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Topic 05 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Nigeria: Health & Wellbeing
How long, and how well fed, do people live?
Nigeria is placed 196th of 200 countries on health & wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Life Expectancy at Birth 54.46 (2023); Under-Five Mortality Rate 115.65 (2024).
Share
Health & Wellbeing
196th
of 200 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
- 54.46Life Expectancy at Birth, 2023Years a newborn would live at current death rates
- 115.65Under-Five Mortality Rate, 2024Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
- 33.8Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five, 2024Children under 5 who are stunted (%)
- 26.4Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity, 2024Population in severe food insecurity (%)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Nigeria on health & wellbeing — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Life Expectancy at Birth
UN DESA Population Division
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
54.46
Years a newborn would live at current death rates
Higher is better
Nigeria: 54.46. Across the 222 countries in this edition, values run from 54.46 (Nigeria) to 86.37 (Monaco); the world median is 74.63.
- World median
- 74.63
- Best in Western Africa
- 76.06 Cabo Verde
- Land neighbours
- Benin 60.77 · Cameroon 63.7 · Niger 61.18 · Chad 55.07
Key 2 of 4
Under-Five Mortality Rate
UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
115.65
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
Lower is better
Nigeria: 115.65. Across the 200 countries in this edition, values run from 1.26 (San Marino) to 115.65 (Nigeria); the world median is 14.54.
- World median
- 14.54
- Best in Western Africa
- 11.14 Cabo Verde
- Land neighbours
- Benin 74.75 · Cameroon 64.84 · Niger 110.72 · Chad 97.26
Key 3 of 4
Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five
UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · Nigeria’s is from 2021 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
33.8
Children under 5 who are stunted (%)
Lower is better
Nigeria: 33.8. Across the 162 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0.518 (Latvia) to 52.8 (Burundi); the world median is 13.8.
- World median
- 13.8
- Best in Western Africa
- 6 Cabo Verde
- Land neighbours
- Benin 34.13 · Cameroon 28.93 · Niger 47.7 · Chad 31.92
Key 4 of 4
Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
26.4
Population in severe food insecurity (%)
Lower is better
Nigeria: 26.4. Across the 125 countries in this edition, values run from 0.6 (Brazil) to 62.9 (South Sudan); the world median is 4.9.
- World median
- 4.9
- Best in Western Africa
- 2.4 Mali
- Land neighbours
- Benin 13.1 · Cameroon 23.9 · Niger 7.4 · Chad 25.2
02Over time
Which way Nigeria is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Life Expectancy at Birth
Years a newborn would live at current death rates · higher is better
NigeriaWorld median
Nigeria rose from 47.14 in 2000 to 54.46 in 2023; the world median went from 70.68 to 74.63.
Every year’s figures
Year Nigeria World median 2023 54.462 74.630 2022 54.079 74.313 2021 53.455 72.433 2020 53.072 73.063 2019 53.009 74.196 2018 52.669 74.081 2017 52.397 74.029 2016 52.189 74.013 2015 51.939 73.783 2014 51.940 73.330 2013 51.827 73.386 2012 51.688 73.210 2011 51.490 73.003 2010 51.315 72.827 2009 51.080 72.426 2008 50.748 72.264 2007 50.381 72.113 2006 49.876 72.027 2005 49.538 71.876 2004 49.148 71.477 2003 48.618 71.409 2002 48.020 71.173 2001 47.549 70.926 2000 47.143 70.678 Under-Five Mortality Rate
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) · lower is better
NigeriaWorld median
Nigeria fell from 177.28 in 2000 to 115.65 in 2024; the world median went from 30.43 to 14.54.
