Civilian and combatant deaths in armed conflicts in Nigeria
Nigeria: Civilian and combatant deaths in armed conflicts was 876 deaths in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Civilian and combatant deaths in armed conflicts in Nigeria, 1989–2025
Source: Uppsala Conflict Data Program (2026); geoBoundaries (2023) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
In 2025, civilian and combatant deaths in armed conflicts in Nigeria stood at 876 deaths.
That represents a change of up 73.1% on the previous year and down 76.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, civilian and combatant deaths in armed conflicts in Nigeria peaked at 5,256 deaths in 2014 and was at its lowest, 0 deaths, in 1989.
That places Nigeria 12th out of 197 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Civilian and combatant deaths in armed conflicts in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 0 deaths | — |
| 1990 | 80 deaths | — |
| 1991 | 0 deaths | -100.0% |
| 1992 | 0 deaths | — |
| 1993 | 0 deaths | — |
| 1994 | 56 deaths | — |
| 1995 | 0 deaths | -100.0% |
| 1996 | 0 deaths | — |
| 1997 | 0 deaths | — |
| 1998 | 42 deaths | — |
| 1999 | 2,507 deaths | +5869.0% |
| 2000 | 31 deaths | -98.8% |
| 2001 | 367 deaths | +1083.9% |
| 2002 | 118 deaths | -67.8% |
| 2003 | 133 deaths | +12.7% |
| 2004 | 61 deaths | -54.1% |
| 2005 | 0 deaths | -100.0% |
| 2006 | 2 deaths | — |
| 2007 | 0 deaths | -100.0% |
| 2008 | 146 deaths | — |
| 2009 | 3 deaths | -97.9% |
| 2010 | 92 deaths | +2966.7% |
| 2011 | 187 deaths | +103.3% |
| 2012 | 894 deaths | +378.1% |
| 2013 | 850 deaths | -4.9% |
| 2014 | 5,256 deaths | +518.4% |
| 2015 | 3,789 deaths | -27.9% |
| 2016 | 652 deaths | -82.8% |
| 2017 | 885 deaths | +35.7% |
| 2018 | 581 deaths | -34.4% |
| 2019 | 478 deaths | -17.7% |
| 2020 | 568 deaths | +18.8% |
| 2021 | 261 deaths | -54.0% |
| 2022 | 387 deaths | +48.3% |
| 2023 | 383 deaths | -1.0% |
| 2024 | 506 deaths | +32.1% |
| 2025 | 876 deaths | +73.1% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Civilian and combatant deaths in armed conflicts in Nigeria changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | +5869.0% | 42 deaths | 2,507 deaths |
| 2010 | +2966.7% | 3 deaths | 92 deaths |
| 2001 | +1083.9% | 31 deaths | 367 deaths |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 deaths | 0 deaths | 0 deaths | 1 |
| 1990s | 268.5 deaths | 0 deaths | 2,507 deaths | 10 |
| 2000s | 86.1 deaths | 0 deaths | 367 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,366 deaths | 92 deaths | 5,256 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 496.83 deaths | 261 deaths | 876 deaths | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
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)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 257,921 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 14 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.14 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0711 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.17 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0729 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is civilian and combatant deaths in armed conflicts in Nigeria?
- Civilian and combatant deaths in armed conflicts in Nigeria was 876 deaths in 2025, according to Uppsala Conflict Data Program (2026); geoBoundaries (2023) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest civilian and combatant deaths in armed conflicts recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 5,256 deaths in 2014.
- What is the lowest civilian and combatant deaths in armed conflicts recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 deaths in 1989.
- How does Nigeria rank for civilian and combatant deaths in armed conflicts?
- Nigeria ranks 12th out of 197 countries with data for 2025.
- Is civilian and combatant deaths in armed conflicts rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 76.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from Uppsala Conflict Data Program (2026); geoBoundaries (2023) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Civilian and combatant deaths in armed conflicts. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Best estimate of the number of deaths of civilians in interstate, intrastate, extrasystemic, non-state conflicts, and one-sided violence that were ongoing that year.