Prevalence of undernourishment (%) in Nigeria
Nigeria: Prevalence of undernourishment (%) was 22.2% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of undernourishment in Nigeria, 2001–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for prevalence of undernourishment in Nigeria is 22.2%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.7% on the previous year and up 94.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of undernourishment in Nigeria peaked at 22.2% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 8.7%, in 2001.
Nigeria ranks 24th of 140 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Prevalence of undernourishment (%) in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 8.7% | — |
| 2002 | 8.7% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 8.8% | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 8.9% | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 9.1% | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 9.2% | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 9.4% | +2.2% |
| 2008 | 9.6% | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 9.9% | +3.1% |
| 2010 | 10.5% | +6.1% |
| 2011 | 11.3% | +7.6% |
| 2012 | 11.9% | +5.3% |
| 2013 | 11.8% | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 11.4% | -3.4% |
| 2015 | 11.0% | -3.5% |
| 2016 | 11.1% | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 11.7% | +5.4% |
| 2018 | 12.1% | +3.4% |
| 2019 | 13.9% | +14.9% |
| 2020 | 15.6% | +12.2% |
| 2021 | 17.7% | +13.5% |
| 2022 | 19.3% | +9.0% |
| 2023 | 20.8% | +7.8% |
| 2024 | 22.2% | +6.7% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 22.2% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.1%, 2.0× the median. (41 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 22.2% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 18.4%, 1.2× the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 9.1% | 8.7% | 9.9% | 9 |
| 2010s | 11.7% | 10.5% | 13.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.1% | 15.6% | 22.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 21 Sao Tome and Principe 23.0% compare
- 22 Rwanda 22.6% compare
- 23 Mozambique 22.3% compare
- 25 Uganda 20.9% compare
- 26 Namibia 20.1% compare
- 27 Guinea-Bissau 20.0% compare
More development goals data for Nigeria
- Red List Index 0.9147 (2025)
- Number of refugees per 100,000 population, by country of origin 201.98 (2025)
- Manufacturing value added per capita 238.4 (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds 22 (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds (not extinct) 21 (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds with unknown risk status 21 (2025)
- Number of local breeds with unknown risk status 19 (2025)
- Number of local breeds (not extinct) 19 (2025)
- Number of local breeds kept in the country 20 (2025)
- Infant deaths 519,644 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of undernourishment in Nigeria?
- Prevalence of undernourishment in Nigeria was 22.2% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest prevalence of undernourishment recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 22.2% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence of undernourishment recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.7% in 2001.
- How does Nigeria rank for prevalence of undernourishment?
- Nigeria ranks 24th out of 140 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of undernourishment rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 94.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Prevalence of undernourishment (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).