Average years of schooling, males vs. females in Nigeria
Nigeria: Average years of schooling, males vs. females was 8.7 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average years of schooling, males vs. females in Nigeria, 1990–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 8.7 years for average years of schooling, males vs. females in 2023.
That represents a change of up 11.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling, males vs. females in Nigeria peaked at 8.74 years in 2019 and was at its lowest, 3.96 years, in 1990.
That places Nigeria 123rd out of 191 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Average years of schooling, males vs. females in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 3.96 years | — |
| 1991 | 4.17 years | +5.3% |
| 1992 | 4.37 years | +5.0% |
| 1993 | 4.58 years | +4.8% |
| 1994 | 4.79 years | +4.5% |
| 1995 | 5 years | +4.4% |
| 1996 | 5.21 years | +4.2% |
| 1997 | 5.42 years | +4.0% |
| 1998 | 5.62 years | +3.8% |
| 1999 | 5.83 years | +3.7% |
| 2000 | 6.04 years | +3.6% |
| 2001 | 6.25 years | +3.5% |
| 2002 | 6.46 years | +3.3% |
| 2003 | 6.67 years | +3.2% |
| 2004 | 6.87 years | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 7.07 years | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 7.27 years | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 7.46 years | +2.7% |
| 2008 | 7.66 years | +2.7% |
| 2009 | 7.7 years | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 7.73 years | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 7.76 years | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 7.79 years | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 7.82 years | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 8.04 years | +2.8% |
| 2015 | 8.25 years | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 8.47 years | +2.6% |
| 2017 | 8.23 years | -2.7% |
| 2018 | 8 years | -2.8% |
| 2019 | 8.74 years | +9.2% |
| 2020 | 8.72 years | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 8.7 years | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 8.7 years | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 8.7 years | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.9 years | 3.96 years | 5.83 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.94 years | 6.04 years | 7.7 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.08 years | 7.73 years | 8.74 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.71 years | 8.7 years | 8.72 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More education data for Nigeria
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.08 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.24 million (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 15.20 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 33.42 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.18 % change on previous year (2021)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1466 units per person (2023)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 33.42 million (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling, males vs. females in Nigeria?
- Average years of schooling, males vs. females in Nigeria was 8.7 years in 2023, according to UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average years of schooling, males vs. females recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 8.74 years in 2019.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling, males vs. females recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.96 years in 1990.
- How does Nigeria rank for average years of schooling, males vs. females?
- Nigeria ranks 123rd out of 191 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average years of schooling, males vs. females rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average years of schooling, males vs. females. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Average number of years (excluding years spent repeating individual grades) men over 25 years participated in formal education.