School age population, tertiary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa
SDG: Sub-saharan Africa: School age population, tertiary education, both sexes was 116.52 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
116.52 million
Change on year
up 1.0%
Rank
55th
of 221 groups
All-time high
116.52 million
in 2024
All-time low
25.04 million
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2024
School age population, tertiary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school age population, tertiary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa is 116.52 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 29.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school age population, tertiary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 116.52 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 25.04 million, in 1970.
That places SDG: Sub-saharan Africa 55th 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, tertiary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 25.04 million | — |
| 1971 | 25.54 million | +2.0% |
| 1972 | 26.08 million | +2.1% |
| 1973 | 26.76 million | +2.6% |
| 1974 | 27.54 million | +2.9% |
| 1975 | 28.39 million | +3.1% |
| 1976 | 29.20 million | +2.9% |
| 1977 | 30.07 million | +3.0% |
| 1978 | 30.94 million | +2.9% |
| 1979 | 31.94 million | +3.2% |
| 1980 | 32.94 million | +3.1% |
| 1981 | 34.00 million | +3.2% |
| 1982 | 35.14 million | +3.3% |
| 1983 | 36.34 million | +3.4% |
| 1984 | 37.36 million | +2.8% |
| 1985 | 38.54 million | +3.2% |
| 1986 | 39.92 million | +3.6% |
| 1987 | 41.16 million | +3.1% |
| 1988 | 42.48 million | +3.2% |
| 1989 | 43.95 million | +3.5% |
| 1990 | 45.39 million | +3.3% |
| 1991 | 46.81 million | +3.1% |
| 1992 | 48.22 million | +3.0% |
| 1993 | 49.66 million | +3.0% |
| 1994 | 50.93 million | +2.6% |
| 1995 | 53.04 million | +4.1% |
| 1996 | 54.63 million | +3.0% |
| 1997 | 56.09 million | +2.7% |
| 1998 | 57.82 million | +3.1% |
| 1999 | 59.72 million | +3.3% |
| 2000 | 61.53 million | +3.0% |
| 2001 | 63.35 million | +3.0% |
| 2002 | 65.24 million | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 67.14 million | +2.9% |
| 2004 | 69.17 million | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 71.22 million | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 73.25 million | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 75.16 million | +2.6% |
| 2008 | 77.15 million | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 79.14 million | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 81.11 million | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 83.16 million | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 85.26 million | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 87.60 million | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 89.74 million | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 92.05 million | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 94.53 million | +2.7% |
| 2017 | 96.88 million | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 99.58 million | +2.8% |
| 2019 | 102.55 million | +3.0% |
| 2020 | 105.57 million | +2.9% |
| 2021 | 108.83 million | +3.1% |
| 2022 | 112.17 million | +3.1% |
| 2023 | 115.42 million | +2.9% |
| 2024 | 116.52 million | +1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 28.15 million | 25.04 million | 31.94 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 38.18 million | 32.94 million | 43.95 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 52.23 million | 45.39 million | 59.72 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 70.24 million | 61.53 million | 79.14 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 91.25 million | 81.11 million | 102.55 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 111.70 million | 105.57 million | 116.52 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near SDG: Sub-saharan Africa
- 52 Saudi Arabia 2.49 million compare
- 53 Republic of Korea 2.44 million compare
- 54 Mali 2.38 million compare
- 55 Malawi 2.35 million compare
- 56 Burkina Faso 2.32 million compare
- 57 Zambia 2.11 million compare
- 58 Ukraine 1.99 million compare
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, tertiary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- School age population, tertiary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa was 116.52 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school age population, tertiary education, both sexes recorded in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 116.52 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest school age population, tertiary education, both sexes recorded in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.04 million in 1970.
- How does SDG: Sub-saharan Africa rank for school age population, tertiary education, both sexes?
- SDG: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 55th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is school age population, tertiary education, both sexes rising or falling in SDG: 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 SDG: 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