Literacy rates vs average years of schooling in Nigeria
Nigeria: Literacy rates vs average years of schooling was 63.16 in 2021. ▲ Rising
Latest (2021)
63.16
World rank
113th
of 128 countries
All-time high
70.2
in 2006
All-time low
12.5
in 1950
Years of data
6
1950–2021
Literacy rates vs average years of schooling in Nigeria, 1950–2021
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for literacy rates vs average years of schooling in Nigeria is 63.16, measured in 2021.
The figure is down 10.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rates vs average years of schooling in Nigeria peaked at 70.2 in 2006 and was at its lowest, 12.5, in 1950.
That places Nigeria 113th out of 128 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.
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 | 63.16 | 63.16 | 63.16 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More education data for Nigeria
- Duration of pre primary education 1 (2025)
- Official entrance age to pre primary education 5 (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 56.4% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 40.5% (2025)
- Lower secondary school starting age 12 years (2025)
- Primary school starting age 6 years (2025)
- School enrollment, primary 89.6% (2023)
- Primary education, teachers 913,305 (2021)
- Fertility rate vs mean years of schooling 4.38 (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, female 88.2% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rates vs average years of schooling in Nigeria?
- Literacy rates vs average years of schooling in Nigeria was 63.16 in 2021, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy rates vs average years of schooling recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 70.2 in 2006.
- What is the lowest literacy rates vs average years of schooling recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.5 in 1950.
- How does Nigeria rank for literacy rates vs average years of schooling?
- Nigeria ranks 113th out of 128 countries with data for 2021.
- Is literacy rates vs average years of schooling rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.0%. 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 Literacy rates vs average years of schooling. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 6 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).