School enrollment, preprimary in Africa Western and Central

Africa Western and Central: School enrollment, preprimary was 24.1% in 2020. ▲ Rising

Latest (2020)
24.1%
Change on year
up 1.2%
Rank
42nd
of 43 groups
All-time high
38.8%
in 2013
All-time low
12.0%
in 1999
Years of data
45
1976–2020

School enrollment, preprimary in Africa Western and Central, 1976–2020

102030401976199820201976: 15.1 % gross1977: 15.1 % gross1978: 15.6 % gross1979: 15.8 % gross1980: 16.1 % gross1981: 15.6 % gross1982: 15.4 % gross1983: 15.3 % gross1984: 15.3 % gross1985: 15.4 % gross1986: 15.5 % gross1987: 15.8 % gross1988: 16.1 % gross1989: 16 % gross1990: 16.1 % gross1991: 16.1 % gross1992: 16.1 % gross1993: 16.2 % gross1994: 15.7 % gross1995: 15.8 % gross1996: 15.8 % gross1997: 15.9 % gross1998: 16.1 % gross1999: 12 % gross2000: 13.6 % gross2001: 13.6 % gross2002: 15.2 % gross2003: 16.8 % gross2004: 19.3 % gross2005: 19.2 % gross2006: 21.3 % gross2007: 22.7 % gross2008: 21.7 % gross2009: 23.9 % gross2010: 24.5 % gross2011: 29.1 % gross2012: 33.9 % gross2013: 38.8 % gross2014: 20.6 % gross2015: 23.3 % gross2016: 23 % gross2017: 23.3 % gross2018: 23.3 % gross2019: 23.8 % gross2020: 24.1 % gross

Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % gross.

Analysis

In 2020, school enrollment, preprimary in Africa Western and Central stood at 24.1%.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.2% on the previous year and down 1.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, school enrollment, preprimary in Africa Western and Central peaked at 38.8% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 12.0%, in 1999.

That places Africa Western and Central 42nd out of 43 groups with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 45 years of available data.

School enrollment, preprimary in Africa Western and Central, year by year

Annual values for School enrollment, preprimary (% gross) in Africa Western and Central, 1976 to 2020.
Year % gross Change
1976 15.1%
1977 15.1% +0.2%
1978 15.6% +3.5%
1979 15.8% +1.3%
1980 16.1% +1.8%
1981 15.6% -3.2%
1982 15.4% -1.3%
1983 15.3% -0.8%
1984 15.3% -0.0%
1985 15.4% +0.5%
1986 15.5% +0.7%
1987 15.8% +2.4%
1988 16.1% +1.4%
1989 16.0% -0.4%
1990 16.1% +0.7%
1991 16.1% +0.2%
1992 16.1% +0.0%
1993 16.2% +0.1%
1994 15.7% -2.7%
1995 15.8% +0.3%
1996 15.8% +0.5%
1997 15.9% +0.3%
1998 16.1% +1.1%
1999 12.0% -25.0%
2000 13.6% +13.2%
2001 13.6% -0.0%
2002 15.2% +11.3%
2003 16.8% +10.8%
2004 19.3% +15.0%
2005 19.2% -0.9%
2006 21.3% +11.4%
2007 22.7% +6.2%
2008 21.7% -4.2%
2009 23.9% +10.3%
2010 24.5% +2.2%
2011 29.1% +18.9%
2012 33.9% +16.6%
2013 38.8% +14.3%
2014 20.6% -46.9%
2015 23.3% +13.1%
2016 23.0% -1.3%
2017 23.3% +1.5%
2018 23.3% +0.1%
2019 23.8% +1.9%
2020 24.1% +1.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 15.4% 15.1% 15.8% 4
1980s 15.6% 15.3% 16.1% 10
1990s 15.6% 12.0% 16.2% 10
2000s 18.7% 13.6% 23.9% 10
2010s 26.3% 20.6% 38.8% 10
2020s 24.1% 24.1% 24.1% 1

Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central

  1. 39 Latvia 94.6% compare
  2. 40 Estonia 94.3% compare
  3. 41 United Arab Emirates 94.2% compare
  4. 42 Slovenia 94.0% compare
  5. 43 Poland 93.9% compare
  6. 44 Nepal 93.7% compare
  7. 45 Saint Kitts and Nevis 93.7% compare

See the full ranking of 242 places →

More education data for Africa Western and Central

All data for Africa Western and Central →

Frequently asked questions

What is school enrollment, preprimary in Africa Western and Central?
School enrollment, preprimary in Africa Western and Central was 24.1% in 2020, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest school enrollment, preprimary recorded in Africa Western and Central?
The highest recorded value was 38.8% in 2013.
What is the lowest school enrollment, preprimary recorded in Africa Western and Central?
The lowest recorded value was 12.0% in 1999.
How does Africa Western and Central rank for school enrollment, preprimary?
Africa Western and Central ranks 42nd out of 43 groups with data for 2020.
Is school enrollment, preprimary rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
Over the last ten years it is down 1.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Africa Western and Central data come from?
The figures come from Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of School enrollment, preprimary (% gross). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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School enrollment, preprimary in Africa Western and Central. Statizoid, drawing on Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 29 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/school-enrollment-preprimary-percent-gross/africa-western-and-central/

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About this data

Indicator
School enrollment, preprimary (% gross)
Unit
% gross
Source
Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
242 places, 8,291 data points, 1970–2022
Last refreshed

Gross enrollment ratio is the ratio of total enrollment, regardless of age, to the population of the age group that officially corresponds to the level of education shown. Preprimary education refers to programs at the initial stage of organized instruction, designed primarily to introduce very young children to a school-type environment and to provide a bridge between home and school.