Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) in Nigeria
Nigeria: Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) was 33.42 million in 2023. ▲ Rising
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 (number) 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% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 33.42 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.66 million, 20.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 33.42 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.40 million, 13.9× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) in Nigeria changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | +217.1% | 8.07 million | 25.59 million |
| 2015 | -68.7% | 25.80 million | 8.07 million |
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
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 912,245 (2021)
- 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)
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
CSV · JSON — 47 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release