Secondary education, pupils in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Secondary education, pupils was 35.36 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Secondary education, pupils in Africa Western and Central, 1970–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Analysis
In 2024, secondary education, pupils in Africa Western and Central stood at 35.36 million. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 46.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, secondary education, pupils in Africa Western and Central peaked at 35.36 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.37 million, in 1970.
That places Africa Western and Central 36th out of 43 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Secondary education, pupils in Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1.37 million | — |
| 1971 | 1.45 million | +5.7% |
| 1972 | 1.57 million | +8.3% |
| 1973 | 1.71 million | +8.9% |
| 1974 | 1.82 million | +6.5% |
| 1975 | 1.96 million | +8.1% |
| 1976 | 2.13 million | +8.5% |
| 1977 | 2.32 million | +9.1% |
| 1978 | 2.62 million | +12.7% |
| 1979 | 2.97 million | +13.4% |
| 1980 | 3.45 million | +16.0% |
| 1981 | 4.02 million | +16.6% |
| 1982 | 4.62 million | +14.9% |
| 1983 | 5.26 million | +14.0% |
| 1984 | 5.85 million | +11.1% |
| 1985 | 6.09 million | +4.1% |
| 1986 | 5.60 million | -8.1% |
| 1987 | 5.79 million | +3.4% |
| 1988 | 5.90 million | +1.9% |
| 1989 | 5.82 million | -1.4% |
| 1990 | 6.11 million | +5.1% |
| 1991 | 6.36 million | +4.1% |
| 1992 | 6.63 million | +4.2% |
| 1993 | 6.87 million | +3.6% |
| 1994 | 7.11 million | +3.6% |
| 1995 | 7.34 million | +3.2% |
| 1996 | 7.59 million | +3.3% |
| 1997 | 7.79 million | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 8.06 million | +3.5% |
| 1999 | 8.37 million | +3.8% |
| 2000 | 8.98 million | +7.4% |
| 2001 | 9.88 million | +10.0% |
| 2002 | 10.70 million | +8.3% |
| 2003 | 11.72 million | +9.6% |
| 2004 | 12.75 million | +8.7% |
| 2005 | 13.43 million | +5.4% |
| 2006 | 13.92 million | +3.6% |
| 2007 | 14.38 million | +3.3% |
| 2008 | 16.00 million | +11.3% |
| 2009 | 17.68 million | +10.5% |
| 2010 | 19.76 million | +11.7% |
| 2011 | 21.23 million | +7.5% |
| 2012 | 22.59 million | +6.4% |
| 2013 | 25.68 million | +13.7% |
| 2014 | 24.19 million | -5.8% |
| 2015 | 25.67 million | +6.1% |
| 2016 | 25.67 million | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 26.62 million | +3.7% |
| 2018 | 27.68 million | +4.0% |
| 2019 | 29.36 million | +6.1% |
| 2020 | 30.84 million | +5.1% |
| 2021 | 32.41 million | +5.1% |
| 2022 | 33.44 million | +3.2% |
| 2023 | 35.05 million | +4.8% |
| 2024 | 35.36 million | +0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.99 million | 1.37 million | 2.97 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.24 million | 3.45 million | 6.09 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.22 million | 6.11 million | 8.37 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.94 million | 8.98 million | 17.68 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.85 million | 19.76 million | 29.36 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 33.42 million | 30.84 million | 35.36 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central
- 33 Morocco 3.57 million compare
- 34 Afghanistan 3.43 million compare
- 35 Saudi Arabia 3.36 million compare
- 36 Ghana 3.33 million compare
- 37 Poland 3.33 million compare
- 38 Côte d'Ivoire 3.28 million compare
- 39 Peru 3.11 million compare
More education data for Africa Western and Central
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 2.08 million (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 56.1% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 40.9% (2025)
- School enrollment, primary 91.1% (2024)
- Primary education, teachers 2.08 million (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, per capita 0.004 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, female 89.7% (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, male 92.4% (2024)
- Labor force, total 227.71 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is secondary education, pupils in Africa Western and Central?
- Secondary education, pupils in Africa Western and Central was 35.36 million in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest secondary education, pupils recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 35.36 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest secondary education, pupils recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.37 million in 1970.
- How does Africa Western and Central rank for secondary education, pupils?
- Africa Western and Central ranks 36th out of 43 groups with data for 2024.
- Is secondary education, pupils rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 46.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Africa Western and Central data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Secondary education, pupils. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Secondary education pupils is the total number of pupils enrolled at secondary level in public and private schools.