Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, poorest in Nigeria
Nigeria: Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, poorest was 57.7% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Latest (2021)
57.7%
Change on year
down 11.2%
World rank
1st
of 36 countries
All-time high
72.4%
in 2016
All-time low
50.1%
in 2003
Years of data
8
2003–2021
Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, poorest in Nigeria, 2003–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, poorest in Nigeria is 57.7%, measured in 2021.
That represents a change of down 11.2% on the previous year and down 9.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, poorest in Nigeria peaked at 72.4% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 50.1%, in 2003.
Nigeria ranks 1st of 36 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, poorest in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 50.1% | — |
| 2007 | 71.1% | +41.8% |
| 2008 | 64.6% | -9.1% |
| 2011 | 63.8% | -1.4% |
| 2013 | 70.9% | +11.2% |
| 2016 | 72.4% | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 64.9% | -10.3% |
| 2021 | 57.7% | -11.2% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 57.7% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 8.1%, 7.1× the median. (15 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 57.7% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 29.7%, 1.9× the median. (15 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 62.0% | 50.1% | 71.1% | 3 |
| 2010s | 68.0% | 63.8% | 72.4% | 4 |
| 2020s | 57.7% | 57.7% | 57.7% | 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 children of primary school age, poorest in Nigeria?
- Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, poorest in Nigeria was 57.7% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, poorest recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 72.4% in 2016.
- What is the lowest out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, poorest recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 50.1% in 2003.
- How does Nigeria rank for out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, poorest?
- Nigeria ranks 1st out of 36 countries with data for 2021.
- Is out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, poorest rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.5%. 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 children of primary school age, poorest 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