Secondary education, pupils in Nigeria
Nigeria: Secondary education, pupils was 15.20 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Secondary education, pupils in Nigeria, 1970–2023
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for secondary education, pupils in Nigeria is 15.20 million, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 38 years on record.
That represents a change of up 9.0% on the previous year and up 21.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, secondary education, pupils in Nigeria peaked at 15.20 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 356,565, in 1970.
That places Nigeria 7th out of 206 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Secondary education, pupils in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 356,565 | — |
| 1971 | 395,575 | +10.9% |
| 1972 | 451,042 | +14.0% |
| 1973 | 516,658 | +14.5% |
| 1977 | 745,717 | +44.3% |
| 1978 | 904,931 | +21.4% |
| 1979 | 1.13 million | +25.0% |
| 1980 | 1.45 million | +28.3% |
| 1981 | 1.86 million | +28.5% |
| 1982 | 2.35 million | +25.8% |
| 1983 | 2.88 million | +22.8% |
| 1984 | 3.39 million | +17.8% |
| 1985 | 3.56 million | +5.0% |
| 1986 | 2.99 million | -16.1% |
| 1987 | 3.09 million | +3.4% |
| 1989 | 2.96 million | -4.3% |
| 1990 | 3.13 million | +5.7% |
| 1999 | 3.84 million | +23.0% |
| 2000 | 4.10 million | +6.8% |
| 2001 | 4.60 million | +12.1% |
| 2002 | 5.12 million | +11.4% |
| 2004 | 6.28 million | +22.5% |
| 2005 | 6.40 million | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 6.44 million | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 6.07 million | -5.7% |
| 2008 | 6.89 million | +13.5% |
| 2009 | 7.83 million | +13.6% |
| 2010 | 9.06 million | +15.7% |
| 2011 | 9.59 million | +5.9% |
| 2012 | 10.21 million | +6.5% |
| 2013 | 12.53 million | +22.7% |
| 2014 | 10.50 million | -16.3% |
| 2015 | 11.12 million | +5.9% |
| 2016 | 10.31 million | -7.2% |
| 2018 | 11.37 million | +10.3% |
| 2020 | 13.15 million | +15.6% |
| 2021 | 13.95 million | +6.0% |
| 2023 | 15.20 million | +9.0% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 15.20 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 929,099, 16.4× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 15.20 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 901,617, 16.9× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 643,085 | 356,565 | 1.13 million | 7 |
| 1980s | 2.73 million | 1.45 million | 3.56 million | 9 |
| 1990s | 3.48 million | 3.13 million | 3.84 million | 2 |
| 2000s | 5.97 million | 4.10 million | 7.83 million | 9 |
| 2010s | 10.59 million | 9.06 million | 12.53 million | 8 |
| 2020s | 14.10 million | 13.15 million | 15.20 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 secondary education, pupils in Nigeria?
- Secondary education, pupils in Nigeria was 15.20 million in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest secondary education, pupils recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 15.20 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest secondary education, pupils recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 356,565 in 1970.
- How does Nigeria rank for secondary education, pupils?
- Nigeria ranks 7th out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is secondary education, pupils rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Secondary education, pupils. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Secondary education pupils is the total number of pupils enrolled at secondary level in public and private schools.