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 22.7% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Latest (2021)
22.7%
Change on year
down 7.2%
World rank
8th
of 30 countries
All-time high
62.0%
in 2003
All-time low
18.3%
in 2011
Years of data
8
2003–2021
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 22.7%, measured in 2021.
That represents a change of down 7.2% on the previous year and up 24.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age in Nigeria peaked at 62.0% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 18.3%, in 2011.
Nigeria ranks 8th of 30 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 62.0% | — |
| 2007 | 57.7% | -6.9% |
| 2008 | 36.2% | -37.4% |
| 2011 | 18.3% | -49.5% |
| 2013 | 25.0% | +36.7% |
| 2016 | 22.1% | -11.5% |
| 2018 | 24.5% | +10.9% |
| 2021 | 22.7% | -7.2% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 22.7% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 19.6%, 1.2× the median. (11 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 22.7% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 27.3%, 83% of the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 52.0% | 36.2% | 62.0% | 3 |
| 2010s | 22.4% | 18.3% | 25.0% | 4 |
| 2020s | 22.7% | 22.7% | 22.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 5 Gambia 31.8% compare
- 6 Cameroon 27.3% compare
- 7 Côte d'Ivoire 25.6% compare
- 9 Bangladesh 19.6% compare
- 10 Honduras 14.3% compare
- 11 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 13.5% 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 22.7% 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 62.0% 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 18.3% in 2011.
- How does Nigeria rank for out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age?
- Nigeria ranks 8th out of 30 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 24.5%. 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, second 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