Literacy rates among adults in Nigeria
Nigeria: Literacy rates among adults was 70.4% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Literacy rates among adults in Nigeria, 1991–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 70.4% for literacy rates among adults in 2024. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 11.5% on the previous year and up 20.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rates among adults in Nigeria peaked at 70.4% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 54.8%, in 2003.
That places Nigeria 71st out of 89 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Literacy rates among adults in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 55.5% | — |
| 2003 | 54.8% | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 70.2% | +28.2% |
| 2016 | 58.2% | -17.1% |
| 2021 | 63.2% | +8.5% |
| 2024 | 70.4% | +11.5% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 70.4% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 78.2%, 90% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 70.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 70.9%, 99% of the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 55.5% | 55.5% | 55.5% | 1 |
| 2000s | 62.5% | 54.8% | 70.2% | 2 |
| 2010s | 58.2% | 58.2% | 58.2% | 1 |
| 2020s | 66.8% | 63.2% | 70.4% | 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 rates among adults in Nigeria?
- Literacy rates among adults in Nigeria was 70.4% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy rates among adults recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 70.4% in 2024.
- What is the lowest literacy rates among adults recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 54.8% in 2003.
- How does Nigeria rank for literacy rates among adults?
- Nigeria ranks 71st out of 89 countries with data for 2024.
- Is literacy rates among adults rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.9%. 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 among adults. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population aged 15 years and older who can read and write.