Gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes in Nigeria
Nigeria: Gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes was 69.7% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes in Nigeria, 1970–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes in Nigeria is 69.7%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.3% on the previous year and down 3.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes in Nigeria peaked at 72.3% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 23.7%, in 1970.
Nigeria ranks 188th of 211 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 37 years of available data.
Gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 23.7% | — |
| 1971 | 25.6% | +7.9% |
| 1972 | 28.1% | +9.9% |
| 1973 | 29.3% | +4.1% |
| 1977 | 34.8% | +18.9% |
| 1978 | 43.9% | +26.2% |
| 1979 | 51.9% | +18.2% |
| 1980 | 55.9% | +7.7% |
| 1981 | 61.5% | +10.1% |
| 1982 | 68.3% | +11.1% |
| 1983 | 70.3% | +2.9% |
| 1984 | 71.5% | +1.8% |
| 1985 | 68.4% | -4.3% |
| 1986 | 62.5% | -8.6% |
| 1987 | 60.3% | -3.6% |
| 1989 | 55.1% | -8.6% |
| 1990 | 56.9% | +3.3% |
| 1999 | 59.8% | +5.0% |
| 2000 | 62.5% | +4.6% |
| 2001 | 62.2% | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 64.1% | +3.1% |
| 2004 | 67.8% | +5.7% |
| 2005 | 68.0% | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 68.0% | -0.0% |
| 2007 | 62.2% | -8.6% |
| 2008 | 58.8% | -5.4% |
| 2009 | 61.0% | +3.8% |
| 2010 | 62.9% | +3.1% |
| 2011 | 66.2% | +5.3% |
| 2012 | 67.6% | +2.0% |
| 2013 | 72.3% | +7.0% |
| 2014 | 65.8% | -9.1% |
| 2016 | 61.2% | -6.9% |
| 2018 | 63.1% | +3.1% |
| 2020 | 66.0% | +4.7% |
| 2021 | 66.2% | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 69.7% | +5.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 33.9% | 23.7% | 51.9% | 7 |
| 1980s | 63.8% | 55.1% | 71.5% | 9 |
| 1990s | 58.3% | 56.9% | 59.8% | 2 |
| 2000s | 63.9% | 58.8% | 68.0% | 9 |
| 2010s | 65.6% | 61.2% | 72.3% | 7 |
| 2020s | 67.3% | 66.0% | 69.7% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 185 San Marino 71.9% compare
- 186 Angola 70.9% compare
- 187 Suriname 70.6% compare
- 189 Tanzania, United Republic of 69.0% compare
- 190 Lao People's Democratic Republic 68.9% compare
- 191 Honduras 66.7% compare
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 gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes in Nigeria?
- Gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes in Nigeria was 69.7% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 72.3% in 2013.
- What is the lowest gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.7% in 1970.
- How does Nigeria rank for gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes?
- Nigeria ranks 188th out of 211 countries with data for 2023.
- Is gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.5%. 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 Gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release