Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in Nigeria

Nigeria: Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying was 146,286 in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
146,286
Change on year
up 30.0%
World rank
3rd
of 205 countries
All-time high
146,286
in 2023
All-time low
22,300
in 1998
Years of data
26
1998–2023

Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in Nigeria, 1998–2023

25.0k50.0k75.0k100.0k125.0k150.0k1998201020231998: 22.3k1999: 22.6k2000: 23.5k2001: 24.5k2002: 25.7k2003: 28.1k2004: 30.9k2005: 34.5k2006: 35.6k2007: 38.1k2008: 41.8k2009: 50.2k2010: 52.7k2011: 57.1k2012: 58.2k2013: 64.1k2014: 79.7k2015: 92.4k2016: 96.6k2017: 85.9k2018: 76.3k2019: 69.4k2020: 74.4k2021: 85.3k2022: 112.5k2023: 146.3k

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

In 2023, total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in Nigeria stood at 146,286. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 30.0% on the previous year and up 128.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in Nigeria peaked at 146,286 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 22,300, in 1998.

That places Nigeria 3rd out of 205 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.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 22,464 22,300 22,629 2
2000s 33,308 23,548 50,218 10
2010s 73,231 52,661 96,562 10
2020s 104,632 74,413 146,286 4

Countries ranked near Nigeria

  1. 1 China (People’s Republic of) 1.08 million compare
  2. 1 Cook Islands 241 compare
  3. 2 India 833,835 compare
  4. 3 Tokelau 73 compare
  5. 4 Germany 128,287 compare
  6. 4 Niue 60 compare
  7. 5 Montserrat 39 compare
  8. 5 Viet Nam 128,186 compare
  9. 6 Uzbekistan 120,563 compare

See the full ranking of 431 places →

More education data for Nigeria

All data for Nigeria →

Frequently asked questions

What is total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in Nigeria?
Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in Nigeria was 146,286 in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying recorded in Nigeria?
The highest recorded value was 146,286 in 2023.
What is the lowest total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying recorded in Nigeria?
The lowest recorded value was 22,300 in 1998.
How does Nigeria rank for total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying?
Nigeria ranks 3rd out of 205 countries with data for 2023.
Is total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying rising or falling in Nigeria?
Over the last ten years it is up 128.1%. 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 Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying abroad, all countries, both sexes (UIS estimate) (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in Nigeria. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 17 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/total-outbound-internationally-mobile-tertiary-students-studying-abroad-all-countries-3/nigeria/

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About this data

Indicator
Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying abroad, all countries, both sexes (UIS estimate) (number)
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
431 places, 11,332 data points, 1997–2023
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release