Primary education, pupils in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Primary education, pupils was 75.77 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Primary education, pupils in Africa Western and Central, 1970–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Analysis
In 2024, primary education, pupils in Africa Western and Central stood at 75.77 million. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
The figure is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 28.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary education, pupils in Africa Western and Central peaked at 75.77 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 8.06 million, in 1970.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 11.21 million | 8.06 million | 17.07 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 22.16 million | 18.39 million | 23.55 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 28.40 million | 24.44 million | 33.67 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 42.22 million | 35.91 million | 47.81 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 59.10 million | 49.76 million | 66.82 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 72.56 million | 68.84 million | 75.77 million | 5 |
More education data for Africa Western and Central
- 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)
- School enrollment, primary, female 89.7% (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, male 92.4% (2024)
- Labor force, female 46.4% (2025)
- Labor force, total 227.71 million (2025)
- School enrollment, primary (gross), gender parity index 0.9474 GPI (2020)
- School enrollment, secondary 46.3% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary education, pupils in Africa Western and Central?
- Primary education, pupils in Africa Western and Central was 75.77 million in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest primary education, pupils recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 75.77 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest primary education, pupils recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.06 million in 1970.
- Is primary education, pupils rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.3%. 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 Primary 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
Primary education pupils is the total number of pupils enrolled at primary level in public and private schools.