Government expenditure on education, total in Nigeria
Nigeria: Government expenditure on education, total was 0.3% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Government expenditure on education, total in Nigeria, 1974–2023
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 0.3% for government expenditure on education, total in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 14 years on record.
The figure is down 8.4% on the previous year and down 40.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on education, total in Nigeria peaked at 3.2% in 1974 and was at its lowest, 0.3%, in 2023.
That places Nigeria 195th out of 196 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Government expenditure on education, total in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 3.2% | — |
| 1975 | 3.1% | -4.6% |
| 2012 | 0.5% | -82.1% |
| 2013 | 0.5% | -2.7% |
| 2014 | 0.5% | -11.9% |
| 2015 | 0.4% | -7.2% |
| 2016 | 0.4% | -10.0% |
| 2017 | 0.4% | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 0.4% | +6.0% |
| 2019 | 0.4% | -14.6% |
| 2020 | 0.4% | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 0.4% | +6.2% |
| 2022 | 0.3% | -8.7% |
| 2023 | 0.3% | -8.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.1% | 3.1% | 3.2% | 2 |
| 2010s | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.5% | 8 |
| 2020s | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.4% | 4 |
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 government expenditure on education, total in Nigeria?
- Government expenditure on education, total in Nigeria was 0.3% in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest government expenditure on education, total recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 3.2% in 1974.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on education, total recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3% in 2023.
- How does Nigeria rank for government expenditure on education, total?
- Nigeria ranks 195th out of 196 countries with data for 2023.
- Is government expenditure on education, total rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 40.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Government expenditure on education, total (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
General government expenditure on education (current, capital, and transfers) is expressed as a percentage of GDP. It includes expenditure funded by transfers from international sources to government. General government usually refers to local, regional and central governments.