School age population, tertiary education, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa
MDG: Sub-saharan Africa: School age population, tertiary education, both sexes was 121.60 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
121.60 million
Change on year
up 0.9%
Rank
49th
of 221 groups
All-time high
121.60 million
in 2024
All-time low
27.56 million
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2024
School age population, tertiary education, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school age population, tertiary education, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa is 121.60 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
The figure is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 29.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school age population, tertiary education, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 121.60 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 27.56 million, in 1970.
MDG: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 49th 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, tertiary education, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 27.56 million | — |
| 1971 | 28.06 million | +1.8% |
| 1972 | 28.60 million | +1.9% |
| 1973 | 29.28 million | +2.4% |
| 1974 | 30.06 million | +2.6% |
| 1975 | 30.91 million | +2.8% |
| 1976 | 31.72 million | +2.6% |
| 1977 | 32.59 million | +2.7% |
| 1978 | 33.46 million | +2.7% |
| 1979 | 34.46 million | +3.0% |
| 1980 | 35.46 million | +2.9% |
| 1981 | 36.52 million | +3.0% |
| 1982 | 37.66 million | +3.1% |
| 1983 | 38.86 million | +3.2% |
| 1984 | 39.88 million | +2.6% |
| 1985 | 41.06 million | +3.0% |
| 1986 | 42.44 million | +3.4% |
| 1987 | 43.68 million | +2.9% |
| 1988 | 45.00 million | +3.0% |
| 1989 | 46.47 million | +3.3% |
| 1990 | 47.91 million | +3.1% |
| 1991 | 49.33 million | +3.0% |
| 1992 | 50.74 million | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 52.18 million | +2.8% |
| 1994 | 53.45 million | +2.4% |
| 1995 | 55.56 million | +3.9% |
| 1996 | 57.15 million | +2.9% |
| 1997 | 58.61 million | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 60.34 million | +3.0% |
| 1999 | 62.34 million | +3.3% |
| 2000 | 64.25 million | +3.1% |
| 2001 | 66.16 million | +3.0% |
| 2002 | 68.13 million | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 70.10 million | +2.9% |
| 2004 | 72.18 million | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 74.30 million | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 76.40 million | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 78.39 million | +2.6% |
| 2008 | 80.46 million | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 82.55 million | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 84.65 million | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 86.78 million | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 88.98 million | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 91.44 million | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 93.71 million | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 96.17 million | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 98.78 million | +2.7% |
| 2017 | 101.29 million | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 104.18 million | +2.9% |
| 2019 | 107.16 million | +2.9% |
| 2020 | 110.29 million | +2.9% |
| 2021 | 113.67 million | +3.1% |
| 2022 | 117.14 million | +3.1% |
| 2023 | 120.50 million | +2.9% |
| 2024 | 121.60 million | +0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 30.67 million | 27.56 million | 34.46 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 40.70 million | 35.46 million | 46.47 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 54.76 million | 47.91 million | 62.34 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 73.29 million | 64.25 million | 82.55 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 95.31 million | 84.65 million | 107.16 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 116.64 million | 110.29 million | 121.60 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near MDG: Sub-saharan Africa
- 46 Cameroon 2.78 million compare
- 47 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 2.65 million compare
- 48 Uzbekistan 2.61 million compare
- 49 Spain 2.61 million compare
- 50 Canada 2.58 million compare
- 51 Niger 2.53 million compare
- 52 Saudi Arabia 2.49 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, tertiary education, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- School age population, tertiary education, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa was 121.60 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school age population, tertiary education, both sexes recorded in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 121.60 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest school age population, tertiary education, both sexes recorded in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.56 million in 1970.
- How does MDG: Sub-saharan Africa rank for school age population, tertiary education, both sexes?
- MDG: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 49th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is school age population, tertiary education, both sexes rising or falling in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.8%. 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, tertiary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release