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 1.93 WPIA in 2021. ▲ Rising
Out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age in Nigeria, 2003–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in WPIA.
Analysis
The most recent figure for out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age in Nigeria is 1.93 WPIA, measured in 2021.
That represents a change of down 0.1% on the previous year and up 0.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age in Nigeria peaked at 1.96 WPIA in 2016 and was at its lowest, 1.81 WPIA, in 2003.
That places Nigeria 2nd out of 22 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.
Out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | WPIA | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 1.81 WPIA | — |
| 2007 | 1.86 WPIA | +3.3% |
| 2008 | 1.94 WPIA | +4.2% |
| 2011 | 1.92 WPIA | -0.9% |
| 2013 | 1.95 WPIA | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 1.96 WPIA | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 1.93 WPIA | -1.6% |
| 2021 | 1.93 WPIA | -0.1% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 1.93 WPIA is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.69 WPIA, 1.1× the median. (9 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 1.93 WPIA is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.72 WPIA, 1.1× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.87 WPIA | 1.81 WPIA | 1.94 WPIA | 3 |
| 2010s | 1.94 WPIA | 1.92 WPIA | 1.96 WPIA | 4 |
| 2020s | 1.93 WPIA | 1.93 WPIA | 1.93 WPIA | 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 1.93 WPIA 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 1.96 WPIA in 2016.
- What is the lowest out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.81 WPIA in 2003.
- How does Nigeria rank for out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age?
- Nigeria ranks 2nd out of 22 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 0.3%. 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 Out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age, rural, adjusted wealth parity index (household survey data) (WPIA). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release