Every year’s figures
Year Nigeria World median 2024 115.65 14.5 2023 116.82 15.2 2022 117.46 14.7 2021 117.56 15.1 2020 117.42 15.3 2019 117.37 15.7 2018 117.19 16.3 2017 117.17 16.8 2016 117.35 17.5 2015 117.82 17.9 2014 118.68 18.3 2013 119.93 18.7 2012 121.64 18.8 2011 123.80 19.0 2010 126.34 19.2 2009 129.22 20.8 2008 132.55 20.7 2007 136.46 21.8 2006 140.88 22.8 2005 145.84 24.0 2004 151.38 25.9 2003 157.43 26.9 2002 163.87 28.0 2001 170.54 29.1 2000 177.28 30.4 Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity
Population in severe food insecurity (%) · lower is better
NigeriaWorld median
Nigeria rose from 11 in 2015 to 26.4 in 2024; the world median went from 3.4 to 4.9.
Every year’s figures
Year Nigeria World median 2024 26 4.9 2023 24 4.7 2022 23 5.4 2021 21 5.7 2020 20 5.6 2019 17 5.0 2018 15 4.2 2017 14 4.0 2016 12 3.4 2015 11 3.4
03In context
Nigeria beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 200 countries on health & wellbeing, never a place within the region.
Nigeria and the countries it borders
Standing among all 200; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Life Expectancy at BirthYears a newborn would live at current death rates | Under-Five Mortality RateDeaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) | Stunting Prevalence in Children Under FiveChildren under 5 who are stunted (%) | Prevalence of Severe Food InsecurityPopulation in severe food insecurity (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Cameroon | 180th | 63.7 | 64.84 | 28.93 | 23.9 |
 Benin | 183rd | 60.77 | 74.75 | 34.13 | 13.1 |
 Niger | 184th | 61.18 | 110.72 | 47.7 | 7.4 |
 Chad | 195th | 55.07 | 97.26 | 31.92 | 25.2 |
| Nigeria | 196th | 54.46 | 115.65 | 33.8 | 26.4 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Western Africa
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 200.
Placed either side on health & wellbeing
The countries immediately above and below Nigeria in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Nigeria is ahead of the world, and behind
56 more statistics filed under health & wellbeing, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median5
Statistics on which Nigeria does better than the middle country measured.
Overweight Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 5.51.625.5▲ Improved since 2014
Nigeria: 1.62 · world median 5.5 · Children under 5 who are overweight (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.623 to 26.43; lower is better.
Position 158th of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Agreement That Vaccines Are SafeWellcome Trust · 2018 · world median 77.6591.1577.65No earlier reading
Nigeria: 91.15 · world median 77.65 · People aged 15+ who agree that vaccines are safe (% of those who had heard of vaccines). Wellcome Trust, 2018 edition, data for 2018.
Published values in that edition run from 29.29 to 97.91; higher is better.
Position 21st of 144 · derived.
Female Genital Mutilation PrevalenceUNICEF · 2024 · world median 34.113.934.1No earlier reading
Nigeria: 13.9 · world median 34.1 · Women aged 15-49 who have undergone FGM (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.3 to 99.2; lower is better.
Global Report on Food CrisesFSIN · 2024 · world median 221622▲ Improved since 2016
Nigeria: 16 · world median 22 · In IPC Phase 3+ (% of analysed population). Food Security Information Network (FSIN), 2025 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3 to 56; lower is better.
Position 30th of 44 · derived, 1st = worst.
Oral Rehydration Salts for Children with DiarrhoeaUNICEF · 2024 · world median 41.546.641.5No earlier reading
Nigeria: 46.6 · world median 41.5 · Children under 5 with diarrhoea given oral rehydration salts (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 9.9 to 95.4; higher is better.
Position 52nd of 127 · derived.
Behind the world median40
Statistics on which Nigeria does worse than the middle country measured.
HPV Vaccination Coverage, GirlsWUENIC · 2025 · world median 65.56065.5▲ Improved since 2023
Nigeria: 60 · world median 65.5 · Girls in the target group given the final dose of HPV vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 99; higher is better.
Fruit Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 84.8368.2784.83▲ Improved since 2013
Nigeria: 68.27 · world median 84.83 · Fruit available as food, excluding wine (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 4.27 to 379.63; higher is better.
Vegetable Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 102.6965.11102.69▼ Worsened since 2013
Nigeria: 65.11 · world median 102.69 · Vegetables available as food (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.89 to 412.72; higher is better.
