Cross country literacy rates in Nigeria
Nigeria: Cross country literacy rates was 70.41 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
70.41
Change on year
up 11.5%
World rank
104th
of 128 countries
All-time high
70.41
in 2024
All-time low
12.5
in 1950
Years of data
7
1950–2024
Cross country literacy rates in Nigeria, 1950–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2024, cross country literacy rates in Nigeria stood at 70.41. That is the highest value across all 7 years on record.
That represents a change of up 11.5% on the previous year and up 20.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cross country literacy rates in Nigeria peaked at 70.41 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 12.5, in 1950.
Nigeria ranks 104th of 128 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Cross country literacy rates in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 12.5 | — |
| 1991 | 55.45 | +343.6% |
| 2003 | 54.77 | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 70.2 | +28.2% |
| 2016 | 58.22 | -17.1% |
| 2021 | 63.16 | +8.5% |
| 2024 | 70.41 | +11.5% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 70.41 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 78.16, 90% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 70.41 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 70.87, 99% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 12.5 | 12.5 | 12.5 | 1 |
| 1990s | 55.45 | 55.45 | 55.45 | 1 |
| 2000s | 62.48 | 54.77 | 70.2 | 2 |
| 2010s | 58.22 | 58.22 | 58.22 | 1 |
| 2020s | 66.78 | 63.16 | 70.41 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More education data for Nigeria
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 74.51 (2023)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 75.68 (2023)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cross country literacy rates in Nigeria?
- Cross country literacy rates in Nigeria was 70.41 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest cross country literacy rates recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 70.41 in 2024.
- What is the lowest cross country literacy rates recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.5 in 1950.
- How does Nigeria rank for cross country literacy rates?
- Nigeria ranks 104th out of 128 countries with data for 2024.
- Is cross country literacy rates rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Cross country literacy rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 7 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).