Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)

Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income): Population of compulsory school age, both sexes was 214.95 million number in 2019. ▲ Rising

Latest (2019)
214.95 million number
Change on year
up 2.2%
Rank
18th
of 45 groups
All-time high
214.95 million number
in 2019
All-time low
81.91 million number
in 1997
Years of data
23
1997–2019

Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), 1997–2019

050.0M100.0M150.0M200.0M1997200820191997: 81.9M number1998: 81.9M number1999: 83.6M number2000: 85.3M number2001: 87.7M number2002: 89.4M number2003: 91.8M number2004: 127.1M number2005: 135.1M number2006: 139.4M number2007: 145.4M number2008: 155.7M number2009: 160.0M number2010: 167.0M number2011: 171.5M number2012: 176.2M number2013: 185.2M number2014: 190.2M number2015: 195.3M number2016: 200.2M number2017: 205.2M number2018: 210.3M number2019: 215.0M number

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.

Analysis

In 2019, population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) stood at 214.95 million number. That is the highest value across all 23 years on record.

That represents a change of up 2.2% on the previous year and up 34.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) peaked at 214.95 million number in 2019 and was at its lowest, 81.91 million number, in 1997.

Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) ranks 18th of 45 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.

Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), year by year

Annual values for Population of compulsory school age, both sexes (number) in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), 1997 to 2019.
Year number Change
1997 81.91 million number
1998 81.91 million number +0.0%
1999 83.65 million number +2.1%
2000 85.28 million number +1.9%
2001 87.65 million number +2.8%
2002 89.41 million number +2.0%
2003 91.82 million number +2.7%
2004 127.06 million number +38.4%
2005 135.14 million number +6.4%
2006 139.38 million number +3.1%
2007 145.35 million number +4.3%
2008 155.67 million number +7.1%
2009 159.99 million number +2.8%
2010 167.03 million number +4.4%
2011 171.52 million number +2.7%
2012 176.18 million number +2.7%
2013 185.21 million number +5.1%
2014 190.24 million number +2.7%
2015 195.29 million number +2.7%
2016 200.24 million number +2.5%
2017 205.24 million number +2.5%
2018 210.28 million number +2.5%
2019 214.95 million number +2.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 82.49 million number 81.91 million number 83.65 million number 3
2000s 121.67 million number 85.28 million number 159.99 million number 10
2010s 191.62 million number 167.03 million number 214.95 million number 10

Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)

  1. 15 Bangladesh 14.80 million number compare
  2. 16 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 14.68 million number compare
  3. 17 Viet Nam 14.31 million number compare
  4. 18 Iran, Islamic Republic of 11.19 million number compare
  5. 19 Tanzania, United Republic of 10.74 million number compare
  6. 20 Argentina 10.15 million number compare
  7. 21 Germany 10.06 million number compare

See the full ranking of 231 places →

More reference data data for Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)

All data for Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) →

Frequently asked questions

What is population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) was 214.95 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest population of compulsory school age, both sexes recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
The highest recorded value was 214.95 million number in 2019.
What is the lowest population of compulsory school age, both sexes recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
The lowest recorded value was 81.91 million number in 1997.
How does Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) rank for population of compulsory school age, both sexes?
Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) ranks 18th out of 45 groups with data for 2019.
Is population of compulsory school age, both sexes rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
Over the last ten years it is up 34.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population of compulsory school age, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income). Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 06 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/population-of-compulsory-school-age-both-sexes-number/sub-saharan-africa-excluding-high-income/

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About this data

Indicator
Population of compulsory school age, both sexes (number)
Unit
number
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
231 places, 4,849 data points, 1975–2020
Last refreshed

Population of children within the age span that children are legally obliged to attend school.