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 41.7% in 2021. ▬ Flat
Latest (2021)
41.7%
Change on year
up 13.2%
World rank
5th
of 26 countries
All-time high
43.8%
in 2003
All-time low
28.0%
in 2013
Years of data
7
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
The most recent figure for percentage of pupils enrolled in primary education who are at least 2 in Nigeria is 41.7%, measured in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 13.2% on the previous year and up 30.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, percentage of pupils enrolled in primary education who are at least 2 in Nigeria peaked at 43.8% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 28.0%, in 2013.
That places Nigeria 5th out of 26 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 | 43.8% | — |
| 2008 | 37.0% | -15.6% |
| 2011 | 31.9% | -13.7% |
| 2013 | 28.0% | -12.2% |
| 2016 | 43.4% | +55.0% |
| 2018 | 36.9% | -15.2% |
| 2021 | 41.7% | +13.2% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 41.7% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 37.6%, 1.1× the median. (10 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 41.7% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 31.8%, 1.3× the median. (9 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 40.4% | 37.0% | 43.8% | 2 |
| 2010s | 35.1% | 28.0% | 43.4% | 4 |
| 2020s | 41.7% | 41.7% | 41.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 2 Cameroon 66.2% compare
- 3 Malawi 53.4% compare
- 4 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 49.4% compare
- 6 Guatemala 35.2% compare
- 7 Burkina Faso 33.4% compare
- 8 Bangladesh 33.0% 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 41.7% 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 43.8% in 2003.
- What is the lowest percentage of pupils enrolled in primary education who are at least 2 recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.0% in 2013.
- How does Nigeria rank for percentage of pupils enrolled in primary education who are at least 2?
- Nigeria ranks 5th out of 26 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 30.6%. 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 Percentage of pupils enrolled in primary education who are at least 2 years over-age for their current grade, rural, poorest 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