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 68.2% in 2021. ▲ Rising
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 68.2%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 13.3% on the previous year and up 2.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, rural in Nigeria peaked at 86.7% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 61.7%, in 2003.
That places Nigeria 12th out of 38 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 | 61.7% | — |
| 2007 | 67.3% | +9.1% |
| 2008 | 72.1% | +7.1% |
| 2011 | 66.6% | -7.6% |
| 2013 | 86.7% | +30.1% |
| 2016 | 79.7% | -8.1% |
| 2018 | 78.7% | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 68.2% | -13.3% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 68.2% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 68.2%, 1.0× the median. (15 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 68.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 74.1%, 92% of the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 67.0% | 61.7% | 72.1% | 3 |
| 2010s | 77.9% | 66.6% | 86.7% | 4 |
| 2020s | 68.2% | 68.2% | 68.2% | 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 youth of upper secondary school age, rural in Nigeria?
- Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, rural in Nigeria was 68.2% 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 86.7% in 2013.
- What is the lowest out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, rural recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 61.7% in 2003.
- How does Nigeria rank for out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, rural?
- Nigeria ranks 12th out of 38 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 2.3%. 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 youth of upper secondary school age, rural, 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