School age population, secondary education, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa
MDG: Sub-saharan Africa: School age population, secondary education, both sexes was 177.55 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
177.55 million
Change on year
up 0.9%
Rank
44th
of 221 groups
All-time high
177.55 million
in 2024
All-time low
41.57 million
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2024
School age population, secondary education, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school age population, secondary education, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa is 177.55 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 31.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school age population, secondary education, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 177.55 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 41.57 million, in 1970.
That places MDG: Sub-saharan Africa 44th 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, secondary education, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 41.57 million | — |
| 1971 | 42.66 million | +2.6% |
| 1972 | 43.81 million | +2.7% |
| 1973 | 45.09 million | +2.9% |
| 1974 | 46.38 million | +2.9% |
| 1975 | 47.79 million | +3.0% |
| 1976 | 49.16 million | +2.9% |
| 1977 | 50.42 million | +2.6% |
| 1978 | 51.77 million | +2.7% |
| 1979 | 53.26 million | +2.9% |
| 1980 | 54.80 million | +2.9% |
| 1981 | 56.71 million | +3.5% |
| 1982 | 57.92 million | +2.1% |
| 1983 | 59.66 million | +3.0% |
| 1984 | 61.82 million | +3.6% |
| 1985 | 63.67 million | +3.0% |
| 1986 | 63.95 million | +0.4% |
| 1987 | 65.84 million | +2.9% |
| 1988 | 67.82 million | +3.0% |
| 1989 | 69.33 million | +2.2% |
| 1990 | 71.41 million | +3.0% |
| 1991 | 73.52 million | +3.0% |
| 1992 | 75.68 million | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 77.95 million | +3.0% |
| 1994 | 80.14 million | +2.8% |
| 1995 | 82.94 million | +3.5% |
| 1996 | 85.44 million | +3.0% |
| 1997 | 87.11 million | +2.0% |
| 1998 | 89.25 million | +2.5% |
| 1999 | 91.83 million | +2.9% |
| 2000 | 94.43 million | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 97.03 million | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 99.67 million | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 102.27 million | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 104.94 million | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 107.58 million | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 110.32 million | +2.5% |
| 2007 | 112.49 million | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 115.49 million | +2.7% |
| 2009 | 118.49 million | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 121.64 million | +2.7% |
| 2011 | 124.81 million | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 127.99 million | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 131.55 million | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 134.70 million | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 138.55 million | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 142.60 million | +2.9% |
| 2017 | 146.56 million | +2.8% |
| 2018 | 150.98 million | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 155.37 million | +2.9% |
| 2020 | 161.00 million | +3.6% |
| 2021 | 165.70 million | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 170.36 million | +2.8% |
| 2023 | 175.91 million | +3.3% |
| 2024 | 177.55 million | +0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 47.19 million | 41.57 million | 53.26 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 62.15 million | 54.80 million | 69.33 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 81.53 million | 71.41 million | 91.83 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 106.27 million | 94.43 million | 118.49 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 137.48 million | 121.64 million | 155.37 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 170.10 million | 161.00 million | 177.55 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near MDG: Sub-saharan Africa
- 41 Uzbekistan 4.45 million compare
- 42 Argentina 4.39 million compare
- 43 Mozambique 4.17 million compare
- 44 Burkina Faso 4.09 million compare
- 45 Nepal 4.01 million compare
- 46 Morocco 4.01 million compare
- 47 Somalia 3.73 million compare
More education data for MDG: Sub-saharan Africa
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 26.38 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 0.7869 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 39.14 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.62 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 42.42 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.27 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 3.88 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 4.63 million (2021)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 2.54 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 5.14 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school age population, secondary education, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- School age population, secondary education, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa was 177.55 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school age population, secondary education, both sexes recorded in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 177.55 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest school age population, secondary education, both sexes recorded in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 41.57 million in 1970.
- How does MDG: Sub-saharan Africa rank for school age population, secondary education, both sexes?
- MDG: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 44th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is school age population, secondary education, both sexes rising or falling in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this MDG: Sub-saharan Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of School age population, secondary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release