Nigeria
Nigeria’s education financing indicators reveal a critical shortfall in public investment, combined with persistent inequalities in access. While global figures indicate that, in 2022, the country allocated just 0.35% of GDP to public education, national methodologies suggest that spending reached around 3% of GDP—still well below the international benchmark of 4–6% and below the regional average.
Attendance data shows near gender parity, but wealth-based inequalities remain severe, with children from wealthier households much more likely to attend school.
Check out the international comparative figures below, and, in addition, our members’ brief featuring national-level analysis, insights, and policy recommendations.
Read our members’ education financing brief
Public financial effort measures the share of national wealth and budget dedicated to education. Since 2015, international benchmarks have recommended 4–6% of GDP and 15–20% of government spending. In Nigeria, the most recent data (2022) indicates that only 0.35% of GDP was allocated to public education. This figure is among the lowest in the region and dramatically below the 6% benchmark, signaling an urgent need to scale up education financing. Data on public expenditure on education is not available on UIS database, limiting a fuller assessment of national priorities.
Data on per-student spending is not available, limiting a fuller assessment of national priorities.
Attendance indicators highlight persistent disparities.
- The gender ratio was 0.95 in 2021, slightly below the regional average and suggesting near parity, though girls remain marginally less likely to attend school than boys.
- The wealth parity index was 2.48 in 2021, meaning children from the wealthiest households were nearly two and a half times more likely to attend school than those from the poorest. This inequality is above the regional average, reflecting stark socio-economic disparities in access.