Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Nigeria
Nigeria: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 1.51 million in 2011. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Nigeria, 1975–2011
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Nigeria is 1.51 million, measured in 2011. That is the highest value across all 21 years on record.
That represents a change of up 8.5% on the previous year and up 116.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Nigeria peaked at 1.51 million in 2011 and was at its lowest, 39,562, in 1975.
Nigeria ranks 33rd of 200 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 39,562 | — |
| 1976 | 44,964 | +13.7% |
| 1977 | 58,953 | +31.1% |
| 1978 | 68,382 | +16.0% |
| 1979 | 97,530 | +42.6% |
| 1980 | 115,166 | +18.1% |
| 1981 | 150,072 | +30.3% |
| 1982 | 176,904 | +17.9% |
| 1983 | 193,731 | +9.5% |
| 1984 | 208,051 | +7.4% |
| 1985 | 240,889 | +15.8% |
| 1986 | 266,679 | +10.7% |
| 1987 | 267,862 | +0.4% |
| 1988 | 304,536 | +13.7% |
| 1989 | 335,824 | +10.3% |
| 1999 | 699,109 | +108.2% |
| 2003 | 1.23 million | +76.5% |
| 2004 | 1.29 million | +4.5% |
| 2005 | 1.39 million | +7.9% |
| 2010 | 1.39 million | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 1.51 million | +8.5% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 1.51 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 252,098, 6.0× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 1.51 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 83,195, 18.2× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | +108.2% | 335,824 | 699,109 |
| 2003 | +76.5% | 699,109 | 1.23 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 61,878 | 39,562 | 97,530 | 5 |
| 1980s | 225,971 | 115,166 | 335,824 | 10 |
| 1990s | 699,109 | 699,109 | 699,109 | 1 |
| 2000s | 1.31 million | 1.23 million | 1.39 million | 3 |
| 2010s | 1.45 million | 1.39 million | 1.51 million | 2 |
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 tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Nigeria?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Nigeria was 1.51 million in 2011, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 1.51 million in 2011.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 39,562 in 1975.
- How does Nigeria rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Nigeria ranks 33rd out of 200 countries with data for 2011.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 116.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 21 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release