Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in Nigeria

Nigeria: Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying was 76,338 number in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
76,338 number
Change on year
down 11.2%
World rank
11th
of 205 countries
All-time high
96,702 number
in 2016
All-time low
22,135 number
in 1998
Years of data
21
1998–2018

Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in Nigeria, 1998–2018

20.0k40.0k60.0k80.0k100.0k1998200820181998: 22.1k number1999: 22.5k number2000: 23.4k number2001: 23.7k number2002: 25.6k number2003: 28.5k number2004: 30.8k number2005: 34.3k number2006: 35.4k number2007: 37.7k number2008: 41.6k number2009: 49.9k number2010: 52.4k number2011: 57.1k number2012: 57.6k number2013: 63.9k number2014: 79.5k number2015: 92.5k number2016: 96.7k number2017: 85.9k number2018: 76.3k number

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.

Analysis

Nigeria recorded 76,338 number for total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in 2018.

The figure is down 11.2% on the previous year and up 83.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in Nigeria peaked at 96,702 number in 2016 and was at its lowest, 22,135 number, in 1998.

Nigeria ranks 11th of 205 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.

Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in Nigeria, year by year

Annual values for Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying abroad, all countries, both sexes (number) in Nigeria, 1998 to 2018.
Year number Change
1998 22,135 number —
1999 22,464 number +1.5%
2000 23,373 number +4.0%
2001 23,676 number +1.3%
2002 25,566 number +8.0%
2003 28,451 number +11.3%
2004 30,755 number +8.1%
2005 34,253 number +11.4%
2006 35,416 number +3.4%
2007 37,664 number +6.3%
2008 41,585 number +10.4%
2009 49,913 number +20.0%
2010 52,433 number +5.0%
2011 57,055 number +8.8%
2012 57,640 number +1.0%
2013 63,904 number +10.9%
2014 79,467 number +24.4%
2015 92,548 number +16.5%
2016 96,702 number +4.5%
2017 85,925 number -11.1%
2018 76,338 number -11.2%

Nigeria compared with similar countries

  • Nigeria's 76,338 number is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 10,185 number, 7.5× the median. (47 countries reporting)
  • Nigeria's 76,338 number is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5,797 number, 13.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 22,300 number 22,135 number 22,464 number 2
2000s 33,065 number 23,373 number 49,913 number 10
2010s 73,557 number 52,433 number 96,702 number 9

Countries ranked near Nigeria

  1. 8 Kazakhstan 83,503 number compare
  2. 9 Nepal 81,917 number compare
  3. 10 Saudi Arabia 77,406 number compare
  4. 12 Italy 75,954 number compare
  5. 13 Ukraine 72,063 number compare
  6. 14 Brazil 67,183 number compare

See the full ranking of 250 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 76,338 number in 2018, 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 96,702 number in 2016.
What is the lowest total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying recorded in Nigeria?
The lowest recorded value was 22,135 number in 1998.
How does Nigeria rank for total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying?
Nigeria ranks 11th out of 205 countries with data for 2018.
Is total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying rising or falling in Nigeria?
Over the last ten years it is up 83.6%. 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 Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying abroad, all countries, both sexes (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 26 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/total-outbound-internationally-mobile-tertiary-students-studying-abroad-all-countries/nigeria/

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About this data

Indicator
Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying abroad, all countries, both sexes (number)
Unit
number
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
250 places, 5,215 data points, 1997–2018
Last refreshed

Students who have crossed a national or territorial border for the purpose of education and are now enrolled outside their country of origin.