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 10.2% 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 10.2%, measured in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 8 years on record.
The figure is down 38.1% on the previous year and down 8.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age in Nigeria peaked at 33.0% in 2007 and was at its lowest, 10.2%, in 2021.
That places Nigeria 15th out of 34 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 | 31.7% | — |
| 2007 | 33.0% | +4.4% |
| 2008 | 20.7% | -37.4% |
| 2011 | 11.2% | -46.0% |
| 2013 | 16.3% | +46.1% |
| 2016 | 26.0% | +59.6% |
| 2018 | 16.5% | -36.6% |
| 2021 | 10.2% | -38.1% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 10.2% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 14.3%, 71% of the median. (13 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 10.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 20.4%, 50% of the median. (14 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 28.5% | 20.7% | 33.0% | 3 |
| 2010s | 17.5% | 11.2% | 26.0% | 4 |
| 2020s | 10.2% | 10.2% | 10.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 12 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 14.3% compare
- 13 Cameroon 12.9% compare
- 14 Lesotho 12.7% compare
- 16 Sierra Leone 8.9% compare
- 17 El Salvador 7.7% compare
- 18 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 6.6% 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 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 10.2% 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 33.0% in 2007.
- What is the lowest out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.2% in 2021.
- How does Nigeria rank for out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age?
- Nigeria ranks 15th out of 34 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 down 8.5%. 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, urban, middle 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