Share of the population with at least some formal education in Niger

Niger: Share of the population with at least some formal education was 41.9% in 2020. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2020)
41.9%
World rank
111th
of 111 countries
All-time high
41.9%
in 2020
All-time low
0.0%
in 1870
Years of data
31
1870–2020

Share of the population with at least some formal education in Niger, 1870–2020

0102030401870194520201870: 0 %1875: 0 %1880: 0 %1885: 0 %1890: 0 %1895: 0 %1900: 0 %1905: 0 %1910: 0 %1915: 0 %1920: 1.5 %1925: 2.7 %1930: 3.6 %1935: 5.4 %1940: 6.2 %1945: 6.8 %1950: 7.3 %1955: 7.8 %1960: 8.2 %1965: 8.3 %1970: 9 %1975: 9.9 %1980: 11.5 %1985: 13.7 %1990: 16.6 %1995: 19.5 %2000: 21.5 %2005: 23.7 %2010: 27.9 %2015: 34.4 %2020: 41.9 %

Source: Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2020, share of the population with at least some formal education in Niger stood at 41.9%. That is the highest value across all 31 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 50.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of the population with at least some formal education in Niger peaked at 41.9% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1870.

That places Niger 111th out of 111 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Share of the population with at least some formal education in Niger, year by year

Annual values for Share of the population with at least some formal education in Niger, 1870 to 2020.
Year % Change
1870 0.0%
1875 0.0%
1880 0.0%
1885 0.0%
1890 0.0%
1895 0.0%
1900 0.0%
1905 0.0%
1910 0.0%
1915 0.0%
1920 1.5%
1925 2.7% +80.0%
1930 3.6% +33.3%
1935 5.4% +50.0%
1940 6.2% +14.8%
1945 6.8% +9.7%
1950 7.3% +7.4%
1955 7.8% +6.8%
1960 8.2% +5.1%
1965 8.3% +1.2%
1970 9.0% +8.4%
1975 9.9% +10.0%
1980 11.5% +16.2%
1985 13.7% +19.1%
1990 16.6% +21.2%
1995 19.5% +17.5%
2000 21.5% +10.3%
2005 23.7% +10.2%
2010 27.9% +17.7%
2015 34.4% +23.3%
2020 41.9% +21.8%

Niger compared with similar countries

  • Niger's 41.9% is below the median for low income countries, which is 64.0%, 65% of the median. (13 countries reporting)
  • Niger's 41.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 78.0%, 54% of the median. (23 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Share of the population with at least some formal education in Niger changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
1925 +80.0% 1.5% 2.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1870s 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 2
1880s 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 2
1890s 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 2
1900s 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 2
1910s 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 2
1920s 2.1% 1.5% 2.7% 2
1930s 4.5% 3.6% 5.4% 2
1940s 6.5% 6.2% 6.8% 2
1950s 7.5% 7.3% 7.8% 2
1960s 8.2% 8.2% 8.3% 2
1970s 9.4% 9.0% 9.9% 2
1980s 12.6% 11.5% 13.7% 2
1990s 18.1% 16.6% 19.5% 2
2000s 22.6% 21.5% 23.7% 2
2010s 31.1% 27.9% 34.4% 2
2020s 41.9% 41.9% 41.9% 1

Countries ranked near Niger

  1. 108 Sudan 54.4% compare
  2. 109 Gambia 52.9% compare
  3. 110 Mali 43.0% compare

See the full ranking of 111 places →

More education data for Niger

All data for Niger →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of the population with at least some formal education in Niger?
Share of the population with at least some formal education in Niger was 41.9% in 2020, according to Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest share of the population with at least some formal education recorded in Niger?
The highest recorded value was 41.9% in 2020.
What is the lowest share of the population with at least some formal education recorded in Niger?
The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1870.
How does Niger rank for share of the population with at least some formal education?
Niger ranks 111th out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
Is share of the population with at least some formal education rising or falling in Niger?
Over the last ten years it is up 50.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Niger data come from?
The figures come from Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of the population with at least some formal education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Share of the population with at least some formal education in Niger. Statizoid, drawing on Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 22 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/population-having-attained-at-least-basic-education/niger/

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About this data

Indicator
Share of the population with at least some formal education
Unit
%
Source
Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
111 places, 3,441 data points, 1870–2020
Last refreshed

Based on the population aged 15 years and older.