Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Nigeria
Nigeria: Literacy rates of older vs. younger population was 46.1% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Nigeria, 1991–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Nigeria is 46.1%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 14.1% on the previous year and up 56.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Nigeria peaked at 48.6% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 21.0%, in 2003.
Nigeria ranks 61st of 85 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 22.2% | — |
| 2003 | 21.0% | -5.1% |
| 2006 | 42.5% | +101.9% |
| 2016 | 29.5% | -30.5% |
| 2019 | 48.6% | +64.5% |
| 2021 | 40.4% | -16.7% |
| 2024 | 46.1% | +14.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 22.2% | 22.2% | 22.2% | 1 |
| 2000s | 31.8% | 21.0% | 42.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 39.0% | 29.5% | 48.6% | 2 |
| 2020s | 43.3% | 40.4% | 46.1% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More education data for Nigeria
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 8.52 % change on previous year (2011)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 504,448 (2021)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 408,857 (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 608,519 (2011)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 4.32 % change on previous year (2011)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 904,852 (2011)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 11.54 % change on previous year (2011)
- Theoretical duration of primary education (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of pre-primary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (pre-primary to post-secondary non) 0.0494 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Nigeria?
- Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Nigeria was 46.1% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy rates of older vs. younger population recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 48.6% in 2019.
- What is the lowest literacy rates of older vs. younger population recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.0% in 2003.
- How does Nigeria rank for literacy rates of older vs. younger population?
- Nigeria ranks 61st out of 85 countries with data for 2024.
- Is literacy rates of older vs. younger population rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 56.3%. 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 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Literacy rates of older vs. younger population. 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).
About this data
Share of the population aged 65 years and older who can read and write.