School age population, primary education, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central
WB: Africa Western and Central: School age population, primary education, both sexes was 83.21 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
83.21 million
Change on year
up 0.7%
Rank
92nd
of 221 groups
All-time high
83.21 million
in 2024
All-time low
18.72 million
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2024
School age population, primary education, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school age population, primary education, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central is 83.21 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
The figure is up 0.7% on the previous year and up 25.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school age population, primary education, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central peaked at 83.21 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 18.72 million, in 1970.
That places WB: Africa Western and Central 92nd 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 WB: Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 18.72 million | — |
| 1971 | 19.28 million | +3.0% |
| 1972 | 19.86 million | +3.0% |
| 1973 | 20.46 million | +3.0% |
| 1974 | 21.06 million | +3.0% |
| 1975 | 21.68 million | +2.9% |
| 1976 | 22.34 million | +3.0% |
| 1977 | 23.02 million | +3.0% |
| 1978 | 23.73 million | +3.1% |
| 1979 | 24.50 million | +3.3% |
| 1980 | 25.28 million | +3.2% |
| 1981 | 26.16 million | +3.5% |
| 1982 | 27.07 million | +3.5% |
| 1983 | 28.05 million | +3.6% |
| 1984 | 29.01 million | +3.4% |
| 1985 | 30.07 million | +3.7% |
| 1986 | 31.10 million | +3.4% |
| 1987 | 32.13 million | +3.3% |
| 1988 | 33.13 million | +3.1% |
| 1989 | 34.14 million | +3.1% |
| 1990 | 35.15 million | +3.0% |
| 1991 | 36.04 million | +2.5% |
| 1992 | 36.93 million | +2.5% |
| 1993 | 37.84 million | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 38.72 million | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 39.61 million | +2.3% |
| 1996 | 40.53 million | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 41.37 million | +2.1% |
| 1998 | 42.41 million | +2.5% |
| 1999 | 43.47 million | +2.5% |
| 2000 | 44.56 million | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 45.70 million | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 46.90 million | +2.6% |
| 2003 | 48.12 million | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 49.41 million | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 50.73 million | +2.7% |
| 2006 | 52.18 million | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 53.80 million | +3.1% |
| 2008 | 55.47 million | +3.1% |
| 2009 | 57.11 million | +3.0% |
| 2010 | 58.91 million | +3.1% |
| 2011 | 60.70 million | +3.0% |
| 2012 | 62.50 million | +3.0% |
| 2013 | 64.35 million | +3.0% |
| 2014 | 66.26 million | +3.0% |
| 2015 | 68.31 million | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 70.35 million | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 72.43 million | +3.0% |
| 2018 | 74.44 million | +2.8% |
| 2019 | 76.32 million | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 78.09 million | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 79.80 million | +2.2% |
| 2022 | 81.35 million | +1.9% |
| 2023 | 82.63 million | +1.6% |
| 2024 | 83.21 million | +0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 21.47 million | 18.72 million | 24.50 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 29.61 million | 25.28 million | 34.14 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 39.21 million | 35.15 million | 43.47 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 50.40 million | 44.56 million | 57.11 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 67.46 million | 58.91 million | 76.32 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 81.02 million | 78.09 million | 83.21 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, primary education, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- School age population, primary education, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central was 83.21 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school age population, primary education, both sexes recorded in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 83.21 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest school age population, primary education, both sexes recorded in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.72 million in 1970.
- How does WB: Africa Western and Central rank for school age population, primary education, both sexes?
- WB: Africa Western and Central ranks 92nd out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is school age population, primary education, both sexes rising or falling in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.6%. 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, primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release