Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female in Nigeria
Nigeria: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female was 61.9% in 2018. ▬ Flat
Latest (2018)
61.9%
World rank
45th
of 87 countries
All-time high
63.6%
in 1991
All-time low
59.8%
in 2006
Years of data
5
1991–2018
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female in Nigeria, 1991–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2018, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female in Nigeria stood at 61.9%.
That represents a change of up 3.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female in Nigeria peaked at 63.6% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 59.8%, in 2006.
Nigeria ranks 45th of 87 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 63.6% | — |
| 2003 | 62.9% | -1.1% |
| 2006 | 59.8% | -5.0% |
| 2008 | 60.0% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 61.9% | +3.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 63.6% | 63.6% | 63.6% | 1 |
| 2000s | 60.9% | 59.8% | 62.9% | 3 |
| 2010s | 61.9% | 61.9% | 61.9% | 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, % female in Nigeria?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female in Nigeria was 61.9% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 63.6% in 1991.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 59.8% in 2006.
- How does Nigeria rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female?
- Nigeria ranks 45th out of 87 countries with data for 2018.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the adult illiterate population (age 15+) that is female.