Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Nigeria

Nigeria: Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes was 28.3% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
28.3%
World rank
74th
of 83 countries
All-time high
42.5%
in 2006
All-time low
21.0%
in 2003
Years of data
5
1991–2018

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Nigeria, 1991–2018

0102030401991200420181991: 22.2 %2003: 21 %2006: 42.5 %2008: 21.6 %2018: 28.3 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Nigeria is 28.3%, measured in 2018.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 31.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Nigeria peaked at 42.5% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 21.0%, in 2003.

That places Nigeria 74th out of 83 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the bottom quarter.

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Nigeria, year by year

Annual values for Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes (%) in Nigeria, 1991 to 2018.
Year % Change
1991 22.2%
2003 21.0% -5.1%
2006 42.5% +102.0%
2008 21.6% -49.3%
2018 28.3% +31.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 22.2% 22.2% 22.2% 1
2000s 28.4% 21.0% 42.5% 3
2010s 28.3% 28.3% 28.3% 1

Countries ranked near Nigeria

  1. 71 Mozambique 31.1% compare
  2. 72 Burundi 30.8% compare
  3. 73 Rwanda 29.0% compare
  4. 75 Senegal 27.7% compare
  5. 76 Pakistan 27.1% compare
  6. 77 Nepal 23.6% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for Nigeria

All data for Nigeria →

Frequently asked questions

What is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Nigeria?
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Nigeria was 28.3% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Nigeria?
The highest recorded value was 42.5% in 2006.
What is the lowest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Nigeria?
The lowest recorded value was 21.0% in 2003.
How does Nigeria rank for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes?
Nigeria ranks 74th out of 83 countries with data for 2018.
Is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Nigeria?
Over the last ten years it is up 31.2%. 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 Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Nigeria. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 24 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/elderly-literacy-rate-population-65-years-both-sexes-percent/nigeria/

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About this data

Indicator
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
122 places, 2,190 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Percentage of the population age 65 and above who can, with understanding, read and write a short, simple statement on their everyday life. Generally, ‘literacy’ also encompasses ‘numeracy’, the ability to make simple arithmetic calculations. This indicator is calculated by dividing the number of literates aged 65 years and over by the corresponding age group population and multiplying the result by 100.