Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in Nigeria
Nigeria: Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes was 52.9% in 2011. ▲ Rising
Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in Nigeria, 1977–2011
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in Nigeria is 52.9%, measured in 2011.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.4% on the previous year and up 9.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in Nigeria peaked at 56.9% in 1984 and was at its lowest, 27.3%, in 1977.
Nigeria ranks 176th of 193 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 20 years of available data.
Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 27.3% | — |
| 1978 | 34.5% | +26.2% |
| 1979 | 40.8% | +18.5% |
| 1980 | 44.0% | +7.8% |
| 1981 | 48.6% | +10.4% |
| 1982 | 54.1% | +11.3% |
| 1983 | 55.8% | +3.1% |
| 1984 | 56.9% | +2.1% |
| 1985 | 54.7% | -3.9% |
| 1986 | 49.2% | -10.0% |
| 1987 | 47.5% | -3.4% |
| 1989 | 43.7% | -8.1% |
| 1999 | 46.3% | +6.1% |
| 2000 | 48.5% | +4.6% |
| 2001 | 48.2% | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 50.0% | +3.7% |
| 2004 | 53.3% | +6.6% |
| 2005 | 53.7% | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 50.2% | -6.6% |
| 2011 | 52.9% | +5.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 34.2% | 27.3% | 40.8% | 3 |
| 1980s | 50.5% | 43.7% | 56.9% | 9 |
| 1990s | 46.3% | 46.3% | 46.3% | 1 |
| 2000s | 50.7% | 48.2% | 53.7% | 5 |
| 2010s | 51.5% | 50.2% | 52.9% | 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 gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in Nigeria?
- Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in Nigeria was 52.9% in 2011, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 56.9% in 1984.
- What is the lowest gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.3% in 1977.
- How does Nigeria rank for gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes?
- Nigeria ranks 176th out of 193 countries with data for 2011.
- Is gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.7%. 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 Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release