Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male in Nigeria
Nigeria: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male was 78.9% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
78.9%
Change on year
up 7.6%
World rank
69th
of 88 countries
All-time high
81.4%
in 2019
All-time low
64.2%
in 1991
Years of data
7
1991–2024
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male in Nigeria, 1991–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male in Nigeria is 78.9%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.6% on the previous year and up 17.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male in Nigeria peaked at 81.4% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 64.2%, in 1991.
Nigeria ranks 69th of 88 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 64.2% | — |
| 2003 | 65.2% | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 74.8% | +14.7% |
| 2016 | 67.2% | -10.1% |
| 2019 | 81.4% | +21.2% |
| 2021 | 73.3% | -10.0% |
| 2024 | 78.9% | +7.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 64.2% | 64.2% | 64.2% | 1 |
| 2000s | 70.0% | 65.2% | 74.8% | 2 |
| 2010s | 74.3% | 67.2% | 81.4% | 2 |
| 2020s | 76.1% | 73.3% | 78.9% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More education data for Nigeria
- 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)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 33.42 million (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.18 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita 0.1466 units per person (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 16.21 million (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male in Nigeria?
- Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male in Nigeria was 78.9% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 81.4% in 2019.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 64.2% in 1991.
- How does Nigeria rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male?
- Nigeria ranks 69th out of 88 countries with data for 2024.
- Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.4%. 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, male (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release