Health spending as a share of total government spending in Nigeria
Nigeria: Health spending as a share of total government spending was 3.9% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Health spending as a share of total government spending in Nigeria, 2000–2023
Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, health spending as a share of total government spending in Nigeria stood at 3.9%.
The figure is up 13.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, health spending as a share of total government spending in Nigeria peaked at 7.3% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 2.4%, in 2000.
Nigeria ranks 182nd of 195 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Health spending as a share of total government spending in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 2.4% | — |
| 2001 | 2.8% | +17.4% |
| 2002 | 2.7% | -1.4% |
| 2003 | 4.0% | +46.2% |
| 2004 | 6.6% | +63.6% |
| 2005 | 6.4% | -2.2% |
| 2006 | 7.3% | +14.3% |
| 2007 | 4.3% | -41.4% |
| 2008 | 4.6% | +7.0% |
| 2009 | 3.7% | -19.6% |
| 2010 | 2.7% | -26.8% |
| 2011 | 2.8% | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 3.7% | +32.4% |
| 2013 | 3.5% | -5.7% |
| 2014 | 3.3% | -3.5% |
| 2015 | 5.3% | +59.8% |
| 2016 | 4.9% | -8.7% |
| 2017 | 4.4% | -8.7% |
| 2018 | 3.9% | -12.6% |
| 2019 | 3.8% | -3.1% |
| 2020 | 4.2% | +11.2% |
| 2021 | 4.3% | +3.0% |
| 2022 | 3.9% | -9.1% |
| 2023 | 3.9% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4.5% | 2.4% | 7.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.8% | 2.7% | 5.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.1% | 3.9% | 4.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 179 Guinea-Bissau 4.3% compare
- 180 Azerbaijan 4.3% compare
- 181 Democratic Republic of Congo 4.0% compare
- 183 Cameroon 3.9% compare
- 184 Venezuela 3.6% compare
- 185 Senegal 3.6% 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 health spending as a share of total government spending in Nigeria?
- Health spending as a share of total government spending in Nigeria was 3.9% in 2023, according to World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest health spending as a share of total government spending recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 7.3% in 2006.
- What is the lowest health spending as a share of total government spending recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.4% in 2000.
- How does Nigeria rank for health spending as a share of total government spending?
- Nigeria ranks 182nd out of 195 countries with data for 2023.
- Is health spending as a share of total government spending rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Health spending as a share of total government spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Domestic general government health expenditure expressed as a percentage of total expenditure of the general government.