Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in Nigeria
Nigeria: Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes was 56.1% 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 56.1%, measured in 2011.
That represents a change of up 5.7% on the previous year and up 12.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in Nigeria peaked at 57.5% in 1984 and was at its lowest, 27.2%, in 1977.
Nigeria ranks 161st of 181 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 | 27.2% | — |
| 1978 | 34.3% | +26.1% |
| 1979 | 40.6% | +18.4% |
| 1980 | 43.8% | +7.9% |
| 1981 | 48.6% | +10.9% |
| 1982 | 54.4% | +11.9% |
| 1983 | 56.4% | +3.7% |
| 1984 | 57.5% | +2.0% |
| 1985 | 55.6% | -3.3% |
| 1986 | 50.3% | -9.5% |
| 1987 | 48.7% | -3.1% |
| 1989 | 45.0% | -7.7% |
| 1999 | 48.0% | +6.7% |
| 2000 | 50.2% | +4.6% |
| 2001 | 50.0% | -0.5% |
| 2002 | 52.0% | +3.9% |
| 2004 | 55.5% | +6.8% |
| 2005 | 56.0% | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 53.0% | -5.4% |
| 2011 | 56.1% | +5.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 34.0% | 27.2% | 40.6% | 3 |
| 1980s | 51.1% | 43.8% | 57.5% | 9 |
| 1990s | 48.0% | 48.0% | 48.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 52.7% | 50.0% | 56.0% | 5 |
| 2010s | 54.5% | 53.0% | 56.1% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 158 Côte d'Ivoire 58.4% compare
- 159 Honduras 58.0% compare
- 160 Tanzania, United Republic of 57.4% compare
- 162 Yemen 55.5% compare
- 163 Solomon Islands 55.4% compare
- 164 Mauritania 55.2% 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 to tertiary, both sexes in Nigeria?
- Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in Nigeria was 56.1% 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 57.5% in 1984.
- What is the lowest gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.2% in 1977.
- How does Nigeria rank for gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes?
- Nigeria ranks 161st out of 181 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 12.1%. 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
Total enrollment in primary, secondary and tertiary education, regardless of age, expressed as a percentage of the total population of primary school age, secondary school age, and the five-year age group following on from secondary school leaving. GER can exceed 100% due to the inclusion of over-aged and under-aged students because of early or late school entrance and grade repetition.