GITNUXREPORT 2025

Nigeria Education Statistics

Nigeria education faces significant challenges despite increased enrollment and investment.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

The gross enrollment ratio for primary education in Nigeria was about 79.05% in 2020

Statistic 2

Nigeria has over 104,000 primary schools across the country

Statistic 3

Approximately 10.5 million children are out of school in Nigeria, representing one of the highest numbers globally

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Nigeria’s gross secondary school enrollment ratio is approximately 57.7%

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The rate of transition from primary to secondary education in Nigeria is about 69%

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Nigeria has a university enrollment rate of approximately 10%

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There are approximately 170 universities in Nigeria

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The dropout rate in Nigerian primary schools is around 14%

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Nigeria’s tertiary education gross enrollment ratio is roughly 6.2%

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Only about 20% of Nigerian public schools have access to electricity

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Approximately 8 million Nigerian children are enrolled in Islamic or Quranic schools

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60% of Nigerian youth aged 15-24 are not in education, employment, or training (NEET)

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About 15% of Nigerian children aged 5-17 work rather than attend school, impacting education figures

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Only about 10% of Nigerian children with disabilities attend school, indicating low inclusion levels

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About 65% of Nigerian children under 5 have access to early childhood education, though quality remains a concern

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The primary gross enrollment ratio has remained relatively stagnant over the past five years, around 79%, indicating slow progress

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Nigeria's dropout rate at the tertiary level is approximately 15%, impacted by economic and infrastructural challenges

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The percentage of Nigerian children completing primary school who transition to secondary school stands at about 69%

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Only about 35% of Nigerian students achieve literacy proficiency by age 15

Statistic 20

Nigeria's school completion rate at the primary level is approximately 83%

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About 25% of Nigerian children under age 5 are stunted due to malnutrition, affecting school readiness

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Nigeria ranks 151st out of 189 countries on the UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report

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In Nigeria, the completion rate for secondary education is roughly 37%

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Nigeria’s universities graduate approximately 200,000 students annually

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The dropout rate among Nigerian university students is approximately 14%, often due to economic hardship

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Nigeria ranks 189th on the Human Capital Index indicating significant challenges in human capital development

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The proportion of Nigerian students passing national exams (like WAEC) has increased to around 70%, showing improvement in standardized testing outcomes

Statistic 28

The pupil-teacher ratio in Nigerian primary schools is approximately 43:1

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Nigeria spends roughly 7.1% of its GDP on education

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The percentage of teachers in Nigeria with formal teaching training is around 60%

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Nigeria's teacher attrition rate in primary schools is approximately 4.5% annually

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The average class size in Nigerian primary schools is about 42 students

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Access to quality science laboratories in Nigerian secondary schools is limited, with only about 30% having proper facilities

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The government of Nigeria allocated approximately $2.8 billion for education in 2020

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Despite increased investment, Nigeria still faces a teacher shortage of around 1 million teachers needed in primary and secondary education

Statistic 36

Nigeria’s annual education budget increase has averaged about 5% over the last decade

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Female enrollment in Nigerian secondary schools is about 48%

Statistic 38

The literacy rate for Nigerian men is approximately 70%, whereas for women it is about 55%

Statistic 39

The gender parity index in Nigerian higher education is around 0.77, indicating disparities

Statistic 40

The dropout rate for girls in Nigerian secondary schools is estimated at 12%, higher than for boys

Statistic 41

Nigeria’s literacy rate for rural women is roughly 48%, compared to 68% for urban women

Statistic 42

The percentage of girls enrolled in tertiary education in Nigeria is approximately 25%, indicating gender gaps

Statistic 43

Nigeria's literacy rate for adults aged 15 and above is approximately 62.02%

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The literacy rate among Nigerian youth aged 15-24 is around 72.3%

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Around 40% of Nigerian women aged 15-24 are literate, compared to about 80% of men

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The average years of schooling for Nigerian adults is roughly 6.7 years

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Nigeria's digital literacy rate is estimated at around 35%, as of 2022

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Nigeria’s adult literacy program has reached approximately 2 million learners since inception

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Nigeria has a youth literacy rate of approximately 65% overall, with significant disparities between urban and rural areas

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Key Highlights

Nigeria's literacy rate for adults aged 15 and above is approximately 62.02%
The gross enrollment ratio for primary education in Nigeria was about 79.05% in 2020
Nigeria has over 104,000 primary schools across the country
The pupil-teacher ratio in Nigerian primary schools is approximately 43:1
Approximately 10.5 million children are out of school in Nigeria, representing one of the highest numbers globally
The literacy rate among Nigerian youth aged 15-24 is around 72.3%
Nigeria’s gross secondary school enrollment ratio is approximately 57.7%
The rate of transition from primary to secondary education in Nigeria is about 69%
Around 40% of Nigerian women aged 15-24 are literate, compared to about 80% of men
Nigeria spends roughly 7.1% of its GDP on education
Only about 35% of Nigerian students achieve literacy proficiency by age 15
Nigeria has a university enrollment rate of approximately 10%
There are approximately 170 universities in Nigeria

Despite Nigeria’s vast network of over 104,000 primary schools and increased national spending, only 62% of adults are literate, highlighting persistent challenges in unlocking the nation’s true educational potential.

