School age population, secondary education, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa
UNICEF: West and Central Africa: School age population, secondary education, both sexes was 90.69 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
90.69 million
Change on year
up 1.0%
Rank
89th
of 221 groups
All-time high
90.69 million
in 2024
All-time low
19.62 million
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2024
School age population, secondary 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, secondary education, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa is 90.69 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 34.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school age population, secondary education, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa peaked at 90.69 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 19.62 million, in 1970.
UNICEF: West and Central Africa ranks 89th of 221 groups on this measure, 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: West and Central Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 19.62 million | — |
| 1971 | 20.18 million | +2.8% |
| 1972 | 20.75 million | +2.8% |
| 1973 | 21.34 million | +2.9% |
| 1974 | 22.01 million | +3.1% |
| 1975 | 22.69 million | +3.1% |
| 1976 | 23.40 million | +3.1% |
| 1977 | 24.10 million | +3.0% |
| 1978 | 24.82 million | +3.0% |
| 1979 | 25.61 million | +3.2% |
| 1980 | 26.44 million | +3.2% |
| 1981 | 27.26 million | +3.1% |
| 1982 | 28.09 million | +3.0% |
| 1983 | 28.98 million | +3.2% |
| 1984 | 29.82 million | +2.9% |
| 1985 | 30.77 million | +3.2% |
| 1986 | 30.13 million | -2.1% |
| 1987 | 31.15 million | +3.4% |
| 1988 | 32.23 million | +3.5% |
| 1989 | 33.35 million | +3.5% |
| 1990 | 34.54 million | +3.6% |
| 1991 | 35.75 million | +3.5% |
| 1992 | 37.01 million | +3.5% |
| 1993 | 38.26 million | +3.4% |
| 1994 | 39.52 million | +3.3% |
| 1995 | 40.74 million | +3.1% |
| 1996 | 41.97 million | +3.0% |
| 1997 | 43.11 million | +2.7% |
| 1998 | 44.37 million | +2.9% |
| 1999 | 45.60 million | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 46.80 million | +2.6% |
| 2001 | 48.05 million | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 49.28 million | +2.6% |
| 2003 | 50.55 million | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 51.89 million | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 53.27 million | +2.7% |
| 2006 | 54.71 million | +2.7% |
| 2007 | 56.15 million | +2.6% |
| 2008 | 57.80 million | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 59.37 million | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 60.98 million | +2.7% |
| 2011 | 62.60 million | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 64.30 million | +2.7% |
| 2013 | 65.72 million | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 67.59 million | +2.9% |
| 2015 | 69.72 million | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 71.99 million | +3.3% |
| 2017 | 74.43 million | +3.4% |
| 2018 | 76.88 million | +3.3% |
| 2019 | 79.32 million | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 81.80 million | +3.1% |
| 2021 | 84.42 million | +3.2% |
| 2022 | 87.08 million | +3.1% |
| 2023 | 89.79 million | +3.1% |
| 2024 | 90.69 million | +1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 22.45 million | 19.62 million | 25.61 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 29.82 million | 26.44 million | 33.35 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 40.09 million | 34.54 million | 45.60 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 52.79 million | 46.80 million | 59.37 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 69.35 million | 60.98 million | 79.32 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 86.76 million | 81.80 million | 90.69 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near UNICEF: West and Central Africa
- 86 Netherlands 1.17 million compare
- 87 Jordan 1.14 million compare
- 88 Dominican Republic 1.13 million compare
- 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
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, secondary education, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa?
- School age population, secondary education, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa was 90.69 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school age population, secondary education, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: West and Central Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 90.69 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest school age population, secondary education, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: West and Central Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.62 million in 1970.
- How does UNICEF: West and Central Africa rank for school age population, secondary education, both sexes?
- UNICEF: West and Central Africa ranks 89th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is school age population, secondary education, both sexes rising or falling in UNICEF: West and Central Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 34.2%. 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, secondary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release