Out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age in Nigeria
Nigeria: Out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age was 5.9% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age in Nigeria, 2003–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age in Nigeria is 5.9%, measured in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.8% on the previous year and up 63.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age in Nigeria peaked at 9.3% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 3.6%, in 2016.
That places Nigeria 15th out of 37 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
Out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 9.3% | — |
| 2007 | 8.6% | -7.6% |
| 2008 | 4.3% | -50.2% |
| 2011 | 3.6% | -14.6% |
| 2013 | 5.2% | +43.2% |
| 2016 | 3.6% | -31.7% |
| 2018 | 5.5% | +55.0% |
| 2021 | 5.9% | +7.8% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 5.9% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.8%, 87% of the median. (16 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 5.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 9.5%, 62% of the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7.4% | 4.3% | 9.3% | 3 |
| 2010s | 4.5% | 3.6% | 5.5% | 4 |
| 2020s | 5.9% | 5.9% | 5.9% | 1 |
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 out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age in Nigeria?
- Out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age in Nigeria was 5.9% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 9.3% in 2003.
- What is the lowest out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.6% in 2016.
- How does Nigeria rank for out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age?
- Nigeria ranks 15th out of 37 countries with data for 2021.
- Is out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 63.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age, richest quintile, both sexes (household survey data) (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release