Secondary education, general pupils in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Secondary education, general pupils was 59.80 million in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Secondary education, general pupils in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1970–2018
Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Analysis
Sub-Saharan Africa recorded 59.80 million for secondary education, general pupils in 2018. That is the highest value across all 49 years on record.
That represents a change of 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 peaked at 59.80 million in 2018 and was at its lowest, 5.03 million, in 1970.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 22nd of 43 groups on this measure, 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, year by year
| 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
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | 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
More education data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 81.43 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 196.80 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.9738 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1526 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 5.14 million (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 56.4% (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, per capita 0.0631 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is secondary education, general pupils in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Secondary education, general pupils in Sub-Saharan Africa 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?
- The highest recorded value was 59.80 million in 2018.
- What is the lowest secondary education, general pupils recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.03 million in 1970.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for secondary education, general pupils?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 22nd out of 43 groups with data for 2018.
- Is secondary education, general pupils rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- 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 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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About this data
Secondary general pupils are the number of secondary students enrolled in general education programs, including teacher training.