What is the difference in enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes between Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa?

7.38 million number, with Sub-Saharan Africa ahead.

How many years of comparable data are there for Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa?

21 years are reported by both, from 1975 to 2011.

Where does this data come from?

UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Nigeria vs Sub-Saharan Africa: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes

Nigeria

1.51 million number

in 2011

Sub-Saharan Africa

8.90 million number

in 2018

Nigeria rank

32nd

Sub-Saharan Africa rank

34th

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes over time

Nigeria
Sub-Saharan Africa

How they compare

Sub-Saharan Africa currently reports 8.90 million number against 1.51 million number in Nigeria, a difference of 7.38 million number.

That makes Sub-Saharan Africa's figure about 5.9 times Nigeria's.

Across all 21 years both countries report, Sub-Saharan Africa has been ahead every year.

Nigeria ranks 32nd and Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 34th of 193 countries.

Sub-Saharan Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 5 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Nigeria	Sub-Saharan Africa	Difference	Ahead
1970s	61,878 number	581,318 number	519,439 number	Sub-Saharan Africa
1980s	225,971 number	1.05 million number	824,376 number	Sub-Saharan Africa
1990s	699,109 number	2.50 million number	1.80 million number	Sub-Saharan Africa
2000s	1.31 million number	4.13 million number	2.82 million number	Sub-Saharan Africa
2010s	1.45 million number	6.63 million number	5.18 million number	Sub-Saharan Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes, Nigeria or Sub-Saharan Africa?: Sub-Saharan Africa, at 8.90 million number against 1.51 million number in Nigeria as of 2018.
What is the difference in enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes between Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa?: 7.38 million number, with Sub-Saharan Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa?: 21 years are reported by both, from 1975 to 2011.
How do Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa rank globally for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?: Nigeria ranks 32nd and Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 34th of 193 countries.
Where does this data come from?: UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Nigeria vs Sub-Saharan Africa: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 09 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-both-sexes-number/nigeria/sub-saharan-africa/

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<a href="https://education.statizoid.com/compare/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-both-sexes-number/nigeria/sub-saharan-africa/">Nigeria vs Sub-Saharan Africa: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number)
Unit: number
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage: 238 places, 8,058 data points, 1970–2020
Last refreshed: 04 September 2026

The total number of students enrolled at public and private tertiary education institutions.