Nigeria Education Spending
Government expenditure on education as % of GDP SE.XPD.TOTL.GD.ZS
Nigeria's education spending was 0.32% in 2025, ranked 167th globally. This represents a 0.5% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1974–2025.
Overview
Nigeria's education spending stood at 0.32% in 2025, a decline of +0.00% from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 0.32% by 2025. Nigeria ranked 167th globally.
Nigeria’s education spending as a share of gross domestic product has fallen dramatically from its all‑time peak of 3.21 % in 1974 to a trough of 0.32 % in 2025, placing the country at rank 167 globally. Over the 15‑year coverage period the decline has been steady, leaving Nigeria far behind regional peers such as Papua New Guinea, which records 0.67 % of GDP on education, and Suriname at 0.77 %. The contraction contrasts sharply with the post‑independence expansion of the 1970s, when fiscal priorities supported broader public services, and reflects persistent budgetary constraints, competing expenditure demands, and limited tax capacity. While the figure of 0.32 % in 2025 signals an all‑time low, any reversal will likely depend on reforms that broaden the fiscal base, improve tax compliance, and prioritize human capital in national development plans, which could restore a modest upward trajectory in the coming decade.
Data & projection
| Year | Education Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 0.31% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 0.32% | - | - |
| 2025 | 0.32% | −0.00% | #167 |
| 2023 | 0.32% | −0.03% | #2 |
| 2022 | 0.35% | −0.03% | #2 |
| 2021 | 0.38% | +0.02% | #2 |
| 2020 | 0.36% | +0.00% | #2 |
| 2019 | 0.36% | −0.06% | #2 |
| 2018 | 0.42% | +0.02% | #2 |
| 2017 | 0.40% | +0.00% | #1 |
| 2016 | 0.39% | −0.04% | #1 |
| 2015 | 0.44% | −0.03% | #1 |
| 2014 | 0.47% | −0.06% | #1 |
| 2013 | 0.53% | −0.02% | #1 |
| 2012 | 0.55% | −2.51% | #1 |
| 1975 | 3.06% | −0.15% | #18 |
| 1974 | 3.21% | – | #14 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Nigeria matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2024. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw education spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Nigeria's education spending was 0.32% in 2025. Ranked 167th globally. This represents a 0.5% decrease from the previous year.
Nigeria's education spending peaked at 3.21% in 1974.
The lowest education spending in Nigeria was 0.32% in 2025.
Nigeria ranks 167th globally in education spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.XPD.TOTL.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Nigeria's education spending is projected to reach 0.32% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The education spending of Nigeria in 2025 was 0.32%. This ranks 167th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_nigeria_education-spending-gdp,
title = {Nigeria Education Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/nigeria/education-spending-gdp/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}