Share of students studying abroad in Nigeria
Nigeria: Share of students studying abroad was 3.8% in 2011. ▲ Rising
Share of students studying abroad in Nigeria, 1999–2011
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 3.8% for share of students studying abroad in 2011.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 16.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of students studying abroad in Nigeria peaked at 3.8% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 2.3%, in 2003.
Nigeria ranks 114th of 175 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Share of students studying abroad in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 3.2% | — |
| 2003 | 2.3% | -29.6% |
| 2004 | 2.4% | +5.2% |
| 2005 | 2.5% | +3.2% |
| 2010 | 3.8% | +52.5% |
| 2011 | 3.8% | -0.1% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 3.8% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.8%, 55% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 3.8% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 6.6%, 57% of the median. (40 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.2% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 1 |
| 2000s | 2.4% | 2.3% | 2.5% | 3 |
| 2010s | 3.8% | 3.8% | 3.8% | 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 share of students studying abroad in Nigeria?
- Share of students studying abroad in Nigeria was 3.8% in 2011, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of students studying abroad recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 3.8% in 2010.
- What is the lowest share of students studying abroad recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.3% in 2003.
- How does Nigeria rank for share of students studying abroad?
- Nigeria ranks 114th out of 175 countries with data for 2011.
- Is share of students studying abroad rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.5%. 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 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of students studying abroad. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of a country's tertiary level students studying abroad as international students. International students are those that move from their home countries for education, identified based on their past education, residence, or distinct immigration regulations.