External health expenditure per capita in Nigeria
Nigeria: External health expenditure per capita was 7.54 current US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
External health expenditure per capita in Nigeria, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in current US$.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 7.54 current US$ for external health expenditure per capita in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 21.0% on the previous year and down 37.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external health expenditure per capita in Nigeria peaked at 12.57 current US$ in 2014 and was at its lowest, 1.21 current US$, in 2001.
That places Nigeria 82nd out of 177 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External health expenditure per capita in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 2.91 current US$ | — |
| 2001 | 1.21 current US$ | -58.6% |
| 2002 | 1.28 current US$ | +6.2% |
| 2003 | 2.17 current US$ | +69.1% |
| 2004 | 2.66 current US$ | +22.9% |
| 2005 | 2.85 current US$ | +6.8% |
| 2006 | 3.44 current US$ | +21.0% |
| 2007 | 3.95 current US$ | +14.7% |
| 2008 | 4.7 current US$ | +19.0% |
| 2009 | 4.08 current US$ | -13.0% |
| 2010 | 4.57 current US$ | +11.8% |
| 2011 | 6.3 current US$ | +38.0% |
| 2012 | 7.4 current US$ | +17.4% |
| 2013 | 12.11 current US$ | +63.6% |
| 2014 | 12.57 current US$ | +3.9% |
| 2015 | 9.21 current US$ | -26.7% |
| 2016 | 7.79 current US$ | -15.4% |
| 2017 | 5.34 current US$ | -31.5% |
| 2018 | 4.56 current US$ | -14.6% |
| 2019 | 7.94 current US$ | +74.2% |
| 2020 | 6.51 current US$ | -18.1% |
| 2021 | 6.44 current US$ | -1.1% |
| 2022 | 6.23 current US$ | -3.2% |
| 2023 | 7.54 current US$ | +21.0% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 7.54 current US$ is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.9 current US$, 63% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 7.54 current US$ is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12.24 current US$, 62% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2.92 current US$ | 1.21 current US$ | 4.7 current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.78 current US$ | 4.56 current US$ | 12.57 current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.68 current US$ | 6.23 current US$ | 7.54 current US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 79 Democratic Republic of Congo 8.67 current US$ compare
- 80 Sri Lanka 8.11 current US$ compare
- 81 Eritrea 8.06 current US$ compare
- 83 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 7.41 current US$ compare
- 84 Nicaragua 7.39 current US$ compare
- 85 Madagascar 6.65 current US$ 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)
- 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 external health expenditure per capita in Nigeria?
- External health expenditure per capita in Nigeria was 7.54 current US$ in 2023, according to Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest external health expenditure per capita recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 12.57 current US$ in 2014.
- What is the lowest external health expenditure per capita recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.21 current US$ in 2001.
- How does Nigeria rank for external health expenditure per capita?
- Nigeria ranks 82nd out of 177 countries with data for 2023.
- Is external health expenditure per capita rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 37.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of External health expenditure per capita (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Current external expenditures on health per capita expressed in current US dollars. External sources are composed of direct foreign transfers and foreign transfers distributed by government encompassing all financial inflows into the national health system from outside the country.