Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, middle in Nigeria
Nigeria: Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, middle was 24.6% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Latest (2021)
24.6%
Change on year
down 19.0%
World rank
17th
of 42 countries
All-time high
41.2%
in 2003
All-time low
20.4%
in 2011
Years of data
8
2003–2021
Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, middle in Nigeria, 2003–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 24.6% for out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, middle in 2021.
The figure is down 19.0% on the previous year and up 20.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, middle in Nigeria peaked at 41.2% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 20.4%, in 2011.
That places Nigeria 17th out of 42 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, middle in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 41.2% | — |
| 2007 | 29.4% | -28.5% |
| 2008 | 26.8% | -8.8% |
| 2011 | 20.4% | -24.0% |
| 2013 | 36.8% | +80.5% |
| 2016 | 36.2% | -1.7% |
| 2018 | 30.4% | -16.0% |
| 2021 | 24.6% | -19.0% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 24.6% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 37.8%, 65% of the median. (16 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 24.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 47.1%, 52% of the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 32.5% | 26.8% | 41.2% | 3 |
| 2010s | 30.9% | 20.4% | 36.8% | 4 |
| 2020s | 24.6% | 24.6% | 24.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 14 Bangladesh 37.4% compare
- 15 Sierra Leone 34.1% compare
- 16 Malawi 33.6% compare
- 18 Kyrgyzstan 23.4% compare
- 19 Mexico 23.2% compare
- 20 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 19.7% 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 youth of upper secondary school age, middle in Nigeria?
- Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, middle in Nigeria was 24.6% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, middle recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 41.2% in 2003.
- What is the lowest out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, middle recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.4% in 2011.
- How does Nigeria rank for out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, middle?
- Nigeria ranks 17th out of 42 countries with data for 2021.
- Is out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, middle rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.6%. 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 youth of upper secondary school age, 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