Photo: Slashme · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 04 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Nigeria: Education & Knowledge
How far does a country's schooling carry its children?
Nigeria is placed joint 174th of 198 countries on education & knowledge in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Out-of-School Rate, Primary 24.32 (2024); Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary 57.25 (2024).
Share
Education & Knowledge
joint174th
of 198 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
- 24.32Out-of-School Rate, Primary, 2024Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
- 57.25Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary, 2024Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)
- 57.75Upper Secondary Completion Rate, 2025Upper secondary completion rate (%)
- 0.319Government Spending on Education, 2023Government expenditure on education (% of GDP)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Nigeria on education & knowledge — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Out-of-School Rate, Primary
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · Nigeria’s is from 2023 · CC BY-SA 4.0
24.32
Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
Lower is better
Nigeria: 24.32. Across the 192 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0.004 (United Arab Emirates) to 65.6 (Equatorial Guinea); the world median is 3.691.
- World median
- 3.691
- Best in Western Africa
- 0.639 Togo
- Land neighbours
- Benin 9.61 · Cameroon 3.762 · Niger 40.41 · Chad 24.8
Key 2 of 4
Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · Nigeria’s is from 2023 · CC BY-SA 4.0
57.25
Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)
Higher is better
Nigeria: 57.25. Across the 187 countries at their latest reading, values run from 3.411 (Yemen) to 100 (United Arab Emirates); the world median is 85.9.
- World median
- 85.9
- Best in Western Africa
- 90.61 Togo
- Land neighbours
- Benin 76.53 · Cameroon 41.03 · Niger 20.02 · Chad 18.34
Key 3 of 4
Upper Secondary Completion Rate
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
57.75
Upper secondary completion rate (%)
Higher is better
Nigeria: 57.75. Across the 164 countries in this edition, values run from 2.13 (South Sudan) to 99.27 (South Korea); the world median is 64.87.
- World median
- 64.87
- Best in Western Africa
- 57.75 Nigeria
- Land neighbours
- Benin 18.29 · Cameroon 22.69 · Niger 4.95 · Chad 6.59
Key 4 of 4
Government Spending on Education
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY-SA 4.0
0.319
Government expenditure on education (% of GDP)
Higher is better
Nigeria: 0.319. Across the 123 countries in this edition, values run from 0 (Somalia) to 16.39 (Kiribati); the world median is 3.709.
- World median
- 3.709
- Best in Western Africa
- 6.163 Senegal
- Land neighbours
- Benin 3.23 · Cameroon 2.839 · Niger 4.074 · Chad 3.201
02Over time
Which way Nigeria is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Out-of-School Rate, Primary
Out-of-school rate, primary age (%) · lower is better
NigeriaWorld median
Nigeria fell from 35.95 in 2000 to 24.32 in 2023; the world median went from 8.642 to 3.393.
Every year’s figures
Year Nigeria World median 2024 — 3.691 2023 24.3 3.393 2022 — 3.002 2021 — 3.330 2020 — 2.678 2019 — 2.758 2018 — 2.439 2017 — 2.907 2016 — 2.954 2015 — 3.052 2014 — 3.904 2013 — 3.413 2012 — 3.408 2011 — 3.626 2010 38.1 3.491 2009 37.9 3.577 2008 38.9 3.878 2007 32.4 4.029 2006 34.8 4.338 2005 35.0 4.571 2004 35.4 3.791 2003 — 4.412 2002 — 4.144 2001 — 4.051 2000 36.0 8.642 Upper Secondary Completion Rate
Upper secondary completion rate (%) · higher is better
NigeriaWorld median
Nigeria rose from 43.48 in 2000 to 57.75 in 2025; the world median went from 38 to 64.87.
