Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Nigeria
Nigeria: Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region was 9.07 million children in 2023. ▲ Rising
Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Nigeria, 1999–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in children.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 9.07 million children for primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in 2023.
That represents a change of down 11.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Nigeria peaked at 10.29 million children in 2010 and was at its lowest, 7.21 million children, in 2000.
That places Nigeria 1st out of 196 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 10 years of available data.
Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 7.54 million children | — |
| 2000 | 7.21 million children | -4.4% |
| 2004 | 7.90 million children | +9.6% |
| 2005 | 8.05 million children | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 8.24 million children | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 7.90 million children | -4.1% |
| 2008 | 9.81 million children | +24.1% |
| 2009 | 9.90 million children | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 10.29 million children | +4.0% |
| 2023 | 9.07 million children | -11.9% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 9.07 million children is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 79,507 children, 114.1× the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 9.07 million children is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 235,313 children, 38.5× the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.54 million children | 7.54 million children | 7.54 million children | 1 |
| 2000s | 8.43 million children | 7.21 million children | 9.90 million children | 7 |
| 2010s | 10.29 million children | 10.29 million children | 10.29 million children | 1 |
| 2020s | 9.07 million children | 9.07 million children | 9.07 million children | 1 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 2 China 8.25 million children
- 3 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 5.23 million children
- 4 Ethiopia 4.24 million children 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 primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Nigeria?
- Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Nigeria was 9.07 million children in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 10.29 million children in 2010.
- What is the lowest primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.21 million children in 2000.
- How does Nigeria rank for primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region?
- Nigeria ranks 1st out of 196 countries with data for 2023.
- Is primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.9%. 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 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Children in the official primary school age range who are not enrolled in either primary or secondary education.