Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, rural in Nigeria
Nigeria: Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, rural was 28.1% in 2021. ▬ Flat
Latest (2021)
28.1%
Change on year
down 12.1%
World rank
20th
of 37 countries
All-time high
40.3%
in 2003
All-time low
20.7%
in 2011
Years of data
8
2003–2021
Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, rural in Nigeria, 2003–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2021, out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, rural in Nigeria stood at 28.1%.
The figure is down 12.1% on the previous year and up 35.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, rural in Nigeria peaked at 40.3% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 20.7%, in 2011.
That places Nigeria 20th out of 37 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, rural in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 40.3% | — |
| 2007 | 28.7% | -28.7% |
| 2008 | 25.5% | -11.1% |
| 2011 | 20.7% | -18.9% |
| 2013 | 37.5% | +81.1% |
| 2016 | 39.2% | +4.5% |
| 2018 | 32.0% | -18.5% |
| 2021 | 28.1% | -12.1% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 28.1% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 45.2%, 62% of the median. (15 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 28.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 54.2%, 52% of the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 31.5% | 25.5% | 40.3% | 3 |
| 2010s | 32.4% | 20.7% | 39.2% | 4 |
| 2020s | 28.1% | 28.1% | 28.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 17 Sierra Leone 36.9% compare
- 18 Bangladesh 34.5% compare
- 19 Malawi 33.6% compare
- 21 Colombia 22.8% compare
- 22 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 20.9% compare
- 23 Panama 20.1% 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, rural in Nigeria?
- Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, rural in Nigeria was 28.1% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, rural recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 40.3% in 2003.
- What is the lowest out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, rural recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.7% in 2011.
- How does Nigeria rank for out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, rural?
- Nigeria ranks 20th out of 37 countries with data for 2021.
- Is out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, rural rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 35.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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, rural, 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