Secondary education, pupils in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Secondary education, pupils was 81.43 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Secondary education, pupils in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1970–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for secondary education, pupils in Sub-Saharan Africa is 81.43 million, measured 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 peaked at 81.43 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 5.49 million, in 1971.
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 | 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 |
More education data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Population ages 15-64 56.4% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 40.4% (2025)
- School enrollment, primary 97.1% (2024)
- Primary education, teachers 5.14 million (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, female 96.0% (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, male 98.2% (2024)
- Labor force, total 526.96 million (2025)
- Labor force, female 46.9% (2025)
- School enrollment, primary (gross), gender parity index 0.9577 GPI (2020)
- School enrollment, secondary 45.9% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is secondary education, pupils in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Secondary education, pupils in Sub-Saharan Africa 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?
- The highest recorded value was 81.43 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest secondary education, pupils recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.49 million in 1971.
- Is secondary education, pupils rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- 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 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.