School enrollment, secondary in Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone: School enrollment, secondary was 86.9% in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
86.9%
Change on year
up 18.4%
World rank
119th
of 203 countries
All-time high
86.9%
in 2023
All-time low
9.3%
in 1971
Years of data
30
1971–2023

School enrollment, secondary in Sierra Leone, 1971–2023

0204060801971199720231971: 9.3 % gross1972: 9.8 % gross1973: 10.6 % gross1974: 11.2 % gross1975: 11.5 % gross1976: 11.8 % gross1977: 12.3 % gross1978: 12.6 % gross1979: 13.1 % gross1980: 12.7 % gross1981: 14.1 % gross1984: 17.9 % gross1985: 19 % gross1986: 17.4 % gross1988: 19.5 % gross1989: 16.8 % gross1990: 16.6 % gross1991: 15.8 % gross2001: 25.5 % gross2011: 40.4 % gross2012: 44.6 % gross2013: 39.2 % gross2015: 39.8 % gross2016: 42.1 % gross2017: 41.5 % gross2018: 43.1 % gross2019: 61.2 % gross2020: 62.6 % gross2021: 73.4 % gross2023: 86.9 % gross

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 in Sierra Leone, year by year

Annual values for School enrollment, secondary (% gross) in Sierra Leone, 1971 to 2023.
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%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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

  1. 116 Bosnia and Herzegovina 87.9% compare
  2. 117 Samoa 87.4% compare
  3. 118 Micronesia, Federated States of 87.3% compare
  4. 120 Tajikistan 86.9% compare
  5. 121 Belize 86.5% compare
  6. 122 Bhutan 86.2% compare

See the full ranking of 248 places →

More education data for Sierra Leone

All data for Sierra Leone →

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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School enrollment, secondary in Sierra Leone. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 22 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/school-enrollment-secondary-percent-gross/sierra-leone/

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About this data

Indicator
School enrollment, secondary (% gross)
Unit
% gross
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
248 places, 8,293 data points, 1970–2025
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. 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.