Population of the official entrance age to secondary general in Nigeria
Nigeria: Population of the official entrance age to secondary general was 3.06 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Population of the official entrance age to secondary general in Nigeria, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population of the official entrance age to secondary general in Nigeria is 3.06 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
The figure is up 1.4% on the previous year and up 29.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population of the official entrance age to secondary general in Nigeria peaked at 3.06 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 613,299, in 1970.
That places Nigeria 4th out of 220 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Population of the official entrance age to secondary general in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 613,299 | — |
| 1971 | 628,727 | +2.5% |
| 1972 | 644,563 | +2.5% |
| 1973 | 662,723 | +2.8% |
| 1974 | 681,858 | +2.9% |
| 1975 | 703,552 | +3.2% |
| 1976 | 723,666 | +2.9% |
| 1977 | 746,651 | +3.2% |
| 1978 | 770,265 | +3.2% |
| 1979 | 796,632 | +3.4% |
| 1980 | 823,803 | +3.4% |
| 1981 | 853,604 | +3.6% |
| 1982 | 883,287 | +3.5% |
| 1983 | 915,307 | +3.6% |
| 1984 | 947,635 | +3.5% |
| 1985 | 984,995 | +3.9% |
| 1986 | 1.03 million | +4.2% |
| 1987 | 1.08 million | +5.0% |
| 1988 | 1.13 million | +4.8% |
| 1989 | 1.17 million | +4.0% |
| 1990 | 1.22 million | +3.9% |
| 1991 | 1.27 million | +3.9% |
| 1992 | 1.30 million | +2.5% |
| 1993 | 1.33 million | +2.4% |
| 1994 | 1.36 million | +2.4% |
| 1995 | 1.40 million | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 1.43 million | +2.6% |
| 1997 | 1.45 million | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 1.47 million | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 1.49 million | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 1.51 million | +1.7% |
| 2001 | 1.55 million | +2.5% |
| 2002 | 1.60 million | +3.1% |
| 2003 | 1.64 million | +2.3% |
| 2004 | 1.68 million | +2.4% |
| 2005 | 1.72 million | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 1.77 million | +2.9% |
| 2007 | 1.83 million | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 1.89 million | +3.4% |
| 2009 | 1.94 million | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 1.99 million | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 2.04 million | +2.7% |
| 2012 | 2.12 million | +3.9% |
| 2013 | 2.22 million | +4.5% |
| 2014 | 2.29 million | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 2.37 million | +3.2% |
| 2016 | 2.44 million | +3.2% |
| 2017 | 2.51 million | +2.9% |
| 2018 | 2.59 million | +3.1% |
| 2019 | 2.67 million | +2.9% |
| 2020 | 2.73 million | +2.6% |
| 2021 | 2.82 million | +3.0% |
| 2022 | 2.89 million | +2.5% |
| 2023 | 2.95 million | +2.2% |
| 2024 | 3.02 million | +2.3% |
| 2025 | 3.06 million | +1.4% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 3.06 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 123,208, 24.8× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 3.06 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 192,946, 15.9× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 697,194 | 613,299 | 796,632 | 10 |
| 1980s | 981,617 | 823,803 | 1.17 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.37 million | 1.22 million | 1.49 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.71 million | 1.51 million | 1.94 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.32 million | 1.99 million | 2.67 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.91 million | 2.73 million | 3.06 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
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 population of the official entrance age to secondary general in Nigeria?
- Population of the official entrance age to secondary general in Nigeria was 3.06 million in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population of the official entrance age to secondary general recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 3.06 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population of the official entrance age to secondary general recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 613,299 in 1970.
- How does Nigeria rank for population of the official entrance age to secondary general?
- Nigeria ranks 4th out of 220 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population of the official entrance age to secondary general rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.3%. 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 Population of the official entrance age to secondary general education, male (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release