Percentage of pupils enrolled in primary education who are at least 2 in Nigeria
Nigeria: Percentage of pupils enrolled in primary education who are at least 2 was 14.8% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Latest (2021)
14.8%
Change on year
up 2.5%
World rank
5th
of 25 countries
All-time high
16.9%
in 2016
All-time low
6.8%
in 2011
Years of data
8
2003–2021
Percentage of pupils enrolled in primary education who are at least 2 in Nigeria, 2003–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 14.8% for percentage of pupils enrolled in primary education who are at least 2 in 2021.
The figure is up 2.5% on the previous year and up 117.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, percentage of pupils enrolled in primary education who are at least 2 in Nigeria peaked at 16.9% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 6.8%, in 2011.
That places Nigeria 5th out of 25 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
Percentage of pupils enrolled in primary education who are at least 2 in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 16.3% | — |
| 2007 | 12.9% | -20.9% |
| 2008 | 11.8% | -8.0% |
| 2011 | 6.8% | -42.8% |
| 2013 | 8.2% | +20.2% |
| 2016 | 16.9% | +106.9% |
| 2018 | 14.4% | -14.5% |
| 2021 | 14.8% | +2.5% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 14.8% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.6%, 1.0× the median. (8 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 14.8% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12.9%, 1.1× the median. (8 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 13.7% | 11.8% | 16.3% | 3 |
| 2010s | 11.5% | 6.8% | 16.9% | 4 |
| 2020s | 14.8% | 14.8% | 14.8% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 2 Ghana 27.6% compare
- 3 Bangladesh 21.2% compare
- 4 Senegal 15.4% compare
- 6 Sierra Leone 14.4% compare
- 7 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 12.8% compare
- 8 Guatemala 12.4% 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 pupils enrolled in primary education who are at least 2 in Nigeria?
- Percentage of pupils enrolled in primary education who are at least 2 in Nigeria was 14.8% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest percentage of pupils enrolled in primary education who are at least 2 recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 16.9% in 2016.
- What is the lowest percentage of pupils enrolled in primary education who are at least 2 recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.8% in 2011.
- How does Nigeria rank for percentage of pupils enrolled in primary education who are at least 2?
- Nigeria ranks 5th out of 25 countries with data for 2021.
- Is percentage of pupils enrolled in primary education who are at least 2 rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 117.7%. 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 Percentage of pupils enrolled in primary education who are at least 2 years over-age for their current grade, urban, richest quintile, male (household survey data) (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release