Share of the population with lower secondary education in Nigeria
Nigeria: Share of the population with lower secondary education was 53.4% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Share of the population with lower secondary education in Nigeria, 2006–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 53.4% for share of the population with lower secondary education in 2024. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.
The figure is up 7.3% on the previous year and up 18.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population with lower secondary education in Nigeria peaked at 53.4% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 44.6%, in 2018.
That places Nigeria 99th out of 135 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
Share of the population with lower secondary education in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 49.4% | — |
| 2016 | 45.2% | -8.4% |
| 2018 | 44.6% | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 44.6% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 49.8% | +11.5% |
| 2024 | 53.4% | +7.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 49.4% | 49.4% | 49.4% | 1 |
| 2010s | 44.8% | 44.6% | 45.2% | 3 |
| 2020s | 51.6% | 49.8% | 53.4% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More education data for Nigeria
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 15.20 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 6.03 % change on previous year (2021)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 913,305 (2021)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 10.89 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 7.54 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 5.9 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 7.66 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 6.16 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2.31 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual -64.76 % change on previous year (2021)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population with lower secondary education in Nigeria?
- Share of the population with lower secondary education in Nigeria was 53.4% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of the population with lower secondary education recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 53.4% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of the population with lower secondary education recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 44.6% in 2018.
- How does Nigeria rank for share of the population with lower secondary education?
- Nigeria ranks 99th out of 135 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of the population with lower secondary education rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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 the population with lower secondary education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of adults aged 25 and older who have completed lower secondary education or higher.