Global Multidimensional Poverty IndexOPHI · 2025 · world median 0.0390.1750.039▲ Improved since 2018
Nigeria: 0.175 · world median 0.039 · MPI (0–1). Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 0.517; lower is better.
Position 37th of 109 · derived, 1st = worst.
Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Six MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 40.7428.7840.74No earlier reading
Nigeria: 28.78 · world median 40.74 · Infants under 6 months exclusively breastfed (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.497 to 83.3; higher is better.
Position 101st of 136 · derived.
Insecticide-Treated Net UseMAP · 2025 · world median 4527.9245▼ Worsened since 2015
Nigeria: 27.92 · world median 45 · Population that slept under an insecticide-treated net (%). Malaria Atlas Project (MAP), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 8.586 to 88.58; higher is better.
Postnatal Care for Newborns Within Two DaysUNICEF · 2025 · world median 82.942.382.9No earlier reading
Nigeria: 42.3 · world median 82.9 · Newborns with a health check within 2 days of birth (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 7.3 to 99.9; higher is better.
Position 90th of 109 · derived.
Early Initiation of BreastfeedingUNICEF · 2024 · world median 52.9535.5352.95No earlier reading
Nigeria: 35.53 · world median 52.95 · Newborns put to the breast within one hour of birth (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 7.749 to 93.1; higher is better.
Position 113th of 136 · derived.
INFORM Severity IndexACAPS · 2025 · world median 3.14.13.1▼ Worsened since 2020
Nigeria: 4.1 · world median 3.1 · INFORM Severity (1–5, most severe crisis). ACAPS, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.3 to 4.7; lower is better.
Position 14th of 81 · derived, 1st = worst.
Prevalence of UndernourishmentFAO · 2023 · world median 5.219.95.2▼ Worsened since 2013
Nigeria: 19.9 · world median 5.2 · Population undernourished (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 54.2; lower is better.
Position 27th of 104 · derived, 1st = worst.
Dietary Energy SupplyFAO · 2024 · world median 2,9822,4442,982▼ Worsened since 2014
Nigeria: 2,444 · world median 2,982 · Dietary energy supply (kcal per person per day). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1,757 to 3,962; higher is better.
Position 131st of 155 · derived.
Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.7620.560.762No real change since 2013
Nigeria: 0.56 · world median 0.762 · HDI score (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.388 to 0.972; higher is better.
Ranked 164th of 193 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Antenatal Care Coverage, At Least Four VisitsUNICEF · 2025 · world median 8152.481No earlier reading
Nigeria: 52.4 · world median 81 · Women with a live birth who had 4+ antenatal visits (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 22.6 to 100; higher is better.
Position 131st of 153 · derived.
Coefficient of Variation of Habitual Caloric ConsumptionFAO · 2024 · world median 0.250.340.25▼ Worsened since 2014
Nigeria: 0.34 · world median 0.25 · Coefficient of variation of habitual calorie consumption across the population (standard deviation ÷ mean). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.17 to 0.4; lower is better.
Demand for Family Planning Satisfied by Modern MethodsUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 71.2543.871.25▼ Worsened since 2013
Nigeria: 43.8 · world median 71.25 · Share of women aged 15–49 wanting to avoid pregnancy who use a modern method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 8.4 to 92.4; higher is better.
Position 171st of 196 · derived.
Share of Dietary Energy Supply from Cereals, Roots and TubersFAO · 2022 · world median 416341No real change since 2012
Nigeria: 63 · world median 41 · Share of dietary energy supply from cereals, roots and tubers (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 21 to 82; lower is better.
Care-Seeking for Children with Symptoms of PneumoniaUNICEF · 2024 · world median 67.740.667.7No earlier reading
Nigeria: 40.6 · world median 67.7 · Children under 5 with pneumonia symptoms taken to a health provider (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 14 to 99.1; higher is better.
Position 112th of 127 · derived.
Adolescent Birth Rate (Ages 15–19)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 27.4686.4327.46▲ Improved since 2013
Nigeria: 86.43 · world median 27.46 · Live births per 1,000 women aged 15–19. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.465 to 163.09; lower is better.
