Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, second in Nigeria
Nigeria: Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, second was 43.2% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Latest (2021)
43.2%
Change on year
down 12.7%
World rank
14th
of 42 countries
All-time high
59.9%
in 2013
All-time low
36.7%
in 2011
Years of data
8
2003–2021
Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, second in Nigeria, 2003–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 43.2% for out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, second in 2021.
The figure is down 12.7% on the previous year and up 17.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, second in Nigeria peaked at 59.9% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 36.7%, in 2011.
Nigeria ranks 14th of 42 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, second in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 56.7% | — |
| 2007 | 48.2% | -14.9% |
| 2008 | 51.1% | +6.0% |
| 2011 | 36.7% | -28.1% |
| 2013 | 59.9% | +63.0% |
| 2016 | 58.0% | -3.2% |
| 2018 | 49.5% | -14.6% |
| 2021 | 43.2% | -12.7% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 43.2% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 45.5%, 95% of the median. (16 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 43.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 59.0%, 73% of the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 52.0% | 48.2% | 56.7% | 3 |
| 2010s | 51.0% | 36.7% | 59.9% | 4 |
| 2020s | 43.2% | 43.2% | 43.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 11 Côte d'Ivoire 53.2% compare
- 12 Honduras 47.8% compare
- 13 Gambia 44.4% compare
- 15 Bangladesh 43.0% compare
- 16 Malawi 42.7% compare
- 17 Sierra Leone 39.5% 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 youth of upper secondary school age, second in Nigeria?
- Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, second in Nigeria was 43.2% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, second recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 59.9% in 2013.
- What is the lowest out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, second recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.7% in 2011.
- How does Nigeria rank for out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, second?
- Nigeria ranks 14th out of 42 countries with data for 2021.
- Is out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, second rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.6%. 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, 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