Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Nigeria
Nigeria: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 41.76 million number in 2018. ▲ Rising
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Nigeria, 1991–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
In 2018, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Nigeria stood at 41.76 million number. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Nigeria peaked at 41.76 million number in 2018 and was at its lowest, 23.85 million number, in 1991.
That places Nigeria 3rd out of 87 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top 10%.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 23.85 million number | — |
| 2003 | 33.39 million number | +40.0% |
| 2006 | 23.86 million number | -28.5% |
| 2008 | 40.97 million number | +71.7% |
| 2018 | 41.76 million number | +1.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 23.85 million number | 23.85 million number | 23.85 million number | 1 |
| 2000s | 32.74 million number | 23.86 million number | 40.97 million number | 3 |
| 2010s | 41.76 million number | 41.76 million number | 41.76 million number | 1 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More education data for Nigeria
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 912,245 (2021)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.08 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.24 million (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 15.20 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 33.42 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.18 % change on previous year (2021)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1466 units per person (2023)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Nigeria?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Nigeria was 41.76 million number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 41.76 million number in 2018.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.85 million number in 1991.
- How does Nigeria rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- Nigeria ranks 3rd out of 87 countries with data for 2018.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total number of adults over age 15 who cannot both read and write with understanding a short simple statement on their everyday life.