Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled in Nigeria
Nigeria: Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled was 33.42 million in 2023. ▲ Rising
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled in Nigeria, 1970–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived).
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled in Nigeria is 33.42 million, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 54 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.6% on the previous year and up 27.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled in Nigeria peaked at 33.42 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 3.52 million, in 1970.
Nigeria ranks 3rd of 218 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 54 years of available data.
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 3.52 million | — |
| 1971 | 3.89 million | +10.8% |
| 1972 | 4.39 million | +12.8% |
| 1973 | 4.66 million | +6.2% |
| 1974 | 4.74 million | +1.6% |
| 1975 | 4.81 million | +1.6% |
| 1976 | 4.89 million | +1.6% |
| 1977 | 6.17 million | +26.1% |
| 1978 | 8.10 million | +31.4% |
| 1979 | 9.87 million | +21.8% |
| 1980 | 10.80 million | +9.4% |
| 1981 | 12.12 million | +12.2% |
| 1982 | 13.76 million | +13.6% |
| 1983 | 14.31 million | +4.0% |
| 1984 | 14.65 million | +2.4% |
| 1985 | 14.38 million | -1.9% |
| 1986 | 13.03 million | -9.4% |
| 1987 | 12.91 million | -0.8% |
| 1988 | 12.69 million | -1.7% |
| 1989 | 12.72 million | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 13.61 million | +7.0% |
| 1991 | 13.78 million | +1.2% |
| 1992 | 14.81 million | +7.5% |
| 1993 | 15.87 million | +7.2% |
| 1994 | 16.19 million | +2.0% |
| 1995 | 15.74 million | -2.8% |
| 1996 | 14.08 million | -10.6% |
| 1997 | 15.35 million | +9.1% |
| 1998 | 16.63 million | +8.3% |
| 1999 | 17.91 million | +7.7% |
| 2000 | 19.15 million | +6.9% |
| 2001 | 19.04 million | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 19.81 million | +4.0% |
| 2003 | 20.60 million | +4.0% |
| 2004 | 21.40 million | +3.9% |
| 2005 | 22.12 million | +3.4% |
| 2006 | 22.86 million | +3.4% |
| 2007 | 21.51 million | -5.9% |
| 2008 | 20.01 million | -7.0% |
| 2009 | 20.96 million | +4.7% |
| 2010 | 20.66 million | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 23.67 million | +14.5% |
| 2012 | 24.82 million | +4.9% |
| 2013 | 26.17 million | +5.4% |
| 2014 | 25.80 million | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 8.07 million | -68.7% |
| 2016 | 25.59 million | +217.1% |
| 2017 | 26.74 million | +4.5% |
| 2018 | 27.89 million | +4.3% |
| 2019 | 28.99 million | +4.0% |
| 2020 | 30.10 million | +3.8% |
| 2021 | 30.46 million | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 31.94 million | +4.9% |
| 2023 | 33.42 million | +4.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5.50 million | 3.52 million | 9.87 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 13.14 million | 10.80 million | 14.65 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 15.40 million | 13.61 million | 17.91 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.75 million | 19.04 million | 22.86 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.84 million | 8.07 million | 28.99 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.48 million | 30.10 million | 33.42 million | 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), annual growth 1.18 % change on previous year (2021)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled in Nigeria?
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled in Nigeria was 33.42 million in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 33.42 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.52 million in 1970.
- How does Nigeria rank for enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled?
- Nigeria ranks 3rd out of 218 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) with 607 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.
Computed from
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) with 607 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.