Educational Access and Enrollment

The gross enrollment ratio for primary education in Nigeria was about 79.05% in 2020
Nigeria has over 104,000 primary schools across the country
Approximately 10.5 million children are out of school in Nigeria, representing one of the highest numbers globally
Nigeria’s gross secondary school enrollment ratio is approximately 57.7%
The rate of transition from primary to secondary education in Nigeria is about 69%
Nigeria has a university enrollment rate of approximately 10%
There are approximately 170 universities in Nigeria
The dropout rate in Nigerian primary schools is around 14%
Nigeria’s tertiary education gross enrollment ratio is roughly 6.2%
Only about 20% of Nigerian public schools have access to electricity
Approximately 8 million Nigerian children are enrolled in Islamic or Quranic schools
60% of Nigerian youth aged 15-24 are not in education, employment, or training (NEET)
About 15% of Nigerian children aged 5-17 work rather than attend school, impacting education figures
Only about 10% of Nigerian children with disabilities attend school, indicating low inclusion levels
About 65% of Nigerian children under 5 have access to early childhood education, though quality remains a concern
The primary gross enrollment ratio has remained relatively stagnant over the past five years, around 79%, indicating slow progress
Nigeria's dropout rate at the tertiary level is approximately 15%, impacted by economic and infrastructural challenges
The percentage of Nigerian children completing primary school who transition to secondary school stands at about 69%

Educational Access and Enrollment Interpretation

Nigeria's education landscape reflects a paradox of widespread access shadowed by high dropout rates, low tertiary enrollment, and glaring inequalities, suggesting that while millions enter schools—some still without electricity or proper facilities—the journey to meaningful higher education remains arduous, and the educational hopes of over 10 million children outside the system continue to hang in balance.

Educational Outcomes and Performance

Only about 35% of Nigerian students achieve literacy proficiency by age 15
Nigeria's school completion rate at the primary level is approximately 83%
About 25% of Nigerian children under age 5 are stunted due to malnutrition, affecting school readiness
Nigeria ranks 151st out of 189 countries on the UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report
In Nigeria, the completion rate for secondary education is roughly 37%
Nigeria’s universities graduate approximately 200,000 students annually
The dropout rate among Nigerian university students is approximately 14%, often due to economic hardship
Nigeria ranks 189th on the Human Capital Index indicating significant challenges in human capital development
The proportion of Nigerian students passing national exams (like WAEC) has increased to around 70%, showing improvement in standardized testing outcomes

Educational Outcomes and Performance Interpretation

Despite a modest rise in exam pass rates, Nigeria’s education system grapples with a stark reality: only about a third of students achieve literacy by 15, while a human capital index ranking of 189 underscores the urgent need for systemic reform amidst high dropout and malnutrition rates that threaten its future leaders.

Educational Quality and Resources

The pupil-teacher ratio in Nigerian primary schools is approximately 43:1
Nigeria spends roughly 7.1% of its GDP on education
The percentage of teachers in Nigeria with formal teaching training is around 60%
Nigeria's teacher attrition rate in primary schools is approximately 4.5% annually
The average class size in Nigerian primary schools is about 42 students
Access to quality science laboratories in Nigerian secondary schools is limited, with only about 30% having proper facilities

Educational Quality and Resources Interpretation

Nigeria’s primary education scene, with a daunting 43:1 pupil-teacher ratio and only 60% formally trained teachers, underscores a pressing need for increased investment and infrastructure to transform crowded classrooms and limited laboratory facilities into a thriving foundation for future innovators.

Educational Resources

The government of Nigeria allocated approximately $2.8 billion for education in 2020
Despite increased investment, Nigeria still faces a teacher shortage of around 1 million teachers needed in primary and secondary education
Nigeria’s annual education budget increase has averaged about 5% over the last decade

Educational Resources Interpretation

Despite a $2.8 billion investment and a modest 5% annual increase in education funding, Nigeria's staggering shortfall of nearly one million teachers underscores that money alone hasn't yet translated into a well-staffed, quality education system.

Gender and Disparity in Education

Female enrollment in Nigerian secondary schools is about 48%
The literacy rate for Nigerian men is approximately 70%, whereas for women it is about 55%
The gender parity index in Nigerian higher education is around 0.77, indicating disparities
The dropout rate for girls in Nigerian secondary schools is estimated at 12%, higher than for boys
Nigeria’s literacy rate for rural women is roughly 48%, compared to 68% for urban women
The percentage of girls enrolled in tertiary education in Nigeria is approximately 25%, indicating gender gaps

Gender and Disparity in Education Interpretation

Despite strides toward gender inclusion, Nigerian education statistics reveal a persistent gender gap—from lower female enrollment and literacy rates to higher dropout rates and limited access to tertiary education—highlighting the urgent need for targeted policies to turn these numbers into opportunities.

Literacy and Adult Education

Nigeria's literacy rate for adults aged 15 and above is approximately 62.02%
The literacy rate among Nigerian youth aged 15-24 is around 72.3%
Around 40% of Nigerian women aged 15-24 are literate, compared to about 80% of men
The average years of schooling for Nigerian adults is roughly 6.7 years
Nigeria's digital literacy rate is estimated at around 35%, as of 2022
Nigeria’s adult literacy program has reached approximately 2 million learners since inception
Nigeria has a youth literacy rate of approximately 65% overall, with significant disparities between urban and rural areas

Literacy and Adult Education Interpretation

Despite incremental progress, Nigeria's education landscape reveals a stark divide: while youthful optimism fuels a 72.3% literacy rate among 15-24-year-olds, entrenched gender disparities and digital deficits underscore the urgent need for a comprehensive rewrite of its educational narrative.