Literacy rate, youth total in Nigeria
Nigeria: Literacy rate, youth total was 81.4% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate, youth total in Nigeria, 1991–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of people ages 15-24.
Analysis
The most recent figure for literacy rate, youth total in Nigeria is 81.4%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 8 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 10.4% on the previous year and up 2.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, youth total in Nigeria peaked at 81.4% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 66.8%, in 2008.
Nigeria ranks 79th of 95 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Literacy rate, youth total in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % of people ages 15-24 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 71.2% | — |
| 2003 | 69.0% | -3.1% |
| 2006 | 78.7% | +14.1% |
| 2008 | 66.8% | -15.1% |
| 2013 | 79.2% | +18.5% |
| 2016 | 73.0% | -7.8% |
| 2021 | 73.7% | +1.0% |
| 2024 | 81.4% | +10.4% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 81.4% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 93.5%, 87% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 81.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 81.9%, 99% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 71.2% | 71.2% | 71.2% | 1 |
| 2000s | 71.5% | 66.8% | 78.7% | 3 |
| 2010s | 76.1% | 73.0% | 79.2% | 2 |
| 2020s | 77.5% | 73.7% | 81.4% | 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, youth total in Nigeria?
- Literacy rate, youth total in Nigeria was 81.4% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest literacy rate, youth total recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 81.4% in 2024.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, youth total recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 66.8% in 2008.
- How does Nigeria rank for literacy rate, youth total?
- Nigeria ranks 79th out of 95 countries with data for 2024.
- Is literacy rate, youth total rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Literacy rate, youth total (% of people ages 15-24). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Youth literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15-24 who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.