School age population, upper secondary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa
SDG: Sub-saharan Africa: School age population, upper secondary education, both sexes was 77.80 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
77.80 million
Change on year
up 1.1%
Rank
56th
of 221 groups
All-time high
77.80 million
in 2024
All-time low
16.61 million
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2024
School age population, upper secondary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school age population, upper secondary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa is 77.80 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.1% on the previous year and up 31.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school age population, upper secondary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 77.80 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 16.61 million, in 1970.
SDG: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 56th 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, upper secondary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 16.61 million | — |
| 1971 | 17.09 million | +2.9% |
| 1972 | 17.56 million | +2.8% |
| 1973 | 18.05 million | +2.8% |
| 1974 | 18.59 million | +3.0% |
| 1975 | 19.22 million | +3.4% |
| 1976 | 19.82 million | +3.1% |
| 1977 | 20.26 million | +2.2% |
| 1978 | 20.86 million | +3.0% |
| 1979 | 21.52 million | +3.1% |
| 1980 | 22.18 million | +3.0% |
| 1981 | 23.13 million | +4.3% |
| 1982 | 23.65 million | +2.3% |
| 1983 | 24.43 million | +3.3% |
| 1984 | 25.65 million | +5.0% |
| 1985 | 26.61 million | +3.8% |
| 1986 | 29.34 million | +10.2% |
| 1987 | 30.24 million | +3.1% |
| 1988 | 31.15 million | +3.0% |
| 1989 | 32.15 million | +3.2% |
| 1990 | 33.12 million | +3.0% |
| 1991 | 34.53 million | +4.3% |
| 1992 | 35.59 million | +3.1% |
| 1993 | 36.74 million | +3.2% |
| 1994 | 37.90 million | +3.1% |
| 1995 | 39.39 million | +3.9% |
| 1996 | 40.63 million | +3.1% |
| 1997 | 42.24 million | +4.0% |
| 1998 | 40.17 million | -4.9% |
| 1999 | 40.92 million | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 42.13 million | +3.0% |
| 2001 | 43.31 million | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 44.45 million | +2.6% |
| 2003 | 45.56 million | +2.5% |
| 2004 | 46.70 million | +2.5% |
| 2005 | 47.84 million | +2.4% |
| 2006 | 48.93 million | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 49.98 million | +2.2% |
| 2008 | 51.18 million | +2.4% |
| 2009 | 52.45 million | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 53.90 million | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 55.34 million | +2.7% |
| 2012 | 56.67 million | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 57.93 million | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 59.10 million | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 60.05 million | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 61.84 million | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 63.74 million | +3.1% |
| 2018 | 65.69 million | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 67.56 million | +2.9% |
| 2020 | 69.50 million | +2.9% |
| 2021 | 72.34 million | +4.1% |
| 2022 | 74.58 million | +3.1% |
| 2023 | 76.92 million | +3.1% |
| 2024 | 77.80 million | +1.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 18.96 million | 16.61 million | 21.52 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 26.85 million | 22.18 million | 32.15 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 38.12 million | 33.12 million | 42.24 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 47.25 million | 42.13 million | 52.45 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 60.18 million | 53.90 million | 67.56 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 74.23 million | 69.50 million | 77.80 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near SDG: Sub-saharan Africa
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, upper secondary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- School age population, upper secondary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa was 77.80 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school age population, upper secondary education, both sexes recorded in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 77.80 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest school age population, upper secondary education, both sexes recorded in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.61 million in 1970.
- How does SDG: Sub-saharan Africa rank for school age population, upper secondary education, both sexes?
- SDG: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 56th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is school age population, upper secondary education, both sexes rising or falling in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.6%. 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, upper secondary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release