Female literacy rate in Nigeria is among the highest in West Africa. However, the difference between male and female literacy rates are substantial in both urban and rural areas. As of 2018, the rate among men living in rural areas of Nigeria reached roughly 60 percent, whereas female literacy rates in the same areas was 35 percent. The gap in urban Nigeria amounted to about ten percentage points.

In West Africa, the highest female literacy rates were registered in Cabo Verde and Ghana, while Nigeria ranked third.

The highest literacy rates in Nigeria were registered in the southern regions of the country. In the South West, 89 percent of males and 80.6 percent of females were literate as of 2018. Also, the south zones showed the lowest percentage differences between male and female literacy. Female literacy rate in Nigeria is among the highest in West Africa. The highest female literacy rates were registered in Cabo Verde and Ghana, while Nigeria ranked third.

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, male (%) in Niger was reported at 22.79 % in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Niger - Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, male - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Niger NE: Literacy Rate: Adult: % of People Aged 15 and Above data was reported at 15.457 % in 2012. This records a decrease from the previous number of 28.672 % for 2005. Niger NE: Literacy Rate: Adult: % of People Aged 15 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 15.457 % from Dec 2001 (Median) to 2012, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 28.672 % in 2005 and a record low of 14.376 % in 2001. Niger NE: Literacy Rate: Adult: % of People Aged 15 and Above data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Niger – Table NE.World Bank.WDI: Education Statistics. Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

The rate of adult literacy as share of the country's population 15 years and above in Nigeria increased by 1.1 percentage points (+1.77 percent) in 2021 in comparison to the previous year. While the growth is slowing down, with 63.16 percent, the rate of adult literacy is at its peak in the observed period. The adult literacy rate refers to the share of individuals aged 15 years and older who can read and write as well as understand simple expressions about their daily lives.

Nigeria: Youth literacy rate, ages 15-24: The latest value from 2021 is 73.67 percent, an increase from 65.78 percent in 2018. In comparison, the world average is 93.45 percent, based on data from 58 countries. Historically, the average for Nigeria from 1991 to 2021 is 72.12 percent. The minimum value, 65.78 percent, was reached in 2018 while the maximum of 79.16 percent was recorded in 2013.

Niger NE: Gender Parity Index (GPI): Literacy Rate: Youth Aged 15-24 data was reported at 0.436 Ratio in 2012. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.442 Ratio for 2005. Niger NE: Gender Parity Index (GPI): Literacy Rate: Youth Aged 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 0.442 Ratio from Dec 2001 (Median) to 2012, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.543 Ratio in 2001 and a record low of 0.436 Ratio in 2012. Niger NE: Gender Parity Index (GPI): Literacy Rate: Youth Aged 15-24 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Niger – Table NE.World Bank: Education Statistics. Gender parity index for youth literacy rate is the ratio of females to males ages 15-24 who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, female (%) in Niger was reported at 9.19 % in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Niger - Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Nigeria: Literacy rate: The latest value from 2021 is 63.16 percent, an increase from 62.02 percent in 2018. In comparison, the world average is 86.53 percent, based on data from 48 countries. Historically, the average for Nigeria from 1991 to 2021 is 59.21 percent. The minimum value, 51.08 percent, was reached in 2008 while the maximum of 70 percent was recorded in 2006.

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes (%) in Niger was reported at 15.75 % in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Niger - Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Niger NE: Literacy Rate: Adult Male: % of Males Aged 15 and Above data was reported at 23.247 % in 2012. This records a decrease from the previous number of 42.927 % for 2005. Niger NE: Literacy Rate: Adult Male: % of Males Aged 15 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 23.247 % from Dec 2001 (Median) to 2012, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 42.927 % in 2005 and a record low of 19.640 % in 2001. Niger NE: Literacy Rate: Adult Male: % of Males Aged 15 and Above data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Niger – Table NE.World Bank: Education Statistics. Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

Niger NE: Literacy Rate: Adult Female: % of Females Aged 15 and Above data was reported at 8.940 % in 2012. This records a decrease from the previous number of 15.084 % for 2005. Niger NE: Literacy Rate: Adult Female: % of Females Aged 15 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 9.399 % from Dec 2001 (Median) to 2012, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15.084 % in 2005 and a record low of 8.940 % in 2012. Niger NE: Literacy Rate: Adult Female: % of Females Aged 15 and Above data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Niger – Table NE.World Bank: Education Statistics. Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, male (%) in Nigeria was reported at 40.11 % in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Nigeria - Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, male - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Niger NE: Literacy Rate: Youth Male: % of Males Aged 15-24 data was reported at 34.534 % in 2012. This records a decrease from the previous number of 52.450 % for 2005. Niger NE: Literacy Rate: Youth Male: % of Males Aged 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 34.534 % from Dec 2001 (Median) to 2012, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 52.450 % in 2005 and a record low of 26.230 % in 2001. Niger NE: Literacy Rate: Youth Male: % of Males Aged 15-24 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Niger – Table NE.World Bank: Education Statistics. Youth literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15-24 who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

The literacy rate among females in Cabo Verde reached 82 percent. Cabo Verde represented the West African country in which the literacy rate among women aged 15 years and over was the highest. On the contrary, the literacy rate in Chad equaled to 14 percent of female adults, the lowest figure in West Africa.

The Northern Education Initiative Plus (NEIPlus) is a project that aimed to improve early grade literacy in Hausa and English in two of Nigeria’s northern states, Bauchi and Sokoto. Hausa is the mother tongue of most pupils in these states and the language of instruction of most schools. The data presented is from NEIPlus’s midline, conducted in 2018. Primary 2 (P2) and Primary 3 (P3) pupils were sampled. P2 and P3 are the equivalent of Grades 2 and 3, respectively. Pupils were administered an Early Grade Reading Assessment (EGRA); P2 pupils were assessed on Hausa literacy, while P3 pupils were assessed on their Hausa and English literacy. After taking the EGRA, pupils took a context survey to gather information about the situation of their homes and schools. The results from the context survey are within the EGRA dataset. Head teachers and teachers at these schools were interviewed about their schools and pedagogical beliefs. At each school, one reading lesson was observed.

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes (%) in Nigeria was reported at 28.29 % in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Nigeria - Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Niger NE: Literacy Rate: Youth Female: % of Females Aged 15-24 data was reported at 15.058 % in 2012. This records a decrease from the previous number of 23.197 % for 2005. Niger NE: Literacy Rate: Youth Female: % of Females Aged 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 15.058 % from Dec 2001 (Median) to 2012, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 23.197 % in 2005 and a record low of 14.234 % in 2001. Niger NE: Literacy Rate: Youth Female: % of Females Aged 15-24 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Niger – Table NE.World Bank: Education Statistics. Youth literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15-24 who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, female (%) in Nigeria was reported at 17.63 % in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Nigeria - Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on May of 2025.

Niger NE: Literacy Rate: Youth: % of People Age 15-24 data was reported at 23.524 % in 2012. This records a decrease from the previous number of 36.547 % for 2005. Niger NE: Literacy Rate: Youth: % of People Age 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 23.524 % from Dec 2001 (Median) to 2012, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 36.547 % in 2005 and a record low of 19.791 % in 2001. Niger NE: Literacy Rate: Youth: % of People Age 15-24 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Niger – Table NE.World Bank: Education Statistics. Youth literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15-24 who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).