School age population, secondary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa
SDG: Sub-saharan Africa: School age population, secondary education, both sexes was 170.64 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
170.64 million
Change on year
up 1.0%
Rank
55th
of 221 groups
All-time high
170.64 million
in 2024
All-time low
38.44 million
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2024
School age population, secondary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, school age population, secondary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa stood at 170.64 million. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.0% on the previous year and up 31.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school age population, secondary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 170.64 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 38.44 million, in 1970.
SDG: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 55th 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, secondary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 38.44 million | — |
| 1971 | 39.53 million | +2.8% |
| 1972 | 40.68 million | +2.9% |
| 1973 | 41.96 million | +3.1% |
| 1974 | 43.25 million | +3.1% |
| 1975 | 44.66 million | +3.2% |
| 1976 | 46.03 million | +3.1% |
| 1977 | 47.29 million | +2.7% |
| 1978 | 48.64 million | +2.8% |
| 1979 | 50.13 million | +3.1% |
| 1980 | 51.67 million | +3.1% |
| 1981 | 53.58 million | +3.7% |
| 1982 | 54.79 million | +2.3% |
| 1983 | 56.53 million | +3.2% |
| 1984 | 58.69 million | +3.8% |
| 1985 | 60.54 million | +3.1% |
| 1986 | 60.82 million | +0.5% |
| 1987 | 62.71 million | +3.1% |
| 1988 | 64.69 million | +3.2% |
| 1989 | 66.20 million | +2.3% |
| 1990 | 68.28 million | +3.1% |
| 1991 | 70.39 million | +3.1% |
| 1992 | 72.55 million | +3.1% |
| 1993 | 74.82 million | +3.1% |
| 1994 | 77.01 million | +2.9% |
| 1995 | 79.81 million | +3.6% |
| 1996 | 82.31 million | +3.1% |
| 1997 | 83.98 million | +2.0% |
| 1998 | 86.12 million | +2.5% |
| 1999 | 88.63 million | +2.9% |
| 2000 | 91.14 million | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 93.67 million | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 96.22 million | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 98.75 million | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 101.34 million | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 103.88 million | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 106.52 million | +2.5% |
| 2007 | 108.58 million | +1.9% |
| 2008 | 111.47 million | +2.7% |
| 2009 | 114.35 million | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 117.39 million | +2.7% |
| 2011 | 120.47 million | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 123.54 million | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 126.98 million | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 130.00 million | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 133.71 million | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 137.62 million | +2.9% |
| 2017 | 141.45 million | +2.8% |
| 2018 | 145.72 million | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 150.06 million | +3.0% |
| 2020 | 154.49 million | +2.9% |
| 2021 | 159.07 million | +3.0% |
| 2022 | 163.59 million | +2.8% |
| 2023 | 169.00 million | +3.3% |
| 2024 | 170.64 million | +1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 44.06 million | 38.44 million | 50.13 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 59.02 million | 51.67 million | 66.20 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 78.39 million | 68.28 million | 88.63 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 102.59 million | 91.14 million | 114.35 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 132.69 million | 117.39 million | 150.06 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 163.36 million | 154.49 million | 170.64 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near SDG: Sub-saharan Africa
More education data for SDG: Sub-saharan Africa
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.49 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 40.94 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 primary education, male (number), gaps filled 97.68 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.02 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 93.62 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.31 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school age population, secondary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- School age population, secondary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa was 170.64 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school age population, secondary education, both sexes recorded in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 170.64 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest school age population, secondary education, both sexes recorded in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.44 million in 1970.
- How does SDG: Sub-saharan Africa rank for school age population, secondary education, both sexes?
- SDG: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 55th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is school age population, secondary education, both sexes rising or falling in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.3%. 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, secondary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release