Percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions in Nigeria
Nigeria: Percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions was 76.7% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions in Nigeria, 2000–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions in Nigeria stood at 76.7%. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.1% on the previous year and down 9.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions in Nigeria peaked at 95.0% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 76.7%, in 2023.
That places Nigeria 149th out of 201 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 93.5% | — |
| 2006 | 95.0% | +1.6% |
| 2007 | 94.4% | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 94.9% | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 93.5% | -1.4% |
| 2010 | 92.0% | -1.6% |
| 2011 | 84.3% | -8.4% |
| 2012 | 85.1% | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 85.1% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 86.5% | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 87.3% | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 80.3% | -8.1% |
| 2020 | 82.1% | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 80.9% | -1.5% |
| 2023 | 76.7% | -5.1% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 76.7% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 86.3%, 89% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 76.7% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 84.0%, 91% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 94.3% | 93.5% | 95.0% | 5 |
| 2010s | 85.8% | 80.3% | 92.0% | 7 |
| 2020s | 79.9% | 76.7% | 82.1% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 146 Thailand 77.8% compare
- 147 British Virgin Islands 77.5% compare
- 148 Indonesia 77.1% compare
- 150 Chad 76.4% compare
- 151 Saint Kitts and Nevis 76.3% compare
- 152 Bangladesh 76.1% 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 percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions in Nigeria?
- Percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions in Nigeria was 76.7% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 95.0% in 2006.
- What is the lowest percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 76.7% in 2023.
- How does Nigeria rank for percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions?
- Nigeria ranks 149th out of 201 countries with data for 2023.
- Is percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.9%. 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 primary 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