Secondary education, general pupils in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)

Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries): Secondary education, general pupils was 59.80 million in 2018. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2018)
59.80 million
Change on year
up 3.5%
Rank
22nd
of 41 groups
All-time high
59.80 million
in 2018
All-time low
5.03 million
in 1970
Years of data
49
1970–2018

Secondary education, general pupils in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), 1970–2018

020.0M40.0M60.0M197019942018

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

Analysis

Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) recorded 59.80 million for secondary education, general pupils in 2018. That is the highest value across all 49 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.5% on the previous year and up 59.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, secondary education, general pupils in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 59.80 million in 2018 and was at its lowest, 5.03 million, in 1970.

That places Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) 22nd out of 41 groups with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.

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

Secondary education, general pupils in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), year by year

Annual values for Secondary education, general pupils in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), 1970 to 2018.
Year Value Change
1970 5.03 million
1971 5.19 million +3.1%
1972 5.47 million +5.5%
1973 5.73 million +4.8%
1974 5.98 million +4.2%
1975 6.36 million +6.5%
1976 6.78 million +6.4%
1977 7.17 million +5.8%
1978 7.70 million +7.4%
1979 8.30 million +7.7%
1980 9.08 million +9.4%
1981 9.99 million +10.0%
1982 10.80 million +8.2%
1983 11.80 million +9.3%
1984 12.90 million +9.3%
1985 13.50 million +4.7%
1986 13.40 million -0.7%
1987 13.90 million +3.7%
1988 14.30 million +2.9%
1989 14.30 million +0.0%
1990 14.90 million +4.2%
1991 15.50 million +4.0%
1992 15.90 million +2.6%
1993 16.50 million +3.8%
1994 17.10 million +3.6%
1995 18.00 million +5.3%
1996 18.70 million +3.9%
1997 19.20 million +2.7%
1998 20.30 million +5.7%
1999 21.10 million +3.9%
2000 22.10 million +4.7%
2001 23.90 million +8.1%
2002 25.50 million +6.7%
2003 27.20 million +6.7%
2004 29.50 million +8.5%
2005 31.20 million +5.8%
2006 33.10 million +6.1%
2007 34.60 million +4.5%
2008 37.50 million +8.4%
2009 40.30 million +7.5%
2010 43.50 million +7.9%
2011 46.10 million +6.0%
2012 48.80 million +5.9%
2013 53.30 million +9.2%
2014 53.10 million -0.4%
2015 55.40 million +4.3%
2016 56.10 million +1.3%
2017 57.80 million +3.0%
2018 59.80 million +3.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 6.37 million 5.03 million 8.30 million 10
1980s 12.40 million 9.08 million 14.30 million 10
1990s 17.72 million 14.90 million 21.10 million 10
2000s 30.49 million 22.10 million 40.30 million 10
2010s 52.66 million 43.50 million 59.80 million 9

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

  1. 19 Ethiopia 4.97 million compare
  2. 20 Iran, Islamic Republic of 4.92 million compare
  3. 21 South Africa 4.70 million compare
  4. 22 Argentina 4.61 million compare
  5. 23 Colombia 4.46 million compare
  6. 24 Myanmar 4.18 million compare
  7. 25 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 4.17 million compare

See the full ranking of 247 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 secondary education, general pupils in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
Secondary education, general pupils in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) was 59.80 million in 2018, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest secondary education, general pupils recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
The highest recorded value was 59.80 million in 2018.
What is the lowest secondary education, general pupils recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
The lowest recorded value was 5.03 million in 1970.
How does Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) rank for secondary education, general pupils?
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 22nd out of 41 groups with data for 2018.
Is secondary education, general pupils rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
Over the last ten years it is up 59.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
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 Secondary education, general pupils. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Secondary education, general pupils 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/secondary-education-general-pupils/sub-saharan-africa-ida-and-ibrd-countries/

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About this data

Indicator
Secondary education, general pupils
Source
Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
247 places, 9,345 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Secondary general pupils are the number of secondary students enrolled in general education programs, including teacher training.