.05 million | +2.8% |
| 2005 | 60.68 million | +2.8% |
| 2006 | 62.45 million | +2.9% |
| 2007 | 64.40 million | +3.1% |
| 2008 | 66.36 million | +3.0% |
| 2009 | 68.29 million | +2.9% |
| 2010 | 70.42 million | +3.1% |
| 2011 | 72.58 million | +3.1% |
| 2012 | 74.75 million | +3.0% |
| 2013 | 76.99 million | +3.0% |
| 2014 | 79.32 million | +3.0% |
| 2015 | 81.83 million | +3.2% |
| 2016 | 84.36 million | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 86.98 million | +3.1% |
| 2018 | 89.55 million | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 91.99 million | +2.7% |
| 2020 | 94.33 million | +2.5% |
| 2021 | 96.64 million | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 98.77 million | +2.2% |
| 2023 | 100.65 million | +1.9% |
| 2024 | 101.23 million | +0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 25.09 million | 21.82 million | 28.69 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 34.51 million | 29.58 million | 39.73 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 46.10 million | 40.95 million | 51.50 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 60.17 million | 52.87 million | 68.29 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 80.88 million | 70.42 million | 91.99 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 98.32 million | 94.33 million | 101.23 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near UNICEF: West and Central Africa
- 79 Ukraine 1.45 million compare
- 80 Papua New Guinea 1.39 million compare
- 81 Honduras 1.31 million compare
- 82 Sierra Leone 1.29 million compare
- 83 Tunisia 1.27 million compare
- 84 Jordan 1.15 million compare
- 85 Dominican Republic 1.14 million compare
More education data for UNICEF: West and Central Africa
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 4.92 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 20.41 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.9224 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 22.91 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 0.5411 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 8.34 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 0.9535 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 5.20 million (2021)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.46 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 5.73 % change on previous year (2021)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school age population, primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa?
- School age population, primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa was 101.23 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school age population, primary education, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: West and Central Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 101.23 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest school age population, primary education, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: West and Central Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.82 million in 1970.
- How does UNICEF: West and Central Africa rank for school age population, primary education, both sexes?
- UNICEF: West and Central Africa ranks 82nd out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is school age population, primary education, both sexes rising or falling in UNICEF: West and Central Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this UNICEF: West and Central 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