Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Nigeria
Nigeria: Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal was 20.9% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
20.9%
Change on year
up 4.6%
World rank
22nd
of 110 countries
All-time high
21.2%
in 2013
All-time low
18.9%
in 2019
Years of data
6
2011–2023
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Nigeria, 2011–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Nigeria stood at 20.9%.
That represents a change of up 4.6% on the previous year and down 1.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Nigeria peaked at 21.2% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 18.9%, in 2019.
Nigeria ranks 22nd of 110 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 20.6% | — |
| 2013 | 21.2% | +3.0% |
| 2016 | 20.5% | -3.4% |
| 2019 | 18.9% | -7.8% |
| 2022 | 19.9% | +5.5% |
| 2023 | 20.9% | +4.6% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 20.9% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 15.9%, 1.3× the median. (26 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 20.9% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 16.5%, 1.3× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 20.3% | 18.9% | 21.2% | 4 |
| 2020s | 20.4% | 19.9% | 20.9% | 2 |
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 participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Nigeria?
- Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Nigeria was 20.9% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 21.2% in 2013.
- What is the lowest participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.9% in 2019.
- How does Nigeria rank for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal?
- Nigeria ranks 22nd out of 110 countries with data for 2023.
- Is participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.7%. 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 Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal education and training in the previous 12 months, 15-64 years old, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release