Every year’s figures
Year Nigeria World median 2025 57.75 64.9 2024 56.87 65.0 2023 56.11 64.2 2022 55.60 63.6 2021 55.22 62.9 2020 54.68 62.2 2019 54.04 61.5 2018 53.38 60.9 2017 52.96 60.5 2016 52.74 60.1 2015 52.32 58.9 2014 51.91 57.0 2013 51.23 54.7 2012 51.05 52.4 2011 51.15 50.9 2010 51.23 49.5 2009 51.07 48.5 2008 50.77 47.4 2007 50.58 46.2 2006 50.38 45.0 2005 49.66 43.8 2004 48.50 42.9 2003 46.78 41.6 2002 45.39 40.3 2001 44.37 39.0 2000 43.48 38.0 Government Spending on Education
Government expenditure on education (% of GDP) · higher is better
NigeriaWorld median
Nigeria fell from 0.549 in 2012 to 0.319 in 2023; the world median went from 4.035 to 3.709.
Every year’s figures
Year Nigeria World median 2023 0.319 3.7092 2022 0.349 4.0570 2021 0.382 4.2611 2020 0.360 4.4056 2019 0.358 4.1407 2018 0.420 4.2159 2017 0.396 4.1401 2016 0.393 4.2342 2015 0.437 4.2386 2014 0.471 4.2005 2013 0.534 4.3493 2012 0.549 4.0348 2011 — 3.9987 2010 — 4.1396 2009 — 4.6638 2008 — 4.4226 2007 — 4.1717 2006 — 4.0593 2005 — 4.0557 2004 — 3.9745 2003 — 4.1595 2002 — 4.0173 2001 — 4.1002 2000 — 3.8861
03In context
Nigeria beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 198 countries on education & knowledge, never a place within the region.
Nigeria and the countries it borders
Standing among all 198; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Out-of-School Rate, PrimaryOut-of-school rate, primary age (%) | Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before PrimaryChildren one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%) | Upper Secondary Completion RateUpper secondary completion rate (%) | Government Spending on EducationGovernment expenditure on education (% of GDP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Benin | 162nd | 9.61 | 76.53 | 18.29 | 3.23 |
 Cameroon | 165th | 3.762 | 41.03 | 22.69 | 2.839 |
| Nigeria | =174th | 24.32 | 57.25 | 57.75 | 0.319 |
 Niger | 182nd | 40.41 | 20.02 | 4.95 | 4.074 |
 Chad | 189th | 24.8 | 18.34 | 6.59 | 3.201 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Western Africa
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 198.
Placed either side on education & knowledge
The countries immediately above and below Nigeria in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Nigeria is ahead of the world, and behind
19 more statistics filed under education & knowledge, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median1
Statistics on which Nigeria does better than the middle country measured.
Academic Freedom IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.6190.8760.619▲ Improved since 2015
Nigeria: 0.876 · world median 0.619 · Academic freedom index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.019 to 0.978; higher is better.
Position 23rd of 176 · derived.
Behind the world median14
Statistics on which Nigeria does worse than the middle country measured.
Wealth Parity Index, Lower Secondary CompletionUIS · 2024 · world median 0.5290.2860.529No earlier reading
Nigeria: 0.286 · world median 0.529 · Adjusted wealth parity index, lower secondary completion (poorest vs richest fifth; 1 = parity). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.032 to 1.022; higher is better.
Lower Secondary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 89.2166.8389.21No real change since 2015
Nigeria: 66.83 · world median 89.21 · Lower secondary completion rate (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 13.73 to 100; higher is better.
Position 108th of 164 · derived.
Mean Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 9.9337.5869.933▲ Improved since 2013
Nigeria: 7.586 · world median 9.933 · Mean years of schooling (adults 25+). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.412 to 14.3; higher is better.
Position 131st of 193 · derived.
Primary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 97.4376.7997.43▼ Worsened since 2015
Nigeria: 76.79 · world median 97.43 · Primary completion rate (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 7.94 to 100; higher is better.
Position 131st of 165 · derived.
Adult Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 93.9970.4193.99No earlier reading
Nigeria: 70.41 · world median 93.99 · Adults 15+ who can read and write (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 26.83 to 100; higher is better.
Position 140th of 172 · derived.
Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of PrimaryUIS · 2023 · world median 60.0819.9760.08No earlier reading
Nigeria: 19.97 · world median 60.08 · Pupils at the end of primary reaching minimum proficiency in reading (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2 to 98.78; higher is better.
Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of PrimaryUIS · 2023 · world median 43.811.4143.8No earlier reading
Nigeria: 11.41 · world median 43.8 · Pupils at the end of primary reaching minimum proficiency in mathematics (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.8 to 93.42; higher is better.
