Secondary education, pupils in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Secondary education, pupils was 1.16 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Secondary education, pupils in Sierra Leone, 1971–2023
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for secondary education, pupils in Sierra Leone is 1.16 million, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 30 years on record.
That represents a change of up 22.9% on the previous year and up 178.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, secondary education, pupils in Sierra Leone peaked at 1.16 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 34,646, in 1971.
Sierra Leone ranks 68th of 206 countries 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, pupils in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 34,646 | — |
| 1972 | 37,550 | +8.4% |
| 1973 | 41,787 | +11.3% |
| 1974 | 45,210 | +8.2% |
| 1975 | 47,861 | +5.9% |
| 1976 | 50,478 | +5.5% |
| 1977 | 53,913 | +6.8% |
| 1978 | 56,480 | +4.8% |
| 1979 | 60,157 | +6.5% |
| 1980 | 59,719 | -0.7% |
| 1981 | 68,199 | +14.2% |
| 1984 | 92,706 | +35.9% |
| 1985 | 101,056 | +9.0% |
| 1986 | 94,717 | -6.3% |
| 1988 | 112,787 | +19.1% |
| 1989 | 100,026 | -11.3% |
| 1990 | 101,726 | +1.7% |
| 1991 | 102,474 | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 155,567 | +51.8% |
| 2011 | 352,732 | +126.7% |
| 2012 | 400,800 | +13.6% |
| 2013 | 417,307 | +4.1% |
| 2015 | 449,320 | +7.7% |
| 2016 | 487,826 | +8.6% |
| 2017 | 492,140 | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 522,036 | +6.1% |
| 2019 | 756,770 | +45.0% |
| 2020 | 789,447 | +4.3% |
| 2021 | 945,906 | +19.8% |
| 2023 | 1.16 million | +22.9% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 1.16 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 1.07 million, 1.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 1.16 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 901,617, 1.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Secondary education, pupils in Sierra Leone 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | +126.7% | 155,567 | 352,732 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 47,565 | 34,646 | 60,157 | 9 |
| 1980s | 89,887 | 59,719 | 112,787 | 7 |
| 1990s | 102,100 | 101,726 | 102,474 | 2 |
| 2000s | 155,567 | 155,567 | 155,567 | 1 |
| 2010s | 484,866 | 352,732 | 756,770 | 8 |
| 2020s | 965,878 | 789,447 | 1.16 million | 3 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More education data for Sierra Leone
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 38,043 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 73,295 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 85,708 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 92,723 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.16 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.07 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.52 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.2393 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is secondary education, pupils in Sierra Leone?
- Secondary education, pupils in Sierra Leone was 1.16 million in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest secondary education, pupils recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 1.16 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest secondary education, pupils recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 34,646 in 1971.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for secondary education, pupils?
- Sierra Leone ranks 68th out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is secondary education, pupils rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 178.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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 — 30 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.