School enrollment, tertiary in Africa Eastern and Southern

Africa Eastern and Southern: School enrollment, tertiary was 8.7% in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
8.7%
Change on year
down 0.6%
Rank
43rd
of 43 groups
All-time high
8.8%
in 2018
All-time low
1.8%
in 1971
Years of data
52
1970–2021

School enrollment, tertiary in Africa Eastern and Southern, 1970–2021

2468197019952021

Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % gross.

Analysis

Africa Eastern and Southern recorded 8.7% for school enrollment, tertiary in 2021.

That represents a change of down 0.6% on the previous year and up 12.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, school enrollment, tertiary in Africa Eastern and Southern peaked at 8.8% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 1.8%, in 1971.

That places Africa Eastern and Southern 43rd out of 43 groups with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

School enrollment, tertiary in Africa Eastern and Southern, year by year

Annual values for School enrollment, tertiary (% gross) in Africa Eastern and Southern, 1970 to 2021.
Year % gross Change
1970 1.9%
1971 1.8% -3.2%
1972 1.9% +5.6%
1973 1.9% -2.0%
1974 2.0% +4.1%
1975 2.0% +2.9%
1976 2.1% +2.0%
1977 2.1% +1.9%
1978 2.2% +4.2%
1979 2.2% +2.3%
1980 2.3% +2.9%
1981 2.4% +2.6%
1982 2.5% +7.0%
1983 2.6% +1.4%
1984 2.6% +1.6%
1985 2.7% +3.6%
1986 2.8% +3.6%
1987 2.9% +3.6%
1988 3.0% +3.8%
1989 3.2% +5.1%
1990 3.2% +0.7%
1991 3.3% +4.1%
1992 3.4% +3.6%
1993 3.6% +4.0%
1994 3.8% +4.9%
1995 3.8% +0.6%
1996 3.8% +0.3%
1997 3.8% +0.7%
1998 3.9% +1.1%
1999 3.8% -1.0%
2000 4.0% +4.5%
2001 4.3% +6.6%
2002 4.5% +5.7%
2003 4.8% +6.9%
2004 5.1% +6.5%
2005 5.4% +5.3%
2006 5.7% +5.3%
2007 5.8% +2.7%
2008 6.2% +6.7%
2009 6.8% +9.1%
2010 7.3% +8.3%
2011 7.7% +5.0%
2012 8.0% +3.7%
2013 8.2% +2.4%
2014 8.3% +1.3%
2015 8.4% +1.7%
2016 8.6% +1.6%
2017 8.7% +1.6%
2018 8.8% +0.4%
2019 8.7% -0.9%
2020 8.7% +0.5%
2021 8.7% -0.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 2.0% 1.8% 2.2% 10
1980s 2.7% 2.3% 3.2% 10
1990s 3.6% 3.2% 3.9% 10
2000s 5.3% 4.0% 6.8% 10
2010s 8.3% 7.3% 8.8% 10
2020s 8.7% 8.7% 8.7% 2

Countries ranked near Africa Eastern and Southern

  1. 40 Iceland 76.5% compare
  2. 41 Canada 76.3% compare
  3. 42 Italy 75.9% compare
  4. 43 Lithuania 75.6% compare
  5. 44 Fiji 75.0% compare
  6. 45 Moldova 74.7% compare
  7. 46 Switzerland 73.5% compare

See the full ranking of 237 places →

More education data for Africa Eastern and Southern

All data for Africa Eastern and Southern →

Frequently asked questions

What is school enrollment, tertiary in Africa Eastern and Southern?
School enrollment, tertiary in Africa Eastern and Southern was 8.7% in 2021, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest school enrollment, tertiary recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
The highest recorded value was 8.8% in 2018.
What is the lowest school enrollment, tertiary recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
The lowest recorded value was 1.8% in 1971.
How does Africa Eastern and Southern rank for school enrollment, tertiary?
Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 43rd out of 43 groups with data for 2021.
Is school enrollment, tertiary rising or falling in Africa Eastern and Southern?
Over the last ten years it is up 12.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Africa Eastern and Southern data come from?
The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of School enrollment, tertiary (% gross). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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School enrollment, tertiary in Africa Eastern and Southern. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 27 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/school-enrollment-tertiary-percent-gross/africa-eastern-and-southern/

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About this data

Indicator
School enrollment, tertiary (% gross)
Unit
% gross
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
237 places, 7,325 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. Tertiary education, whether or not to an advanced research qualification, normally requires, as a minimum condition of admission, the successful completion of education at the secondary level.