Youth Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 98.2281.3698.22No earlier reading
Nigeria: 81.36 · world median 98.22 · 15–24 year-olds who can read and write (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 36.7 to 100; higher is better.
Learning-Adjusted Years of SchoolWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 7.9415.0387.941▲ Improved since 2017
Nigeria: 5.038 · world median 7.941 · Learning-adjusted years of school (0–14). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 2.207 to 12.81; higher is better.
Position 146th of 172 · derived.
Expected Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 13.3410.5113.34▲ Improved since 2013
Nigeria: 10.51 · world median 13.34 · Expected years of schooling. UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 5.635 to 21.69; higher is better.
Position 168th of 195 · derived.
Intergenerational Persistence in EducationWorld Bank Group · 2017 · world median 0.4460.5660.446No earlier reading
Nigeria: 0.566 · world median 0.446 · Correlation between own and parents' years of schooling, born 1980–89 (0–1). World Bank Group, 2017 edition, data for 2017.
Published values in that edition run from 0.123 to 0.66; lower is better.
Position 16th of 153 · derived, 1st = worst.
Bachelor's or Higher AttainmentUIS · 2023 · world median 19.863.80219.86▼ Worsened since 2016
Nigeria: 3.802 · world median 19.86 · Adults 25+ who completed a bachelor's degree or higher (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.135 to 52.72; higher is better.
Position 83rd of 90 · derived.
Researchers per Million InhabitantsUIS · 2024 · world median 701.9522.12701.95No earlier reading
Nigeria: 22.12 · world median 701.95 · Researchers per million inhabitants (full-time equivalent). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.446 to 18,130; higher is better.
Position 139th of 145 · derived.
Harmonized Test ScoresWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 414.32309.02414.32▼ Worsened since 2017
Nigeria: 309.02 · world median 414.32 · Harmonized test score (TIMSS-equivalent points; 300 = minimum, 625 = advanced attainment). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 304.92 to 575.27; higher is better.
Position 169th of 172 · derived.
No better end4
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Scholarly ArticlesOurResearch · 2025 · world median 2,24052,1232,240No real change since 2022
Nigeria: 52,123 · world median 2,240 · Articles with at least one author at an institution in the country (full counting). OpenAlex (OurResearch), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 1,094,890.
Female Share of ResearchersUIS · 2024 · world median 38.1730.6238.17No earlier reading
Nigeria: 30.62 · world median 38.17 · Researchers who are women (% of headcount; 50 = parity). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 76.54.
Nobel Prize Laureates by Country of BirthNobel Prize Outreach · 2025 · world median 212No earlier reading
Nigeria: 1 · world median 2 · Laureates born in the country, 1901 to date (people). Nobel Prize Outreach, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 296.
Trust in ScientistsWellcome Trust · 2020 · world median 34.359.33534.35Moved since 2018
Nigeria: 9.335 · world median 34.35 · People aged 15+ who trust scientists in their country 'a lot' (%). Wellcome Trust, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 9.335 to 72.35.
No current reading for Nigeria
Female Share of STEM Graduates, Gender Parity Index, Tertiary Enrolment (last 2011), Government Funding per Primary Student, Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary, Learning Poverty, Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Lower Secondary, Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Lower Secondary, Out-of-School Rate, Lower Secondary Age, Out-of-School Rate, Primary (last 2023), Outbound Mobility Ratio, Tertiary (last 2011), Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary (last 2023), PISA Mathematics Performance, PISA Reading Performance, PISA Science Performance, Pre-Primary Net Enrolment Rate (last 2023), Primary Schools with Electricity, Primary Schools with Internet for Teaching, Pupils per Qualified Teacher, Primary (last 2018), Qualified Teachers in Primary Education (last 2018), Research and Development Spending (last 2019), School Life Expectancy (last 2011), Secondary School Enrolment (last 2023), Share of Graduates from ICT Programmes, Tertiary Enrolment Ratio (last 2011) and Upper Secondary Attainment (last 2021). Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Education & Knowledge among Nigeria’s 16 topics
Education & Knowledge is Nigeria’s 13th best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Work & Labour16th of 1824/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainabilityjoint 73rd of 1864/4 keys
- Digital & Technology82nd of 1984/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties128th of 1984/4 keys
- Peace & Security120th of 1774/4 keys
- Energy117th of 1653/3 keys
- Gender & Equality138th of 1834/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions149th of 1944/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation136th of 1764/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture143rd of 1844/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequalityjoint 128th of 1593/3 keys
- Mobility & Trade144th of 1774/4 keys
- Education & Knowledgejoint 174th of 1984/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital179th of 1963/3 keys
- Risk & Resilience181st of 1934/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing196th of 2004/4 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on education & knowledge
The three countries placed highest of 198, and the leaders Nigeria can most readily be measured against.
