Primary education, pupils in Nigeria
Nigeria: Primary education, pupils was 33.42 million in 2023. ▲ Rising
Primary education, pupils in Nigeria, 1970–2023
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for primary education, pupils in Nigeria is 33.42 million, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 47 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 9.7% on the previous year and up 27.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary education, pupils in Nigeria peaked at 33.42 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 3.52 million, in 1970.
Nigeria ranks 3rd of 206 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 47 years of available data.
Primary education, pupils in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 3.52 million | — |
| 1971 | 3.89 million | +10.8% |
| 1972 | 4.39 million | +12.8% |
| 1973 | 4.66 million | +6.2% |
| 1976 | 4.89 million | +4.9% |
| 1977 | 6.17 million | +26.1% |
| 1978 | 8.10 million | +31.4% |
| 1979 | 9.87 million | +21.8% |
| 1980 | 10.80 million | +9.4% |
| 1981 | 12.12 million | +12.2% |
| 1982 | 13.76 million | +13.6% |
| 1983 | 14.31 million | +4.0% |
| 1984 | 14.65 million | +2.4% |
| 1985 | 14.38 million | -1.9% |
| 1986 | 13.03 million | -9.4% |
| 1987 | 12.91 million | -0.8% |
| 1988 | 12.69 million | -1.7% |
| 1989 | 12.72 million | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 13.61 million | +7.0% |
| 1991 | 13.78 million | +1.2% |
| 1992 | 14.81 million | +7.5% |
| 1993 | 15.87 million | +7.2% |
| 1994 | 16.19 million | +2.0% |
| 1995 | 15.74 million | -2.8% |
| 1996 | 14.08 million | -10.6% |
| 1999 | 17.91 million | +27.2% |
| 2000 | 19.15 million | +6.9% |
| 2001 | 19.04 million | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 19.81 million | +4.0% |
| 2003 | 20.60 million | +4.0% |
| 2004 | 21.40 million | +3.9% |
| 2005 | 22.12 million | +3.4% |
| 2006 | 22.86 million | +3.4% |
| 2007 | 21.51 million | -5.9% |
| 2008 | 20.01 million | -7.0% |
| 2009 | 20.96 million | +4.7% |
| 2010 | 20.66 million | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 23.67 million | +14.5% |
| 2012 | 24.82 million | +4.9% |
| 2013 | 26.17 million | +5.4% |
| 2014 | 25.80 million | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 8.07 million | -68.7% |
| 2016 | 25.59 million | +217.1% |
| 2018 | 27.89 million | +9.0% |
| 2020 | 30.10 million | +7.9% |
| 2021 | 30.46 million | +1.2% |
| 2023 | 33.42 million | +9.7% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 33.42 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.66 million, 20.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 33.42 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.40 million, 13.9× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Primary education, pupils in Nigeria 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.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | +217.1% | 8.07 million | 25.59 million |
| 2015 | -68.7% | 25.80 million | 8.07 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5.69 million | 3.52 million | 9.87 million | 8 |
| 1980s | 13.14 million | 10.80 million | 14.65 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 15.25 million | 13.61 million | 17.91 million | 8 |
| 2000s | 20.75 million | 19.04 million | 22.86 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.83 million | 8.07 million | 27.89 million | 8 |
| 2020s | 31.32 million | 30.10 million | 33.42 million | 3 |
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 primary education, pupils in Nigeria?
- Primary education, pupils in Nigeria was 33.42 million in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest primary education, pupils recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 33.42 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest primary education, pupils recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.52 million in 1970.
- How does Nigeria rank for primary education, pupils?
- Nigeria ranks 3rd out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is primary education, pupils rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Primary education, pupils. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Primary education pupils is the total number of pupils enrolled at primary level in public and private schools.