Nigeria Has 18.3 Million Out-of-School Children, UNICEF Estimates, as North-East and North-West Account for 66%

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Nigeria remains among the countries with the largest populations of out-of-school children globally, with estimates putting the number at about 18.3 million, according to figures attributed to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

The North-West and North-East geopolitical zones account for approximately 66 per cent of the estimated total, highlighting the significant regional inequalities affecting access to education across the country.

The figures have renewed concerns about Nigeria’s progress towards ensuring that every child has access to basic education, particularly in communities affected by poverty, insecurity and limited educational infrastructure.

UNICEF’s published education information identifies economic hardship, social and cultural barriers, gender inequality and insecurity as factors contributing to children’s exclusion from formal schooling. The organisation also highlights the difficulties of providing education in rural and conflict-affected communities. 

A UNICEF-supported report released in November 2024 by the Federal Government and UNICEF found that approximately 10 million primary-school-age children and eight million secondary-school-age children were out of school. UNICEF’s annual reporting subsequently cited 10.2 million children of primary-school age and 8.1 million of junior-secondary-school age as being outside the education system. These figures provide the basis for the widely reported estimate of approximately 18.3 million children. 

However, the figure should be understood as an estimate rather than a newly verified count of every out-of-school child in Nigeria.

In May 2026, Minister of Education Tunji Alausa said the Federal Government was conducting a mapping exercise to establish more detailed figures on out-of-school children. He argued that the widely cited 18.3 million estimate had been repeated for years and said the government’s mapping exercise had identified fewer out-of-school children in Kaduna State than the figure previously attributed to UNICEF.

The minister said the government intended to expand the exercise across the states to improve the accuracy of its data and identify children who needed to be returned to school.

The difference between the international estimates and the government’s emerging figures underscores the importance of transparent data collection, consistent measurement methods and regular updates. Estimates can vary depending on the age groups covered, the reference year and the methods used to assess school attendance.

Despite the debate over the precise total, the scale of educational exclusion remains a major concern. UNICEF’s education information indicates that children in northern Nigeria face particularly significant barriers, with girls in some communities experiencing additional disadvantages because of poverty and social expectations.

Insecurity has also disrupted learning in parts of the North-East and North-West, where attacks, displacement and school closures can prevent children from attending classes. Economic pressures, inadequate school facilities and the distance between homes and schools can create further obstacles for families.

The consequences extend beyond missed classroom lessons. Children who do not receive basic education may have fewer opportunities to develop literacy, numeracy and other skills needed for further education and employment. Prolonged exclusion from school can also deepen existing inequalities between communities and generations.

Addressing the crisis will require reliable data alongside practical measures to make education accessible. These include improving school safety, expanding classroom capacity, supporting disadvantaged households, strengthening teacher availability and addressing barriers that prevent girls and other vulnerable children from enrolling and remaining in school.

The Federal Government’s mapping exercise could help direct interventions towards communities with the greatest needs, provided its methodology and findings are made public and can be compared transparently with established education data.

For now, the widely cited estimate of 18.3 million highlights the scale of Nigeria’s education challenge, while the concentration of out-of-school children in the North-West and North-East points to the need for targeted regional responses.