Share of births attended by skilled health staff in Nigeria
Nigeria: Share of births attended by skilled health staff was 50.7% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Share of births attended by skilled health staff in Nigeria, 1990–2022
Source: Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and UNICEF, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of total.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 50.7% for share of births attended by skilled health staff in 2022. That is the highest value across all 9 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of births attended by skilled health staff in Nigeria peaked at 50.7% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 32.0%, in 1990.
Nigeria ranks 161st of 169 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Share of births attended by skilled health staff in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % of total | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 32.0% | — |
| 1999 | 41.6% | +30.0% |
| 2003 | 35.2% | -15.4% |
| 2008 | 34.4% | -2.3% |
| 2011 | 47.3% | +37.5% |
| 2013 | 35.2% | -25.6% |
| 2017 | 43.0% | +22.2% |
| 2018 | 43.3% | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 50.7% | +17.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 36.8% | 32.0% | 41.6% | 2 |
| 2000s | 34.8% | 34.4% | 35.2% | 2 |
| 2010s | 42.2% | 35.2% | 47.3% | 4 |
| 2020s | 50.7% | 50.7% | 50.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 158 Papua New Guinea 56.4% compare
- 159 Guinea 55.3% compare
- 160 Guinea-Bissau 53.8% compare
- 162 Ethiopia 49.8% compare
- 163 Chad 47.2% compare
- 164 Madagascar 45.8% compare
More health data for Nigeria
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.08 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.8137 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,301 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 257,921 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 75-79, female, annual growth rate 2.03 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per capita 0.0027 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, annual growth rate 1.11 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per capita 0.0024 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of births attended by skilled health staff in Nigeria?
- Share of births attended by skilled health staff in Nigeria was 50.7% in 2022, according to Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and UNICEF, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of births attended by skilled health staff recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 50.7% in 2022.
- What is the lowest share of births attended by skilled health staff recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 32.0% in 1990.
- How does Nigeria rank for share of births attended by skilled health staff?
- Nigeria ranks 161st out of 169 countries with data for 2022.
- Is share of births attended by skilled health staff rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and UNICEF, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of births attended by skilled health staff. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Skilled health staff refers to professionals trained to give the necessary supervision, care, and advice to women during pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period; to conduct deliveries on their own; and to care for newborns.