Nigeria’s 2024 primary-school out-of-school figures reveal a significant regional education gap, with Northern states dominating the list of states with the highest rates.
According to data attributed to UNICEF and compiled by StatiSense, Kebbi recorded the highest primary-school out-of-school rate at 65 per cent, followed by Bauchi and Zamfara at 61 per cent each.
Yobe recorded 58 per cent, while Gombe stood at 54 per cent. Borno and Sokoto each recorded 51 per cent.
The figures highlight the urgent need for Northern Nigeria to intensify investment in basic education, foundational literacy and school retention.
📊 Primary School Out-of-School Rates Across Nigerian States — 2024
| Rank | State | Out-of-school rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🔴 Kebbi | 65% |
| 2 | âš« Bauchi | 61% |
| 3 | 🔴 Zamfara | 61% |
| 4 | âš« Yobe | 58% |
| 5 | âš« Gombe | 54% |
| 6 | âš« Borno | 51% |
| 7 | 🔴 Sokoto | 51% |
| 8 | 🔴 Jigawa | 44% |
| 9 | 🟠Niger | 40% |
| 10 | 🔴 Katsina | 33% |
| 11 | 🔴 Kano | 32% |
| 12 | âš« Adamawa | 30% |
| 13 | âš« Taraba | 30% |
| 14 | 🟠Nasarawa | 26% |
| 15 | 🟢 Anambra | 21% |
| 16 | 🔴 Kaduna | 18% |
| 17 | 🟠Kwara | 18% |
| 18 | 🟠Plateau | 18% |
| 19 | 🟠Benue | 13% |
| 20 | 🟣 Osun | 13% |
| 21 | 🟢 Enugu | 10% |
| 22 | 🟣 Ogun | 10% |
| 23 | 🟠FCT | 9% |
| 24 | 🟣 Oyo | 8% |
| 25 | 🟤 Delta | 7% |
| 26 | 🟠Kogi | 6% |
| 27 | 🟤 Edo | 5% |
| 28 | 🟢 Ebonyi | 4% |
| 29 | 🟣 Ondo | 4% |
| 30 | 🟤 Rivers | 4% |
| 31 | 🟢 Abia | 3% |
| 32 | 🟤 Akwa Ibom | 3% |
| 33 | 🟤 Bayelsa | 3% |
| 34 | 🟤 Cross River | 3% |
| 35 | 🟣 Lagos | 3% |
| 36 | 🟣 Ekiti | 2% |
| 37 | 🟢 Imo | 1% |
Regional key: ⚫ North-East | 🔴 North-West | 🟠North-Central | 🟣 South-West | 🟢 South-East | 🟤 South-South
Northern Nigeria carries the greatest burden
The distribution is striking. Of the states recording 30 per cent or higher, the overwhelming majority are in the North.
Kebbi, Bauchi, Zamfara, Yobe, Gombe, Borno, Sokoto, Jigawa, Niger, Katsina, Kano, Adamawa and Taraba are all above the 30 per cent mark.
This should serve as a wake-up call for governments and communities across the region.
Literacy must become a development priority
Northern Nigeria must now move beyond simply asking how many children are enrolled in school and focus on whether children are actually learning to read, write and calculate.
Basic literacy is the foundation upon which secondary education, vocational training, digital skills and participation in the modern economy are built.
If large numbers of children remain outside school during their formative years, the consequences can extend for decades through reduced employability, lower productivity and limited economic opportunities.
The response must therefore include more schools, better-trained teachers, school feeding, improved security around schools, support for vulnerable families, girls’ education, transportation and community-based learning programmes.
Traditional rulers, religious leaders, parents, businesses and civil society organisations also have important roles to play in ensuring that children remain in school.
The North has an opportunity to change the statistics
These numbers should not be viewed as a condemnation of Northern Nigeria but as a development roadmap.
The region has a large and youthful population that can become a powerful economic advantage if properly educated.
The priority should be clear: get children into school, keep them there and ensure they acquire strong foundational literacy and numeracy.
The future competitiveness of Northern Nigeria—and indeed Nigeria as a whole—will depend heavily on how seriously the country responds to this education gap.
Source: UNICEF data as reported by StatiSense.
