Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Nigeria
Nigeria: Enrolment in primary education, both sexes was 33.42 million in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
33.42 million
Change on year
up 9.7%
World rank
3rd
of 218 countries
All-time high
33.42 million
in 2023
All-time low
3.52 million
in 1970
Years of data
47
1970–2023
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Nigeria, 1970–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 33.42 million for enrolment in primary education, both sexes in 2023. That is the highest value across all 47 years on record.
That represents a change of up 9.7% on the previous year and up 27.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Nigeria peaked at 33.42 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 3.52 million, in 1970.
That places Nigeria 3rd out of 218 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 47 years of available data.
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes 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% |
| 1976 | 4.89 million | +4.9% |
| 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% |
| 1999 | 17.91 million | +27.2% |
| 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% |
| 2018 | 27.89 million | +9.0% |
| 2020 | 30.10 million | +7.9% |
| 2021 | 30.46 million | +1.2% |
| 2023 | 33.42 million | +9.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5.69 million | 3.52 million | 9.87 million | 8 |
| 1980s | 13.14 million | 10.80 million | 14.65 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 15.25 million | 13.61 million | 17.91 million | 8 |
| 2000s | 20.75 million | 19.04 million | 22.86 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.83 million | 8.07 million | 27.89 million | 8 |
| 2020s | 31.32 million | 30.10 million | 33.42 million | 3 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More education data for Nigeria
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 8.52 % change on previous year (2011)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 504,448 (2021)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 408,857 (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 608,519 (2011)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 4.32 % change on previous year (2011)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 904,852 (2011)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 11.54 % change on previous year (2011)
- Theoretical duration of primary education (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of pre-primary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (pre-primary to post-secondary non) 0.0494 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Nigeria?
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Nigeria was 33.42 million in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 33.42 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.52 million in 1970.
- How does Nigeria rank for enrolment in primary education, both sexes?
- Nigeria ranks 3rd out of 218 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in primary education, both sexes 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 UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release