Position 27th of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum)MAP · 2025 · world median 52.47267.552.47▼ Worsened since 2015
Nigeria: 267.5 · world median 52.47 · New P. falciparum malaria cases per 1,000 people per year. Malaria Atlas Project (MAP), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 334.75; lower is better.
Days Above 35°CECMWF · 2025 · world median 3.48143.673.48No real change since 2015
Nigeria: 143.67 · world median 3.48 · Days a year with a maximum temperature above 35°C, averaged over the country’s land. World Bank Group (Climate Change Knowledge Portal), from Copernicus ERA5 (ECMWF), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 222.89; lower is better.
Minimum Dietary Diversity, Children Aged 6–23 MonthsUNICEF · 2025 · world median 37.5714.0137.57No earlier reading
Nigeria: 14.01 · world median 37.57 · Children aged 6-23 months fed from at least 5 of 8 food groups (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 8.089 to 85.88; higher is better.
Position 106th of 115 · derived.
Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 26.480.526.4▼ Worsened since 2017
Nigeria: 80.5 · world median 26.4 · Share of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 93.9; lower is better.
Position 11th of 145 · derived, 1st = worst.
Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum)MAP · 2024 · world median 8.10687.738.106No real change since 2014
Nigeria: 87.73 · world median 8.106 · Deaths from P. falciparum malaria per 100,000 people per year. Malaria Atlas Project (MAP), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 133.27; lower is better.
Immunisation Coverage, DTP3WUENIC · 2025 · world median 916291▲ Improved since 2015
Nigeria: 62 · world median 91 · Infants given a third dose of DTP vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 39 to 99; higher is better.
Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 21.2643.9321.26No earlier reading
Nigeria: 43.93 · world median 21.26 · Children aged 6-23 months fed from at most 2 of 8 food groups (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.169 to 63.08; lower is better.
Position 8th of 113 · derived, 1st = worst.
Wasting Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 3.54611.63.546No earlier reading
Nigeria: 11.6 · world median 3.546 · Children under 5 who are wasted (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.1 to 22.74; lower is better.
Position 11th of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Stillbirth RateUN IGME · 2023 · world median 8.16323.888.163No real change since 2013
Nigeria: 23.88 · world median 8.163 · Stillbirths (per 1,000 total births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.18 to 34.9; lower is better.
Position 12th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food InsecurityFAO · 2024 · world median 20.976.520.9▼ Worsened since 2015
Nigeria: 76.5 · world median 20.9 · Population in moderate or severe food insecurity (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 88.8; lower is better.
Position 8th of 135 · derived, 1st = worst.
Immunisation Coverage, Measles First Dose (MCV1)WUENIC · 2025 · world median 905690▲ Improved since 2015
Nigeria: 56 · world median 90 · Infants given a first dose of measles vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 13 to 99; higher is better.
Institutional DeliveriesUNICEF · 2025 · world median 96.943.396.9No earlier reading
Nigeria: 43.3 · world median 96.9 · Live births delivered in a health facility (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.5 to 100; higher is better.
PM2.5 Air Pollution ExposureAtmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis · 2023 · world median 14.4544.914.45▼ Worsened since 2013
Nigeria: 44.9 · world median 14.45 · Population-weighted PM2.5 concentration (µg/m³). Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 68.2; lower is better.
Position 11th of 220 · derived, 1st = worst.
Violent Discipline of ChildrenUNICEF · 2025 · world median 75.890.475.8No earlier reading
Nigeria: 90.4 · world median 75.8 · Children aged 1-14 experiencing violent discipline (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 37.6 to 94; lower is better.
Position 5th of 90 · derived, 1st = worst.
Human Capital IndexWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 0.5640.3610.564No real change since 2017
Nigeria: 0.361 · world median 0.564 · HCI score (0–1). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 0.292 to 0.879; higher is better.
Position 166th of 172 · derived.
Mortality Rate, Ages 5–14UN IGME · 2024 · world median 2.85822.122.858▼ Worsened since 2014
Nigeria: 22.12 · world median 2.858 · Deaths between ages 5 and 14 (per 1,000 children aged 5). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.392 to 59.04; lower is better.
