Youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, poorest quintile, female in Nigeria
Nigeria: Youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, poorest quintile, female was 28.3% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Latest (2021)
28.3%
World rank
21st
of 21 countries
All-time high
28.3%
in 2021
All-time low
6.2%
in 2008
Years of data
7
2003–2021
Youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, poorest quintile, female in Nigeria, 2003–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2021, youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, poorest quintile, female in Nigeria stood at 28.3%. That is the highest value across all 7 years on record.
The figure is up 25.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, poorest quintile, female in Nigeria peaked at 28.3% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 6.2%, in 2008.
Nigeria ranks 21st of 21 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, poorest quintile, female in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 19.7% | — |
| 2007 | 15.6% | -20.7% |
| 2008 | 6.2% | -60.3% |
| 2011 | 22.6% | +265.6% |
| 2013 | 8.6% | -61.9% |
| 2016 | 22.4% | +160.1% |
| 2021 | 28.3% | +26.3% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 28.3% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 84.9%, 33% of the median. (7 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 28.3% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 42.0%, 67% of the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 13.8% | 6.2% | 19.7% | 3 |
| 2010s | 17.9% | 8.6% | 22.6% | 3 |
| 2020s | 28.3% | 28.3% | 28.3% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 18 Senegal 42.0% compare
- 19 Sierra Leone 42.0% compare
- 20 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 41.5% compare
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 youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, poorest quintile, female in Nigeria?
- Youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, poorest quintile, female in Nigeria was 28.3% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, poorest quintile, female recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 28.3% in 2021.
- What is the lowest youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, poorest quintile, female recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.2% in 2008.
- How does Nigeria rank for youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, poorest quintile, female?
- Nigeria ranks 21st out of 21 countries with data for 2021.
- Is youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, poorest quintile, female rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.1%. 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 literacy rate, population 15-24 years, poorest quintile, female (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release