Nigeria vs World: Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes

Nigeria
28.54 million number
in 2018
World
515.16 million number
in 2019
Nigeria rank
3rd
World rank
1st

Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes over time

  • Nigeria
  • World
0200.0M400.0M600.0M197619972019

How they compare

World currently reports 515.16 million number against 28.54 million number in Nigeria, a difference of 486.62 million number.

That makes World's figure about 18.1 times Nigeria's.

Across all 5 years both countries report, World has been ahead every year.

Nigeria ranks 3rd and World ranks 1st of 83 countries.

World has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Nigeria World Difference Ahead
1990s 16.41 million number 600.37 million number 583.95 million number World
2000s 21.26 million number 528.94 million number 507.68 million number World
2010s 28.54 million number 517.71 million number 489.17 million number World

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes, Nigeria or World?
World, at 515.16 million number against 28.54 million number in Nigeria as of 2019.
What is the difference in illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes between Nigeria and World?
486.62 million number, with World ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Nigeria and World?
5 years are reported by both, from 1991 to 2018.
How do Nigeria and World rank globally for illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes?
Nigeria ranks 3rd and World ranks 1st of 83 countries.
Where does this data come from?
UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes (number). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Nigeria vs World: Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 18 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/compare/illiterate-population-25-64-years-both-sexes-number/nigeria/world/

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About this data

Indicator
Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes (number)
Unit
number
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
122 places, 2,239 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Total number of adults from age 25 to age 64 who cannot both read and write with understanding a short simple statement on their everyday life.