1
United Arab EmiratesWestern Asia
1st of 198 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
GreeceSouthern Europe
2nd of 198 · 3 of 4 keys
Photo: User:Ggia derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
PolandEastern Europe
3rd of 198 · 3 of 4 keys
Photo: Ralf Lotys (Sicherlich) · CC BY 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest placed on all 4 keys
Moldova7th4/4 keysHighest in Africa
Tunisia=48th3/4 keysHighest in Western Africa
Togo94th4/4 keysThis page
Nigeria=174th4/4 keys
Positions out of 198 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Questions
Nigeria on education & knowledge: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Nigeria rank on education & knowledge?
Nigeria is placed joint 174th of 198 countries on Education & Knowledge in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Out-of-School Rate, Primary, Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary, Upper Secondary Completion Rate and Government Spending on Education). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Out-of-School Rate, Primary figure for Nigeria?
24.32 in 2024 (out-of-school rate, primary age (%)), according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). The world median in the same edition was 3.691.
What is the latest Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary figure for Nigeria?
57.25 in 2024 (children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)), according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). The world median in the same edition was 85.9.
How does Nigeria compare with Cameroon on education & knowledge?
Cameroon is placed 165th of 198, and Nigeria joint 174th. Out-of-School Rate, Primary: Cameroon 3.762, Nigeria 24.32; Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary: Cameroon 41.03, Nigeria 57.25; Upper Secondary Completion Rate: Cameroon 22.69, Nigeria 57.75; Government Spending on Education: Cameroon 2.839, Nigeria 0.319.
How have Nigeria’s education & knowledge figures changed?
Out-of-School Rate, Primary fell from 35.95 in 2000 to 24.32 in 2023; Upper Secondary Completion Rate rose from 43.48 in 2000 to 57.75 in 2025; Government Spending on Education fell from 0.549 in 2012 to 0.319 in 2023.
Which education & knowledge statistics are missing for Nigeria?
No current reading is published for Nigeria on Female Share of STEM Graduates, Gender Parity Index, Tertiary Enrolment, Government Funding per Primary Student, Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary, Learning Poverty, Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Lower Secondary, Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Lower Secondary, Out-of-School Rate, Lower Secondary Age, Out-of-School Rate, Primary, Outbound Mobility Ratio, Tertiary, Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary, PISA Mathematics Performance, PISA Reading Performance, PISA Science Performance, Pre-Primary Net Enrolment Rate, Primary Schools with Electricity, Primary Schools with Internet for Teaching, Pupils per Qualified Teacher, Primary, Qualified Teachers in Primary Education, Research and Development Spending, School Life Expectancy, Secondary School Enrolment, Share of Graduates from ICT Programmes, Tertiary Enrolment Ratio and Upper Secondary Attainment. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
08Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
How much children actually learn is only partly covered. International test scores exist for a limited group of countries, and they are published here as context rather than used as a key, because a key must describe most of the world. Universities, research, and youth and adult literacy also appear as context.
How the Education & Knowledge standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The education & knowledge method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Out-of-School Rate, Primary — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Upper Secondary Completion Rate — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Government Spending on Education — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
The other 19 statistics on this page come from 7 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Nigeria’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Nigeria (banner) — Slashme, CC BY-SA 3.0
- United Arab Emirates — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Greece — User:Ggia derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Poland — Ralf Lotys (Sicherlich), CC BY 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Nigeria: Education & Knowledge — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/nigeria/education