Adult literacy rate in Nigeria
70.4% of adults in Nigeria could read and write in 2024. The value for 2024 is the highest in the series, which starts in 1991.
Nigeria, 2024
70.4%
Change from 2021
+7.3percentage points
World, 2024
87.7%
Adult literacy rate in Nigeria over time
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Nigeria
World
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The chart loads when you scroll to it. The table below shows the same data.
The chart shows a calculation from the published values. The table below keeps the published values.
% of people aged 15 and above. Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Gaps mean no published value; points are not joined across missing years.
| Period | Nigeria | World |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 70.4% | 87.7% |
| 2023 | – | 87.6% |
| 2022 | – | 87.4% |
| 2021 | 63.2% | 87.2% |
| 2020 | – | 87.0% |
| 2019 | – | 86.8% |
| 2018 | – | 86.8% |
| 2017 | – | 86.5% |
| 2016 | 58.2% | 86.3% |
| 2015 | – | 86.0% |
| 2014 | – | 85.6% |
| 2013 | – | 85.2% |
| 2012 | – | 84.9% |
| 2011 | – | 84.7% |
| 2010 | – | 84.4% |
| 2009 | – | 83.8% |
| 2008 | – | 83.5% |
| 2007 | – | 83.1% |
| 2006 | 70.2% | 82.5% |
| 2005 | – | 82.6% |
| 2004 | – | 82.6% |
| 2003 | 54.8% | 82.2% |
| 2002 | – | 81.7% |
| 2001 | – | 81.4% |
| 2000 | – | 81.1% |
A dash means no value was published for that period.
In short
- The previous available figure was 63.2% in 2021, a change of +7.3 percentage points.
- Since 1991, when it was 55.5%, the figure has changed by +15.0 percentage points.
- The figure for the world in 2024 was 87.7%.
More for Nigeria
All statistics for Nigeria
Primary school enrolment (gross)
89.6%
2023 · World Bank
ILO estimate of the youth NEET rate
13.5%
2025 · ILOSTAT
Primary completion (UIS)
77.4%
2024 · UNESCO UIS
Lower secondary completion
74.1%
2024 · UNESCO UIS
Upper secondary completion
68.5%
2024 · UNESCO UIS
Out-of-school children
24.3%
2023 · UNESCO UIS