School age population, tertiary education, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central
WB: Africa Western and Central: School age population, tertiary education, both sexes was 48.97 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
48.97 million
Change on year
up 1.2%
Rank
117th
of 221 groups
All-time high
48.97 million
in 2024
All-time low
10.28 million
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2024
School age population, tertiary education, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school age population, tertiary education, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central is 48.97 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 32.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school age population, tertiary education, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central peaked at 48.97 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 10.28 million, in 1970.
That places WB: Africa Western and Central 117th 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, tertiary education, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 10.28 million | — |
| 1971 | 10.47 million | +1.9% |
| 1972 | 10.69 million | +2.0% |
| 1973 | 10.98 million | +2.8% |
| 1974 | 11.33 million | +3.1% |
| 1975 | 11.65 million | +2.8% |
| 1976 | 11.98 million | +2.9% |
| 1977 | 12.31 million | +2.8% |
| 1978 | 12.68 million | +3.0% |
| 1979 | 13.06 million | +3.0% |
| 1980 | 13.48 million | +3.2% |
| 1981 | 13.91 million | +3.2% |
| 1982 | 14.35 million | +3.2% |
| 1983 | 14.84 million | +3.4% |
| 1984 | 15.26 million | +2.9% |
| 1985 | 15.71 million | +2.9% |
| 1986 | 16.37 million | +4.2% |
| 1987 | 16.86 million | +3.0% |
| 1988 | 17.37 million | +3.1% |
| 1989 | 17.94 million | +3.3% |
| 1990 | 18.53 million | +3.3% |
| 1991 | 19.10 million | +3.1% |
| 1992 | 19.77 million | +3.5% |
| 1993 | 20.51 million | +3.7% |
| 1994 | 21.24 million | +3.6% |
| 1995 | 22.03 million | +3.7% |
| 1996 | 22.88 million | +3.9% |
| 1997 | 23.72 million | +3.7% |
| 1998 | 24.57 million | +3.6% |
| 1999 | 25.41 million | +3.4% |
| 2000 | 26.17 million | +3.0% |
| 2001 | 26.92 million | +2.9% |
| 2002 | 27.64 million | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 28.38 million | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 29.12 million | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 29.83 million | +2.4% |
| 2006 | 30.53 million | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 31.21 million | +2.2% |
| 2008 | 31.93 million | +2.3% |
| 2009 | 32.74 million | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 33.60 million | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 34.45 million | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 35.33 million | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 36.16 million | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 37.04 million | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 37.96 million | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 38.90 million | +2.5% |
| 2017 | 39.96 million | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 41.11 million | +2.9% |
| 2019 | 42.40 million | +3.1% |
| 2020 | 43.77 million | +3.2% |
| 2021 | 45.27 million | +3.4% |
| 2022 | 46.82 million | +3.4% |
| 2023 | 48.37 million | +3.3% |
| 2024 | 48.97 million | +1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 11.54 million | 10.28 million | 13.06 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 15.61 million | 13.48 million | 17.94 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 21.78 million | 18.53 million | 25.41 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 29.45 million | 26.17 million | 32.74 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 37.69 million | 33.60 million | 42.40 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 46.64 million | 43.77 million | 48.97 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near WB: Africa Western and Central
More education data for WB: Africa Western and Central
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 4.61 million (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 7.4 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1.89 million (2021)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2.08 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.08 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 0.7294 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.00 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 6.08 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.09 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 18.05 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school age population, tertiary education, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- School age population, tertiary education, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central was 48.97 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school age population, tertiary education, both sexes recorded in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 48.97 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest school age population, tertiary education, both sexes recorded in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.28 million in 1970.
- How does WB: Africa Western and Central rank for school age population, tertiary education, both sexes?
- WB: Africa Western and Central ranks 117th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is school age population, tertiary education, both sexes rising or falling in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 32.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this WB: Africa Western and Central 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.
Download this data
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release