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 49.2% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Latest (2021)
49.2%
Change on year
up 33.0%
World rank
3rd
of 23 countries
All-time high
52.7%
in 2003
All-time low
20.1%
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
In 2021, percentage of pupils enrolled in primary education who are at least 2 in Nigeria stood at 49.2%.
The figure is up 33.0% on the previous year and up 144.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, percentage of pupils enrolled in primary education who are at least 2 in Nigeria peaked at 52.7% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 20.1%, in 2011.
That places Nigeria 3rd out of 23 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.
Percentage of pupils enrolled in primary education who are at least 2 in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 52.7% | — |
| 2007 | 33.5% | -36.4% |
| 2008 | 36.7% | +9.4% |
| 2011 | 20.1% | -45.1% |
| 2013 | 27.7% | +37.8% |
| 2016 | 28.8% | +4.0% |
| 2018 | 37.0% | +28.3% |
| 2021 | 49.2% | +33.0% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 49.2% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 44.5%, 1.1× the median. (6 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 49.2% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 32.0%, 1.5× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 41.0% | 33.5% | 52.7% | 3 |
| 2010s | 28.4% | 20.1% | 37.0% | 4 |
| 2020s | 49.2% | 49.2% | 49.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 1 Ghana 63.4% compare
- 2 Malawi 50.9% compare
- 4 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 39.9% compare
- 5 Bangladesh 33.0% compare
- 6 Senegal 31.0% 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 49.2% 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 52.7% 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 20.1% in 2011.
- How does Nigeria rank for percentage of pupils enrolled in primary education who are at least 2?
- Nigeria ranks 3rd out of 23 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 144.4%. 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 pupils enrolled in primary education who are at least 2 years over-age for their current grade, urban, 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