Access to higher education varies significantly across Africa, with some countries recording tertiary gross enrolment ratios above 40%, while others remain below 10%. The disparity highlights the differences in educational opportunities and priorities across the continent. According to the latest available data from UNESCO/World Bank, Algeria has the highest tertiary gross enrolment rate in Africa at 54.4%. This rate is a measure of the total enrolment in tertiary education, regardless of age, as a percentage of the population in the official age group corresponding to tertiary education.
The top five countries with the highest tertiary gross enrolment rates in Africa are Algeria, Morocco, Mauritius, Tunisia, and Egypt. Morocco follows with a rate of 48.2%, while Mauritius has a rate of 45.8%. Tunisia and Egypt have rates of 38.1% and 38.0%, respectively. These countries have consistently recorded relatively high tertiary enrolment compared to many other African countries. The data, sourced from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) and published through the World Bank's education indicators, provides insights into the state of higher education in Africa.
The ranking uses each country's latest available figure rather than forcing all countries into the same reference year. This approach allows for a more accurate representation of the current state of tertiary education in each country. The figures can exceed 100% in some countries, as they measure the relationship between tertiary enrolment and the population in the relevant age group. It is essential to distinguish tertiary gross enrolment from the percentage of a country's population that has completed university.
Namibia, Cabo Verde, South Africa, and Botswana also record rates above 20%. Namibia has a tertiary gross enrolment ratio of 26.1%, while Cabo Verde has a rate of 24.3%. South Africa and Botswana have rates of 23.5% and 21.4%, respectively. These countries have maintained relatively higher tertiary participation rates compared to other African countries. UNESCO's earlier continental education data also showed these countries with comparatively high tertiary enrolment.
Ghana ranks 10th with a tertiary gross enrolment rate of 21.3%. The figure places Ghana among the African countries with the higher reported levels of tertiary enrolment in the latest available dataset. UNESCO's earlier data showed Ghana's ratio rising from about 16% in 2015 to 19% in 2020. The country's tertiary enrolment rate has been increasing over the years, indicating a growing access to higher education.
The gross enrolment ratio measures total enrolment in tertiary education, regardless of age, as a percentage of the population in the five-year age group immediately following secondary education. This ratio can include students who are older or younger than the official age group. Therefore, the figures should not be interpreted as meaning that a certain percentage of the population has university degrees. Rather, they measure the relationship between tertiary enrolment and the population in the relevant age group.
The top 10 countries with the highest tertiary enrolment rates in Africa are: Algeria (54.4%), Morocco (48.2%), Mauritius (45.8%), Tunisia (38.1%), Egypt (38.0%), Namibia (26.1%), Cabo Verde (24.3%), South Africa (23.5%), Botswana (21.4%), and Ghana (21.3%). These countries have demonstrated a strong commitment to providing access to higher education, with significant investments in their education systems.
Key points
- Algeria has the highest tertiary gross enrolment rate in Africa at 54.4%.
- Ghana ranks 10th with a tertiary gross enrolment rate of 21.3%.
- The ranking uses each country's latest available figure rather than forcing all countries into the same reference year.
