School life expectancy, tertiary, both sexes (years) (both sexes) in Nigeria
Nigeria: School life expectancy, tertiary, both sexes (years) (both sexes) was 0.4871 years in 2011. ◆ Volatile
School life expectancy, tertiary, both sexes in Nigeria, 1975–2011
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in years.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 0.4871 years for school life expectancy, tertiary, both sexes in 2011.
The figure is up 5.8% on the previous year and up 67.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school life expectancy, tertiary, both sexes in Nigeria peaked at 0.5048 years in 2005 and was at its lowest, 0.0371 years, in 1975.
Nigeria ranks 167th of 196 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
School life expectancy, tertiary, both sexes (years) (both sexes) in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 0.0371 years | — |
| 1976 | 0.041 years | +10.5% |
| 1977 | 0.0522 years | +27.4% |
| 1978 | 0.0588 years | +12.6% |
| 1979 | 0.0815 years | +38.6% |
| 1980 | 0.0935 years | +14.7% |
| 1981 | 0.1182 years | +26.4% |
| 1982 | 0.1354 years | +14.6% |
| 1983 | 0.1443 years | +6.5% |
| 1984 | 0.152 years | +5.3% |
| 1985 | 0.1709 years | +12.5% |
| 1986 | 0.178 years | +4.1% |
| 1987 | 0.1737 years | -2.4% |
| 1988 | 0.1915 years | +10.2% |
| 1989 | 0.2043 years | +6.7% |
| 1999 | 0.2901 years | +42.0% |
| 2003 | 0.4642 years | +60.0% |
| 2004 | 0.476 years | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 0.5048 years | +6.1% |
| 2010 | 0.4606 years | -8.8% |
| 2011 | 0.4871 years | +5.8% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 0.4871 years is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.8465 years, 58% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 0.4871 years is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.5449 years, 89% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where School life expectancy, tertiary, both sexes (years) (both sexes) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | +60.0% | 0.2901 years | 0.4642 years |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.0541 years | 0.0371 years | 0.0815 years | 5 |
| 1980s | 0.1562 years | 0.0935 years | 0.2043 years | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.2901 years | 0.2901 years | 0.2901 years | 1 |
| 2000s | 0.4817 years | 0.4642 years | 0.5048 years | 3 |
| 2010s | 0.4738 years | 0.4606 years | 0.4871 years | 2 |
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 school life expectancy, tertiary, both sexes in Nigeria?
- School life expectancy, tertiary, both sexes in Nigeria was 0.4871 years in 2011, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school life expectancy, tertiary, both sexes recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 0.5048 years in 2005.
- What is the lowest school life expectancy, tertiary, both sexes recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0371 years in 1975.
- How does Nigeria rank for school life expectancy, tertiary, both sexes?
- Nigeria ranks 167th out of 196 countries with data for 2011.
- Is school life expectancy, tertiary, both sexes rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 67.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of School life expectancy, tertiary, both sexes (years). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release