Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Nigeria
Nigeria: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes was 67.6% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Nigeria, 1991–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Nigeria is 67.6%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 11.3% on the previous year and up 23.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Nigeria peaked at 67.8% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 49.6%, in 1991.
That places Nigeria 69th out of 87 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 49.6% | — |
| 2003 | 50.7% | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 67.8% | +33.9% |
| 2016 | 54.9% | -19.1% |
| 2021 | 60.7% | +10.6% |
| 2024 | 67.6% | +11.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 49.6% | 49.6% | 49.6% | 1 |
| 2000s | 59.2% | 50.7% | 67.8% | 2 |
| 2010s | 54.9% | 54.9% | 54.9% | 1 |
| 2020s | 64.1% | 60.7% | 67.6% | 2 |
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 literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Nigeria?
- Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Nigeria was 67.6% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 67.8% in 2006.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 49.6% in 1991.
- How does Nigeria rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
- Nigeria ranks 69th out of 87 countries with data for 2024.
- Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.1%. 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 Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release