China vs Nigeria: School age population, primary education, both sexes

China
105.16 million
in 2025
Nigeria
37.73 million
in 2025
China rank
2nd
Nigeria rank
3rd

School age population, primary education, both sexes over time

  • China
  • Nigeria
050.0M100.0M150.0M197019972025

How they compare

China currently reports 105.16 million against 37.73 million in Nigeria, a difference of 67.43 million.

That makes China's figure about 2.8 times Nigeria's.

Across all 56 years both countries report, China has been ahead every year.

China ranks 2nd and Nigeria ranks 3rd of 222 countries.

China has averaged higher in every one of the 6 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade China Nigeria Difference Ahead
1970s 117.63 million 9.60 million 108.03 million China
1980s 113.55 million 13.73 million 99.83 million China
1990s 114.15 million 17.89 million 96.25 million China
2000s 105.25 million 22.82 million 82.42 million China
2010s 99.29 million 31.08 million 68.21 million China
2020s 107.65 million 36.92 million 70.73 million China

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher school age population, primary education, both sexes, China or Nigeria?
China, at 105.16 million against 37.73 million in Nigeria as of 2025.
What is the difference in school age population, primary education, both sexes between China and Nigeria?
67.43 million, with China ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for China and Nigeria?
56 years are reported by both, from 1970 to 2025.
How do China and Nigeria rank globally for school age population, primary education, both sexes?
China ranks 2nd and Nigeria ranks 3rd of 222 countries.
Where does this data come from?
UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as School age population, primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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China vs Nigeria: School age population, primary education, both sexes. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 03 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/school-age-population-primary-education-both-sexes-number-2/china/nigeria/

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About this data

Indicator
School age population, primary education, both sexes (number)
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
443 places, 20,724 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release