Secondary education, pupils in Kenya
Kenya: Secondary education, pupils was 6.74 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Secondary education, pupils in Kenya, 1970–2023
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Analysis
In 2023, secondary education, pupils in Kenya stood at 6.74 million. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.8% on the previous year and up 42.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, secondary education, pupils in Kenya peaked at 6.74 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 299,881, in 1970.
That places Kenya 17th out of 206 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Secondary education, pupils in Kenya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 299,881 | — |
| 1971 | 324,167 | +8.1% |
| 1972 | 355,842 | +9.8% |
| 1973 | 381,342 | +7.2% |
| 1974 | 422,242 | +10.7% |
| 1975 | 468,408 | +10.9% |
| 1976 | 538,962 | +15.1% |
| 1977 | 572,210 | +6.2% |
| 1978 | 636,200 | +11.2% |
| 1979 | 683,591 | +7.4% |
| 1980 | 788,005 | +15.3% |
| 1981 | 800,062 | +1.5% |
| 1982 | 830,553 | +3.8% |
| 1983 | 902,333 | +8.6% |
| 1984 | 986,034 | +9.3% |
| 1985 | 1.28 million | +29.3% |
| 1986 | 1.31 million | +2.8% |
| 1987 | 1.44 million | +9.7% |
| 1988 | 1.47 million | +2.6% |
| 1999 | 1.82 million | +23.6% |
| 2000 | 1.91 million | +4.7% |
| 2001 | 2.00 million | +4.8% |
| 2002 | 2.06 million | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 2.20 million | +6.5% |
| 2004 | 2.42 million | +10.2% |
| 2005 | 2.47 million | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 2.58 million | +4.7% |
| 2007 | 2.73 million | +5.6% |
| 2008 | 3.11 million | +13.8% |
| 2009 | 3.20 million | +3.1% |
| 2015 | 4.73 million | +47.5% |
| 2016 | 4.99 million | +5.5% |
| 2021 | 6.15 million | +23.3% |
| 2022 | 6.56 million | +6.6% |
| 2023 | 6.74 million | +2.8% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 6.74 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 929,099, 7.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 6.74 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 901,617, 7.5× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Secondary education, pupils in Kenya changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | +47.5% | 3.20 million | 4.73 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 468,284 | 299,881 | 683,591 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.09 million | 788,005 | 1.47 million | 9 |
| 1990s | 1.82 million | 1.82 million | 1.82 million | 1 |
| 2000s | 2.47 million | 1.91 million | 3.20 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.86 million | 4.73 million | 4.99 million | 2 |
| 2020s | 6.48 million | 6.15 million | 6.74 million | 3 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More education data for Kenya
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 168,396 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 235,728 (2016)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.44 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.44 million (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.74 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 8.04 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.7181 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1453 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is secondary education, pupils in Kenya?
- Secondary education, pupils in Kenya was 6.74 million in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest secondary education, pupils recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 6.74 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest secondary education, pupils recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 299,881 in 1970.
- How does Kenya rank for secondary education, pupils?
- Kenya ranks 17th out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is secondary education, pupils rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 42.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya 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.
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About this data
Secondary education pupils is the total number of pupils enrolled at secondary level in public and private schools.