Nigeria Secondary Enrollment
School enrollment, secondary (% gross) SE.SEC.ENRR
Nigeria's secondary enrollment was 49.62% in 2025, ranked 150th globally. This represents a 5.8% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1970–2025.
Overview
Nigeria's secondary enrollment stood at 49.62% in 2025, a rise of +2.72pp from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 49.62% by 2025. Nigeria ranked 150th globally.
Nigeria’s secondary enrollment rate has risen dramatically from a trough of 4.48 % in 1970 to a peak of 52.80 % in 2013, reflecting sustained expansion of public schooling and successive education reforms. By 2025 the rate stood at 49.62 %, placing the country 150th in the world and slightly below peer Lao PDR (50.54 %) and Honduras (50.61 %). The 39‑year coverage period captures the impact of the Universal Primary Education programme of the early 2000s and the subsequent push to extend compulsory schooling to lower secondary levels, which lifted participation sharply throughout the 1990s and 2000s. Nevertheless, the modest decline from the 2013 peak suggests emerging constraints, including inadequate infrastructure, teacher shortages and fiscal pressures that have slowed progress. Continued investment in school construction, teacher training and targeted subsidies for disadvantaged groups will be essential to reverse the recent plateau and move the enrollment trajectory upward in the coming decade.
Data & projection
| Year | Secondary Enrollment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 50.80% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 49.62% | - | - |
| 2025 | 49.62% | +2.72pp | #150 |
| 2023 | 46.89% | +1.45pp | #131 |
| 2021 | 45.44% | +1.32pp | #139 |
| 2020 | 44.12% | +3.63pp | #138 |
| 2018 | 40.49% | +1.18pp | #133 |
| 2016 | 39.31% | −4.52pp | #136 |
| 2015 | 43.82% | +1.04pp | #138 |
| 2014 | 42.78% | −10.01pp | #132 |
| 2013 | 52.80% | +8.34pp | #120 |
| 2012 | 44.46% | +1.43pp | #133 |
| 2011 | 43.02% | +1.24pp | #135 |
| 2010 | 41.78% | +4.65pp | #132 |
| 2009 | 37.14% | +3.53pp | #131 |
| 2008 | 33.61% | +3.19pp | #133 |
| 2007 | 30.42% | −2.70pp | #136 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Nigeria matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2024. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw secondary enrollment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Nigeria's secondary enrollment was 49.62% in 2025. Ranked 150th globally. This represents a 5.8% increase from the previous year.
Nigeria's secondary enrollment peaked at 52.80% in 2013.
The lowest secondary enrollment in Nigeria was 4.48% in 1970.
Nigeria ranks 150th globally in secondary enrollment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.SEC.ENRR. Data sourced from World Bank.
Nigeria's secondary enrollment is projected to reach 49.62% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The secondary enrollment of Nigeria in 2025 was 49.62%. This ranks 150th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_nigeria_secondary-enrollment,
title = {Nigeria Secondary Enrollment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/nigeria/secondary-enrollment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}