School enrollment, secondary (% gross) in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: School enrollment, secondary (% gross) was 86.9% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
School enrollment, secondary in Sierra Leone, 1971–2023
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % gross.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school enrollment, secondary in Sierra Leone is 86.9%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 30 years on record.
That represents a change of up 18.4% on the previous year and up 121.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school enrollment, secondary in Sierra Leone peaked at 86.9% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 9.3%, in 1971.
That places Sierra Leone 119th out of 203 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
School enrollment, secondary (% gross) in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % gross | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 9.3% | — |
| 1972 | 9.8% | +5.6% |
| 1973 | 10.6% | +8.2% |
| 1974 | 11.2% | +5.3% |
| 1975 | 11.5% | +3.1% |
| 1976 | 11.8% | +2.8% |
| 1977 | 12.3% | +4.1% |
| 1978 | 12.6% | +2.1% |
| 1979 | 13.1% | +3.8% |
| 1980 | 12.7% | -3.2% |
| 1981 | 14.1% | +11.5% |
| 1984 | 17.9% | +26.6% |
| 1985 | 19.0% | +6.4% |
| 1986 | 17.4% | -8.5% |
| 1988 | 19.5% | +12.2% |
| 1989 | 16.8% | -13.9% |
| 1990 | 16.6% | -1.0% |
| 1991 | 15.8% | -5.0% |
| 2001 | 25.5% | +61.8% |
| 2011 | 40.4% | +58.3% |
| 2012 | 44.6% | +10.2% |
| 2013 | 39.2% | -12.0% |
| 2015 | 39.8% | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 42.1% | +5.8% |
| 2017 | 41.5% | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 43.1% | +3.8% |
| 2019 | 61.2% | +41.9% |
| 2020 | 62.6% | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 73.4% | +17.4% |
| 2023 | 86.9% | +18.4% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 86.9% is above the median for low income countries, which is 37.2%, 2.3× the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 86.9% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 46.9%, 1.9× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where School enrollment, secondary (% gross) in Sierra Leone changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | +61.8% | 15.8% | 25.5% |
| 2011 | +58.3% | 25.5% | 40.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 11.4% | 9.3% | 13.1% | 9 |
| 1980s | 16.8% | 12.7% | 19.5% | 7 |
| 1990s | 16.2% | 15.8% | 16.6% | 2 |
| 2000s | 25.5% | 25.5% | 25.5% | 1 |
| 2010s | 44.0% | 39.2% | 61.2% | 8 |
| 2020s | 74.3% | 62.6% | 86.9% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
- 116 Bosnia and Herzegovina 87.9% compare
- 117 Samoa 87.4% compare
- 118 Micronesia (country) 87.3% compare
- 120 Tajikistan 86.9% compare
- 121 Belize 86.5% compare
- 122 Bhutan 86.2% compare
More education data for Sierra Leone
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 38,043 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 73,295 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 85,708 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 92,723 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.16 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.07 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.52 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.2393 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school enrollment, secondary in Sierra Leone?
- School enrollment, secondary in Sierra Leone was 86.9% in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest school enrollment, secondary recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 86.9% in 2023.
- What is the lowest school enrollment, secondary recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.3% in 1971.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for school enrollment, secondary?
- Sierra Leone ranks 119th out of 203 countries with data for 2023.
- Is school enrollment, secondary rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 121.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of School enrollment, secondary (% gross). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
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. Secondary education completes the provision of basic education that began at the primary level, and aims at laying the foundations for lifelong learning and human development, by offering more subject- or skill-oriented instruction using more specialized teachers.