School enrollment, primary in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)

Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries): School enrollment, primary was 75.3% in 2009. ▲ Rising

Latest (2009)
75.3%
Change on year
up 0.3%
Rank
37th
of 41 groups
All-time high
75.3%
in 2009
All-time low
44.1%
in 1975
Years of data
35
1975–2009

School enrollment, primary in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), 1975–2009

0204060801975199220091975: 44.1 % net1976: 45 % net1977: 47.1 % net1978: 49.3 % net1979: 52.2 % net1980: 54.4 % net1981: 56.4 % net1982: 57.8 % net1983: 58.2 % net1984: 57.6 % net1985: 56.5 % net1986: 54.9 % net1987: 53.9 % net1988: 53.1 % net1989: 53.7 % net1990: 53 % net1991: 53.9 % net1992: 53.7 % net1993: 54.1 % net1994: 54.4 % net1995: 55.1 % net1996: 53.9 % net1997: 56.6 % net1998: 57.3 % net1999: 58 % net2000: 60.2 % net2001: 61.8 % net2002: 63.3 % net2003: 65.8 % net2004: 67.5 % net2005: 69.7 % net2006: 71.4 % net2007: 74 % net2008: 75 % net2009: 75.3 % net

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

Analysis

In 2009, school enrollment, primary in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) stood at 75.3%. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.

The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 29.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, school enrollment, primary in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 75.3% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 44.1%, in 1975.

That places Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) 37th out of 41 groups with data for 2009, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.

School enrollment, primary in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), year by year

Annual values for School enrollment, primary (% net) in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), 1975 to 2009.
Year % net Change
1975 44.1%
1976 45.0% +2.0%
1977 47.1% +4.6%
1978 49.3% +4.7%
1979 52.2% +5.8%
1980 54.4% +4.2%
1981 56.4% +3.7%
1982 57.8% +2.4%
1983 58.2% +0.7%
1984 57.6% -1.0%
1985 56.5% -2.0%
1986 54.9% -2.8%
1987 53.9% -1.9%
1988 53.1% -1.4%
1989 53.7% +1.1%
1990 53.0% -1.2%
1991 53.9% +1.7%
1992 53.7% -0.5%
1993 54.1% +0.8%
1994 54.4% +0.6%
1995 55.1% +1.4%
1996 53.9% -2.2%
1997 56.6% +4.9%
1998 57.3% +1.3%
1999 58.0% +1.2%
2000 60.2% +3.8%
2001 61.8% +2.8%
2002 63.3% +2.4%
2003 65.8% +3.8%
2004 67.5% +2.7%
2005 69.7% +3.2%
2006 71.4% +2.5%
2007 74.0% +3.7%
2008 75.0% +1.4%
2009 75.3% +0.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 47.6% 44.1% 52.2% 5
1980s 55.6% 53.1% 58.2% 10
1990s 55.0% 53.0% 58.0% 10
2000s 68.4% 60.2% 75.3% 10

Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)

  1. 34 Malawi 97.6% compare
  2. 35 Algeria 97.6% compare
  3. 36 Portugal 97.6% compare
  4. 37 Cyprus 97.5% compare
  5. 38 Namibia 97.5% compare
  6. 39 Costa Rica 97.3% compare
  7. 40 Spain 97.3% compare

See the full ranking of 229 places →

More education data for Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)

All data for Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) →

Frequently asked questions

What is school enrollment, primary in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
School enrollment, primary in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) was 75.3% in 2009, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest school enrollment, primary recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
The highest recorded value was 75.3% in 2009.
What is the lowest school enrollment, primary recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
The lowest recorded value was 44.1% in 1975.
How does Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) rank for school enrollment, primary?
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 37th out of 41 groups with data for 2009.
Is school enrollment, primary rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
Over the last ten years it is up 29.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) 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, primary (% net). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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School enrollment, primary in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries). Statizoid, drawing on Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 25 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/school-enrollment-primary-percent-net/sub-saharan-africa-ida-and-ibrd-countries/

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About this data

Indicator
School enrollment, primary (% net)
Unit
% net
Source
Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
229 places, 6,046 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Net enrollment rate is the ratio of children of official school age who are enrolled in school to the population of the corresponding official school age. Primary education provides children with basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills along with an elementary understanding of such subjects as history, geography, natural science, social science, art, and music.