School age population, secondary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa
UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa: School age population, secondary education, both sexes was 86.86 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
86.86 million
Change on year
up 0.9%
Rank
92nd
of 221 groups
All-time high
86.86 million
in 2024
All-time low
21.95 million
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2024
School age population, secondary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, school age population, secondary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa stood at 86.86 million. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.9% on the previous year and up 29.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school age population, secondary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa peaked at 86.86 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 21.95 million, in 1970.
That places UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa 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, secondary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 21.95 million | — |
| 1971 | 22.49 million | +2.4% |
| 1972 | 23.07 million | +2.6% |
| 1973 | 23.75 million | +3.0% |
| 1974 | 24.38 million | +2.6% |
| 1975 | 25.09 million | +2.9% |
| 1976 | 25.77 million | +2.7% |
| 1977 | 26.32 million | +2.1% |
| 1978 | 26.95 million | +2.4% |
| 1979 | 27.64 million | +2.6% |
| 1980 | 28.35 million | +2.6% |
| 1981 | 29.46 million | +3.9% |
| 1982 | 29.84 million | +1.3% |
| 1983 | 30.67 million | +2.8% |
| 1984 | 32.01 million | +4.4% |
| 1985 | 32.90 million | +2.8% |
| 1986 | 33.82 million | +2.8% |
| 1987 | 34.69 million | +2.6% |
| 1988 | 35.59 million | +2.6% |
| 1989 | 35.98 million | +1.1% |
| 1990 | 36.87 million | +2.5% |
| 1991 | 37.77 million | +2.4% |
| 1992 | 38.67 million | +2.4% |
| 1993 | 39.69 million | +2.6% |
| 1994 | 40.62 million | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 42.20 million | +3.9% |
| 1996 | 43.47 million | +3.0% |
| 1997 | 44.01 million | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 44.88 million | +2.0% |
| 1999 | 46.23 million | +3.0% |
| 2000 | 47.63 million | +3.0% |
| 2001 | 48.99 million | +2.9% |
| 2002 | 50.38 million | +2.9% |
| 2003 | 51.72 million | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 53.05 million | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 54.30 million | +2.4% |
| 2006 | 55.61 million | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 56.34 million | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 57.69 million | +2.4% |
| 2009 | 59.12 million | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 60.66 million | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 62.22 million | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 63.69 million | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 65.84 million | +3.4% |
| 2014 | 67.11 million | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 68.83 million | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 70.61 million | +2.6% |
| 2017 | 72.13 million | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 74.11 million | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 76.05 million | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 79.19 million | +4.1% |
| 2021 | 81.27 million | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 83.28 million | +2.5% |
| 2023 | 86.13 million | +3.4% |
| 2024 | 86.86 million | +0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 24.74 million | 21.95 million | 27.64 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 32.33 million | 28.35 million | 35.98 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 41.44 million | 36.87 million | 46.23 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 53.48 million | 47.63 million | 59.12 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 68.12 million | 60.66 million | 76.05 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 83.35 million | 79.19 million | 86.86 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa
- 89 Turkmenistan 1.12 million compare
- 90 Honduras 1.07 million compare
- 91 Congo 1.06 million compare
- 92 Lao People's Democratic Republic 1.05 million compare
- 93 Palestine, State of 1.02 million compare
- 94 Central African Republic 1.02 million compare
- 95 Kyrgyzstan 991,671 compare
More education data for UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 49.26 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 1.01 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2.50 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 2.77 % change on previous year (2022)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 36.30 million (2022)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.22 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 50.69 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.32 % change on previous year (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 8.67 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 9.20 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school age population, secondary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa?
- School age population, secondary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa was 86.86 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school age population, secondary education, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 86.86 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest school age population, secondary education, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.95 million in 1970.
- How does UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa rank for school age population, secondary education, both sexes?
- UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa ranks 92nd out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is school age population, secondary education, both sexes rising or falling in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this UNICEF: Eastern and Southern 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