Position 5th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Adult Mortality (Probability of Dying Between 15 and 60)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 133.7349.49133.7No real change since 2013
Nigeria: 349.49 · world median 133.7 · Deaths before age 60 per 1,000 people alive at 15, at that year's death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 25.15 to 415.44; lower is better.
Position 3rd of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Gender Inequality IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.3510.6770.351No real change since 2013
Nigeria: 0.677 · world median 0.351 · GII (0 = full equality, 1 = maximum inequality). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.003 to 0.838; lower is better.
Ranked 171st of 172 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Infant Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 12.2669.7712.26▼ Worsened since 2014
Nigeria: 69.77 · world median 12.26 · Deaths before age one (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.214 to 71.87; lower is better.
Position 2nd of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Neonatal Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 8.13439.058.134▼ Worsened since 2014
Nigeria: 39.05 · world median 8.134 · Deaths in the first 28 days (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.544 to 39.47; lower is better.
Position 2nd of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Life Expectancy at Age 65UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 16.3912.1416.39▼ Worsened since 2013
Nigeria: 12.14 · world median 16.39 · Further years a 65-year-old would live at current death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 12.13 to 23.21; higher is better.
Position 221st of 222 · derived.
Maternal Mortality RatioMMEIG · 2023 · world median 46.65992.8346.65No real change since 2013
Nigeria: 992.83 · world median 46.65 · Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.11 to 992.83; lower is better.
Position 1st of 195 · derived, 1st = worst.
No better end11
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Children with Functional DifficultiesUNICEF · 2024 · world median 1315.513No earlier reading
Nigeria: 15.5 · world median 13 · Children aged 5-17 with a functional difficulty (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.9 to 35.2.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8939.5338.89Moved since 2015
Nigeria: 39.53 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 87th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Pesticide Use per HectareFAO · 2024 · world median 1.730.981.73No real change since 2014
Nigeria: 0.98 · world median 1.73 · Pesticide use (kg per hectare of cropland). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 37.72.
Position 115th of 178 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Cost of a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 4.554.174.55No real change since 2017
Nigeria: 4.17 · world median 4.55 · Cost of the cheapest locally available healthy diet, PPP dollars per person per day. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.66 to 8.27.
Catastrophic Out-of-Pocket Health SpendingWorld Bank Group · 2019 · world median 6.883.5516.88No earlier reading
Nigeria: 3.551 · world median 6.88 · Population in households spending more than 10% of their budget on health out of pocket (%). World Bank Group, 2019 edition, data for 2019.
Published values in that edition run from 0.133 to 31.21.
Adults Who Have Been Too Anxious or Depressed to Carry OnWellcome Trust · 2020 · world median 20.0515.3920.05No earlier reading
Nigeria: 15.39 · world median 20.05 · People aged 15+ who have ever been too anxious or depressed to continue their usual activities for two weeks or more (%). Wellcome Trust, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 2.934 to 49.35.
Fish and Seafood Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 16.176.916.17Moved since 2013
Nigeria: 6.9 · world median 16.17 · Fish and seafood available as food (kg per person per year, live-weight equivalent). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.38 to 83.81.
Caesarean Section RateUNICEF · 2025 · world median 20.655.620.65No earlier reading
Nigeria: 5.6 · world median 20.65 · Live births delivered by caesarean section (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 72.2.
Contraceptive Prevalence (Any Method)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 41.2518.941.25Moved since 2013
Nigeria: 18.9 · world median 41.25 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using any contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.6 to 78.7.
Modern Contraceptive PrevalenceUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 35.414.935.4No real change since 2013
Nigeria: 14.9 · world median 35.4 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using a modern contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2 to 73.8.
Meat Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 57.837.1157.83No real change since 2013
Nigeria: 7.11 · world median 57.83 · Meat available as food (kg per person per year, carcass weight). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 3.49 to 156.95.
