Deaths in armed conflicts in Nigeria
Nigeria: Deaths in armed conflicts was 4,594 deaths in 2025. ◆ Volatile
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
Nigeria recorded 4,594 deaths for deaths in armed conflicts in 2025.
The figure is up 34.9% on the previous year and down 58.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, deaths in armed conflicts in Nigeria peaked at 12,554 deaths in 2014 and was at its lowest, 0 deaths, in 1989.
That places Nigeria 9th out of 196 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.
Deaths in armed conflicts in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 0 deaths | — |
| 1990 | 80 deaths | — |
| 1991 | 1,600 deaths | +1900.0% |
| 1992 | 3,235 deaths | +102.2% |
| 1993 | 1,180 deaths | -63.5% |
| 1994 | 142 deaths | -88.0% |
| 1995 | 0 deaths | -100.0% |
| 1996 | 80 deaths | — |
| 1997 | 562 deaths | +602.5% |
| 1998 | 404 deaths | -28.1% |
| 1999 | 3,788 deaths | +837.6% |
| 2000 | 5,851 deaths | +54.5% |
| 2001 | 4,589 deaths | -21.6% |
| 2002 | 883 deaths | -80.8% |
| 2003 | 516 deaths | -41.6% |
| 2004 | 2,432 deaths | +371.3% |
| 2005 | 162 deaths | -93.3% |
| 2006 | 337 deaths | +108.0% |
| 2007 | 100 deaths | -70.3% |
| 2008 | 383 deaths | +283.0% |
| 2009 | 906 deaths | +136.6% |
| 2010 | 1,516 deaths | +67.3% |
| 2011 | 2,759 deaths | +82.0% |
| 2012 | 2,389 deaths | -13.4% |
| 2013 | 4,090 deaths | +71.2% |
| 2014 | 12,554 deaths | +206.9% |
| 2015 | 10,986 deaths | -12.5% |
| 2016 | 4,304 deaths | -60.8% |
| 2017 | 4,341 deaths | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 4,056 deaths | -6.6% |
| 2019 | 3,319 deaths | -18.2% |
| 2020 | 4,124 deaths | +24.3% |
| 2021 | 4,714 deaths | +14.3% |
| 2022 | 3,950 deaths | -16.2% |
| 2023 | 5,250 deaths | +32.9% |
| 2024 | 3,405 deaths | -35.1% |
| 2025 | 4,594 deaths | +34.9% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 4,594 deaths is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.5 deaths, 9188.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | +1900.0% | 80 deaths | 1,600 deaths |
| 1999 | +837.6% | 404 deaths | 3,788 deaths |
| 1997 | +602.5% | 80 deaths | 562 deaths |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 deaths | 0 deaths | 0 deaths | 1 |
| 1990s | 1,107 deaths | 0 deaths | 3,788 deaths | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,616 deaths | 100 deaths | 5,851 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 5,031 deaths | 1,516 deaths | 12,554 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 4,340 deaths | 3,405 deaths | 5,250 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)
- 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)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is deaths in armed conflicts in Nigeria?
- Deaths in armed conflicts in Nigeria was 4,594 deaths in 2025, according to Uppsala Conflict Data Program (2026); geoBoundaries (2023) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest deaths in armed conflicts recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 12,554 deaths in 2014.
- What is the lowest deaths in armed conflicts recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 deaths in 1989.
- How does Nigeria rank for deaths in armed conflicts?
- Nigeria ranks 9th out of 196 countries with data for 2025.
- Is deaths in armed conflicts rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 58.2%. 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 Deaths in armed conflicts. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
High estimate of the number of deaths of combatants and civilians due to fighting in interstate, intrastate, extrasystemic, non-state conflicts, and one-sided violence that were ongoing that year.