School enrollment, tertiary in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: School enrollment, tertiary was 9.3% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
School enrollment, tertiary in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1970–2021
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % gross.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school enrollment, tertiary in Sub-Saharan Africa is 9.3%, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 52 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 17.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school enrollment, tertiary in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 9.3% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1.4%, in 1971.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa 38th 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 Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | % gross | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1.4% | — |
| 1971 | 1.4% | -2.6% |
| 1972 | 1.5% | +5.8% |
| 1973 | 1.5% | -0.2% |
| 1974 | 1.5% | +4.8% |
| 1975 | 1.6% | +3.4% |
| 1976 | 1.6% | +3.8% |
| 1977 | 1.7% | +5.2% |
| 1978 | 1.8% | +6.3% |
| 1979 | 2.0% | +7.3% |
| 1980 | 2.1% | +5.0% |
| 1981 | 2.2% | +6.8% |
| 1982 | 2.4% | +6.9% |
| 1983 | 2.4% | +2.3% |
| 1984 | 2.5% | +2.0% |
| 1985 | 2.6% | +5.2% |
| 1986 | 2.7% | +4.1% |
| 1987 | 2.7% | +1.7% |
| 1988 | 2.9% | +5.0% |
| 1989 | 3.0% | +4.9% |
| 1990 | 3.1% | +1.8% |
| 1991 | 3.2% | +3.9% |
| 1992 | 3.3% | +4.0% |
| 1993 | 3.5% | +4.6% |
| 1994 | 3.6% | +4.8% |
| 1995 | 3.7% | +1.9% |
| 1996 | 3.8% | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 3.9% | +2.9% |
| 1998 | 4.0% | +2.3% |
| 1999 | 4.0% | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 4.4% | +8.7% |
| 2001 | 4.7% | +8.0% |
| 2002 | 5.1% | +7.3% |
| 2003 | 5.5% | +7.5% |
| 2004 | 5.7% | +4.8% |
| 2005 | 6.1% | +5.7% |
| 2006 | 6.2% | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 6.4% | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 6.7% | +5.1% |
| 2009 | 7.1% | +5.7% |
| 2010 | 7.6% | +6.2% |
| 2011 | 7.9% | +4.4% |
| 2012 | 8.2% | +4.0% |
| 2013 | 8.6% | +3.9% |
| 2014 | 8.7% | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 8.8% | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 8.8% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 9.0% | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 9.1% | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 9.1% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 9.2% | +1.1% |
| 2021 | 9.3% | +0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.6% | 1.4% | 2.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.5% | 2.1% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.6% | 3.1% | 4.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.8% | 4.4% | 7.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.6% | 7.6% | 9.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.2% | 9.2% | 9.3% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
More education data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Population ages 15-64 56.4% (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 5.14 million (2024)
- Population ages 0-14 40.4% (2025)
- School enrollment, primary 97.1% (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, per capita 0.004 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, teachers 5.14 million (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, female 96.0% (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, male 98.2% (2024)
- Labor force, total, per capita 0.3987 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school enrollment, tertiary in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- School enrollment, tertiary in Sub-Saharan Africa was 9.3% in 2021, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest school enrollment, tertiary recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 9.3% in 2021.
- What is the lowest school enrollment, tertiary recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.4% in 1971.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for school enrollment, tertiary?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 38th out of 43 groups with data for 2021.
- Is school enrollment, tertiary rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa 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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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. 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.