Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in Nigeria

Nigeria: Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes was 9.36 million number in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
9.36 million number
World rank
3rd
of 86 countries
All-time high
9.61 million number
in 2008
All-time low
5.16 million number
in 1991
Years of data
5
1991–2018

Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in Nigeria, 1991–2018

02.0M4.0M6.0M8.0M10.0M1991200420181991: 5.2M number2003: 8.0M number2006: 5.9M number2008: 9.6M number2018: 9.4M number

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.

Analysis

Nigeria recorded 9.36 million number for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in 2018.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in Nigeria peaked at 9.61 million number in 2008 and was at its lowest, 5.16 million number, in 1991.

Nigeria ranks 3rd of 86 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in Nigeria, year by year

Annual values for Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes (number) in Nigeria, 1991 to 2018.
Year number Change
1991 5.16 million number
2003 8.02 million number +55.4%
2006 5.90 million number -26.5%
2008 9.61 million number +62.9%
2018 9.36 million number -2.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 5.16 million number 5.16 million number 5.16 million number 1
2000s 7.84 million number 5.90 million number 9.61 million number 3
2010s 9.36 million number 9.36 million number 9.36 million number 1

Countries ranked near Nigeria

  1. 1 India 20.54 million number compare
  2. 2 Pakistan 10.53 million number compare
  3. 4 Ethiopia 6.27 million number compare
  4. 5 Côte d'Ivoire 2.15 million number compare
  5. 6 Chad 2.02 million number compare

See the full ranking of 125 places →

More education data for Nigeria

All data for Nigeria →

Frequently asked questions

What is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in Nigeria?
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in Nigeria was 9.36 million number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in Nigeria?
The highest recorded value was 9.61 million number in 2008.
What is the lowest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in Nigeria?
The lowest recorded value was 5.16 million number in 1991.
How does Nigeria rank for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes?
Nigeria ranks 3rd out of 86 countries with data for 2018.
Is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes rising or falling in Nigeria?
Over the last ten years it is down 2.5%. 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 Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in Nigeria. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 06 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/youth-illiterate-population-15-24-years-both-sexes-number/nigeria/

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About this data

Indicator
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes (number)
Unit
number
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
125 places, 2,250 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Total number of youth between age 15 and age 24 who cannot both read and write with understanding a short simple statement on their everyday life.