Teachers in primary education, both sexes in Nigeria
Nigeria: Teachers in primary education, both sexes was 913,305 in 2021. ▲ Rising
Teachers in primary education, both sexes in Nigeria, 1970–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for teachers in primary education, both sexes in Nigeria is 913,305, measured in 2021.
The figure is up 10.9% on the previous year and up 59.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, teachers in primary education, both sexes in Nigeria peaked at 913,579 in 2018 and was at its lowest, 103,152, in 1970.
That places Nigeria 5th out of 216 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 38 years of available data.
Teachers in primary education, both sexes in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 103,152 | — |
| 1971 | 116,640 | +13.1% |
| 1972 | 130,434 | +11.8% |
| 1973 | 136,142 | +4.4% |
| 1976 | 144,351 | +6.0% |
| 1977 | 177,221 | +22.8% |
| 1978 | 251,362 | +41.8% |
| 1979 | 291,457 | +16.0% |
| 1980 | 301,427 | +3.4% |
| 1981 | 343,551 | +14.0% |
| 1982 | 369,636 | +7.6% |
| 1983 | 386,826 | +4.7% |
| 1984 | 383,989 | -0.7% |
| 1985 | 359,701 | -6.3% |
| 1986 | 308,072 | -14.4% |
| 1987 | 292,821 | -5.0% |
| 1988 | 308,182 | +5.2% |
| 1989 | 344,221 | +11.7% |
| 1990 | 331,915 | -3.6% |
| 1991 | 353,600 | +6.5% |
| 1992 | 384,212 | +8.7% |
| 1993 | 428,097 | +11.4% |
| 1994 | 435,210 | +1.7% |
| 1995 | 423,059 | -2.8% |
| 1996 | 416,745 | -1.5% |
| 1999 | 432,096 | +3.7% |
| 2000 | 446,405 | +3.3% |
| 2001 | 488,164 | +9.4% |
| 2002 | 491,751 | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 590,655 | +20.1% |
| 2004 | 597,532 | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 599,172 | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 565,646 | -5.6% |
| 2007 | 466,784 | -17.5% |
| 2010 | 574,078 | +23.0% |
| 2018 | 913,579 | +59.1% |
| 2020 | 823,581 | -9.9% |
| 2021 | 913,305 | +10.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 168,845 | 103,152 | 291,457 | 8 |
| 1980s | 339,843 | 292,821 | 386,826 | 10 |
| 1990s | 400,617 | 331,915 | 435,210 | 8 |
| 2000s | 530,764 | 446,405 | 599,172 | 8 |
| 2010s | 743,828 | 574,078 | 913,579 | 2 |
| 2020s | 868,443 | 823,581 | 913,305 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More education data for Nigeria
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), gaps filled 2,021 tertiary education (2022)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), annual growth 0.0497 % change on previous year (2014)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 913,305 (2021)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre primary education 1 (2025)
- Official entrance age to pre primary education 5 (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 56.4% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 40.5% (2025)
- Lower secondary school starting age 12 years (2025)
- Primary school starting age 6 years (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is teachers in primary education, both sexes in Nigeria?
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes in Nigeria was 913,305 in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest teachers in primary education, both sexes recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 913,579 in 2018.
- What is the lowest teachers in primary education, both sexes recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 103,152 in 1970.
- How does Nigeria rank for teachers in primary education, both sexes?
- Nigeria ranks 5th out of 216 countries with data for 2021.
- Is teachers in primary education, both sexes rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 59.1%. 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, published as part of Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release