No current reading for Nigeria
Births Attended by Skilled Health Staff (last 2022), Excess Mortality During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Fatal Occupational Injuries, Low Birthweight Prevalence and Malaria Incidence (P. vivax). Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Health & Wellbeing among Nigeria’s 16 topics
Health & Wellbeing is Nigeria’s 16th best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Work & Labour16th of 1824/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainabilityjoint 73rd of 1864/4 keys
- Digital & Technology82nd of 1984/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties128th of 1984/4 keys
- Peace & Security120th of 1774/4 keys
- Energy117th of 1653/3 keys
- Gender & Equality138th of 1834/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions149th of 1944/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation136th of 1764/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture143rd of 1844/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequalityjoint 128th of 1593/3 keys
- Mobility & Trade144th of 1774/4 keys
- Education & Knowledgejoint 174th of 1984/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital179th of 1963/3 keys
- Risk & Resilience181st of 1934/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing196th of 2004/4 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on health & wellbeing
The three countries placed highest of 200, and the leaders Nigeria can most readily be measured against.
1
San MarinoSouthern Europe
1st of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Matl derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
MonacoWestern Europe
2nd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
AndorraSouthern Europe
3rd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest placed on all 4 keys
South Korea5th4/4 keysHighest in Africa
Cabo Verde80th4/4 keysThis page
Nigeria196th4/4 keys
Positions out of 200 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Nigeria and health & wellbeing
On health & wellbeing
Global Hunger Index 2025: Countries with the Most Alarming Hunger Crisis
Thirteen countries scored across four editions — 2000, 2008, 2016 and 2025 — and five the report could not score at all. DR Congo and South Sudan share 121st place on 37.5.
On health & wellbeing
World Happiness Report 2025: Finland Leads Again as the US and UK Face Major Declines
The ten highest life evaluations of 2025, drawn on a world map, and the six things the report uses to explain them. Costa Rica and Mexico are the only two outside Europe and the Middle East.
08Questions
Nigeria on health & wellbeing: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Nigeria rank on health & wellbeing?
Nigeria is placed 196th of 200 countries on Health & Wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Life Expectancy at Birth, Under-Five Mortality Rate, Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five and Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Life Expectancy at Birth figure for Nigeria?
54.46 in 2023 (years a newborn would live at current death rates), according to UN DESA Population Division. The world median in the same edition was 74.63.
What is the latest Under-Five Mortality Rate figure for Nigeria?
115.65 in 2024 (deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)), according to UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME). The world median in the same edition was 14.54.
How does Nigeria compare with Cameroon on health & wellbeing?
Cameroon is placed 180th of 200, and Nigeria 196th. Life Expectancy at Birth: Cameroon 63.7, Nigeria 54.46; Under-Five Mortality Rate: Cameroon 64.84, Nigeria 115.65; Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five: Cameroon 28.93, Nigeria 33.8; Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity: Cameroon 23.9, Nigeria 26.4.
How have Nigeria’s health & wellbeing figures changed?
Life Expectancy at Birth rose from 47.14 in 2000 to 54.46 in 2023; Under-Five Mortality Rate fell from 177.28 in 2000 to 115.65 in 2024; Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity rose from 11 in 2015 to 26.4 in 2024.
Which health & wellbeing statistics are missing for Nigeria?
No current reading is published for Nigeria on Births Attended by Skilled Health Staff, Excess Mortality During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Fatal Occupational Injuries, Low Birthweight Prevalence and Malaria Incidence (P. vivax). They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Health spending, hospital beds and doctors per person are not measured, because more of any of them does not guarantee better outcomes. Mental health and self-reported happiness are not part of this topic. Food supply per person is measured under Food & Agriculture. Maternal mortality and many other indicators are published here as context; maternal mortality is a key in Development & Human Capital instead.
How the Health & Wellbeing standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The health & wellbeing method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Life Expectancy at Birth — UN DESA Population Division, CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Under-Five Mortality Rate — UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five — UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
The other 56 statistics on this page come from 17 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Nigeria’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Nigeria (banner) — Slashme, CC BY-SA 3.0
- San Marino — Matl derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Monaco — Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Andorra — Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Nigeria: Health & Wellbeing — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/nigeria/health