Expanding to the Education industry in Africa in 2025? Consider these 5 African countries

By 2050, Africa’s rapidly growing, youthful population will reach a whopping 2.5 billion inhabitants.

These two conditions alone make the African continent one of the most promising regions for expanding to the education sector. Opportunities exist in multiple subsectors:

• Early childhood education
• Kindergarten to Grade 12
• Vocational training
• Higher education
• EdTech

Each one of these subsectors is driven by rising demand, policy reforms, and digital adoption.

While challenges like teacher shortages and limited infrastructure persist, they simultaneously open the door for innovative, scalable solutions. This includes mobile learning, and skills-based programmes which are already gaining traction.

These 5 high-potential African countries may just be a good starting point for your ventures in the African education industry.

1.     South Africa

A habitual chart-topper in the continent, South Africa emerges as a market where the education industry is booming. It is a well-established market, with a long, lucrative way to go still to meet the country’s growing demand in educational services.

South Africa’s Kindergarten to Grade 12 education sector was worth $19.65 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow rapidly to $48.8 billion by 2030. This growth is also set to increase at an average annual rate (CAGR) of 13.9%, indicating strong demand and investment potential.

But that’s not all:

• The higher education market in South Africa is projected to hit USD 4 million by 2030 (CAGR: 14.9%).
• Online education is a growing subsector of the education industry in South Africa. Its revenue is expected to reach US$550.42m in 2025. This revenue is further expected to have an annual growth rate (CAGR 2025-2029) of 10.03%, with a projected market volume of US$806.80m by 2029.
• Literacy is the second highest in the continent, at approximately 95%.
• South Africa has a mega-university (UNISA) serving over 370k

Key trends in the South African education sector

The following trends are shaping the South African education sector:

• Online education market

There is a growing demand for technical and vocational courses in South Africa. As the country grows more modern, there is a greater need for skilled professionals in sectors like IT, engineering, and healthcare. 

• Increasingly local educational materials

There is a significant rise of online education platforms tailored specifically for South African audiences. These platforms are focused on delivering content that resonates with local learners by using culturally relevant material, real-life South African case studies, and other familiar examples.

2.     Kenya

An East African superstar, Kenya houses an abundance of opportunities in the education sector. Many of the right conditions for business growth are met there, including:

• Budget priority

In Kenya, education consistently receives over 13% of national budget. In 2025, the education sector received the lion’s share of the national budget, with Ksh 702.7 billion (approx. 5.4 billion USD), which represents approximately 16.6% of the nation’s total budget. This governmental commitment to education provides fertile ground for development in the education sector to meet demand.

• Vision 2030 alignment

Kenya’s long-term strategy strongly emphasises “Education & training” under its social pillar, aligning with innovation and development initiatives in this sector.

• High mobile/internet usage

Rising smartphone and internet penetration supports potential for e-learning expansion, especially in secondary/vocational segments. Indeed, at 37.4 million devices, smartphones took the lead with a penetration rate of 72.6% in Kenya.

Why Kenya stands out

• Strong government funding
• Clear national frameworks
• Rapidly improving digital infrastructure

All these make Kenya a fertile ground for both EdTech and scalable education models.

3.     Nigeria

Being the largest market in all of Africa with its population of 200 million people, Nigeria shows promise for businesses expanding in the education sector, including:

• Literacy rate

As of 2021, Nigeria’s literacy rate was 63.16%, a 1.14% increase from 2018, with regional disparities being applicable.

• EdTech growth:

Nigeria’s EdTech revenues are well on their way to reaching $400 million in 2025, up from an estimated $270–300 million in 2024. This rise shows the potential that EdTech holds in Nigeria.

• Start‑up ecosystem

Nigeria hosts approximately 28% of Africa’s 200+ EdTech startups (like uLesson, PrepClass, Tuteria).  

• Connectivity trends

Internet penetration rose from approximately 29% in 2018 to 55% by early 2023, although just 12.1% had steady high-speed access. This growing connectivity, together with Nigeria’s massive population drive up demand for online education options.

Why Nigeria stands out

• A vast, youthful market hungry for educational access reform
• Growing digital penetration
• Rapidly scaling homegrown EdTech firms

4.     Botswana

Considered one of Africa’s most stable democracies, Botswana has long prioritised education, backing this value with strong economic measures, including:

• Literacy milestone

Adult literacy rose from 69% in 1991 to 88.5% by 2024, among the highest in sub‑Saharan Africa

• Budget share

The government has dedicated 17.7% of its annual spending to education, which amounts to P11.68 billion (approximately 864 million USD) – which is an impressive amount, opening the doors to opportunity in the country’s education sector.

• Vocational education push:

The National Policy on Vocational Education & Training (NPVET) focuses on building technical skills to diversify away from a mining‑dependent economy. This raises demand for educational products and services.

Why Botswana stands out

• Exceptional literacy rates for the region
• High public education spending
• Policy momentum behind vocational and technical education

All these factors make Botswana a stable yet strategic location for expansion.

5.     Namibia

With its investment in education amounting to over 9% of its GDP, Namibia is a great location for expansion in the education sector.

• Education investment

Public spending on education stood at a whopping 9.04% of GDP in 2023. With a total allocation of N$20.3 billion accounting for 27.3% of the 2023/24 total budget, Namibia has shown how much it prioritises education, and just how much potential it holds for businesses looking to expand in this sector.

• Literacy & schooling

Namibia’s literacy rate for 2021 was 92.25%, which represents a 4.25% increase from 2011. This shows a demand for education products and services that go beyond the starting blocks of education.

Why Namibia stands out

Namibia stands out as a lucrative destination for expansion in the education industry because it is:

• Leading Africa in education funding
• Opening space for partnerships in curriculum development, vocational training, and higher education innovation

Choose an African Employer of Record (EOR) partner specialised in the education industry

Africa HR Solutions is an African EOR backed by ADvTECH group, which specialises in education and resourcing. With over 15 years’ experience in 46+ African countries, we have the exact skillset and experience you need to best support your ventures in the education sector in Africa.

To find out how we can best help you expand to this industry in an African country, chat with one of our consultants today.