Secondary education, pupils in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries): Secondary education, pupils was 81.43 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Secondary education, pupils in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), 1970–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Analysis
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) recorded 81.43 million for secondary education, pupils in 2024. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.4% on the previous year and up 42.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, secondary education, pupils in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 81.43 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 5.49 million, in 1971.
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 21st 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, pupils in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 5.49 million | — |
| 1971 | 5.49 million | -0.1% |
| 1972 | 5.92 million | +7.9% |
| 1973 | 6.24 million | +5.3% |
| 1974 | 6.50 million | +4.3% |
| 1975 | 6.94 million | +6.8% |
| 1976 | 7.27 million | +4.6% |
| 1977 | 7.71 million | +6.2% |
| 1978 | 8.33 million | +7.9% |
| 1979 | 9.02 million | +8.4% |
| 1980 | 9.92 million | +9.9% |
| 1981 | 10.96 million | +10.5% |
| 1982 | 11.92 million | +8.7% |
| 1983 | 12.96 million | +8.8% |
| 1984 | 14.08 million | +8.6% |
| 1985 | 14.79 million | +5.1% |
| 1986 | 14.59 million | -1.4% |
| 1987 | 15.15 million | +3.8% |
| 1988 | 15.60 million | +2.9% |
| 1989 | 15.56 million | -0.2% |
| 1990 | 16.15 million | +3.8% |
| 1991 | 16.82 million | +4.1% |
| 1992 | 17.26 million | +2.6% |
| 1993 | 17.91 million | +3.8% |
| 1994 | 18.57 million | +3.7% |
| 1995 | 19.64 million | +5.7% |
| 1996 | 20.40 million | +3.9% |
| 1997 | 20.96 million | +2.8% |
| 1998 | 21.96 million | +4.7% |
| 1999 | 22.83 million | +4.0% |
| 2000 | 23.99 million | +5.1% |
| 2001 | 25.92 million | +8.1% |
| 2002 | 27.61 million | +6.5% |
| 2003 | 29.47 million | +6.7% |
| 2004 | 31.84 million | +8.0% |
| 2005 | 33.62 million | +5.6% |
| 2006 | 35.58 million | +5.8% |
| 2007 | 37.27 million | +4.8% |
| 2008 | 40.44 million | +8.5% |
| 2009 | 43.53 million | +7.7% |
| 2010 | 46.95 million | +7.8% |
| 2011 | 49.59 million | +5.6% |
| 2012 | 52.41 million | +5.7% |
| 2013 | 56.98 million | +8.7% |
| 2014 | 56.97 million | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 59.34 million | +4.2% |
| 2016 | 60.57 million | +2.1% |
| 2017 | 62.81 million | +3.7% |
| 2018 | 65.15 million | +3.7% |
| 2019 | 68.34 million | +4.9% |
| 2020 | 71.90 million | +5.2% |
| 2021 | 75.04 million | +4.4% |
| 2022 | 77.33 million | +3.1% |
| 2023 | 80.33 million | +3.9% |
| 2024 | 81.43 million | +1.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6.89 million | 5.49 million | 9.02 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 13.55 million | 9.92 million | 15.60 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 19.25 million | 16.15 million | 22.83 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 32.93 million | 23.99 million | 43.53 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 57.91 million | 46.95 million | 68.34 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 77.21 million | 71.90 million | 81.43 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
- 18 Iran, Islamic Republic of 6.62 million compare
- 19 Japan 6.61 million compare
- 20 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 6.40 million compare
- 21 France 6.27 million compare
- 22 Algeria 6.07 million compare
- 23 South Africa 5.50 million compare
- 24 Ethiopia 5.03 million compare
More education data for Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
- Population ages 15-64 56.4% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 40.4% (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 5.14 million (2024)
- School enrollment, primary 97.1% (2024)
- Primary education, teachers 5.14 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 96.0% (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, male 98.2% (2024)
- Labor force, total, per capita 0.3987 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is secondary education, pupils in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Secondary education, pupils in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) was 81.43 million in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest secondary education, pupils recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The highest recorded value was 81.43 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest secondary education, pupils recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.49 million in 1971.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) rank for secondary education, pupils?
- Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 21st out of 43 groups with data for 2024.
- Is secondary education, pupils rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 42.9%. 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 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.