Percentage of enrolment in lower secondary education in public in Nigeria
Nigeria: Percentage of enrolment in lower secondary education in public was 73.9% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Percentage of enrolment in lower secondary education in public in Nigeria, 2006–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 73.9% for percentage of enrolment in lower secondary education in public in 2023.
The figure is up 3.6% on the previous year and down 9.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, percentage of enrolment in lower secondary education in public in Nigeria peaked at 88.5% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 71.3%, in 2021.
That places Nigeria 148th out of 194 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Percentage of enrolment in lower secondary education in public in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 88.5% | — |
| 2007 | 85.3% | -3.6% |
| 2008 | 87.7% | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 84.7% | -3.4% |
| 2010 | 82.3% | -2.8% |
| 2011 | 81.3% | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 81.6% | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 81.6% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 77.0% | -5.7% |
| 2015 | 77.7% | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 82.0% | +5.5% |
| 2018 | 75.8% | -7.5% |
| 2020 | 74.6% | -1.6% |
| 2021 | 71.3% | -4.4% |
| 2023 | 73.9% | +3.6% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 73.9% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 80.9%, 91% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 73.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 85.9%, 86% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 86.6% | 84.7% | 88.5% | 4 |
| 2010s | 79.9% | 75.8% | 82.3% | 8 |
| 2020s | 73.3% | 71.3% | 74.6% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 145 British Virgin Islands 75.1% compare
- 146 Ecuador 74.6% compare
- 147 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 74.2% compare
- 149 Peru 73.5% compare
- 150 Solomon Islands 72.5% compare
- 151 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 72.3% 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 percentage of enrolment in lower secondary education in public in Nigeria?
- Percentage of enrolment in lower secondary education in public in Nigeria was 73.9% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest percentage of enrolment in lower secondary education in public recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 88.5% in 2006.
- What is the lowest percentage of enrolment in lower secondary education in public recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 71.3% in 2021.
- How does Nigeria rank for percentage of enrolment in lower secondary education in public?
- Nigeria ranks 148th out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is percentage of enrolment in lower secondary education in public rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.4%. 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 Percentage of enrolment in lower secondary education in public institutions, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release