Infant mortality rate (UN IGME estimate, 2024) in Nigeria
Nigeria: Infant mortality rate (UN IGME estimate, 2024) was 69.77 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Infant mortality rate in Nigeria, 1964–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for infant mortality rate in Nigeria is 69.77, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.5% on the previous year and up 2.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant mortality rate in Nigeria peaked at 217.93 in 1968 and was at its lowest, 68, in 2015.
Nigeria ranks 2nd of 201 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 61 years of available data.
Infant mortality rate (UN IGME estimate, 2024) in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 171.72 | — |
| 1965 | 167.55 | -2.4% |
| 1966 | 163.48 | -2.4% |
| 1967 | 159.52 | -2.4% |
| 1968 | 217.93 | +36.6% |
| 1969 | 212.34 | -2.6% |
| 1970 | 206.58 | -2.7% |
| 1971 | 142.45 | -31.0% |
| 1972 | 137.68 | -3.3% |
| 1973 | 132.93 | -3.5% |
| 1974 | 128.26 | -3.5% |
| 1975 | 123.6 | -3.6% |
| 1976 | 119.34 | -3.4% |
| 1977 | 115.41 | -3.3% |
| 1978 | 111.94 | -3.0% |
| 1979 | 108.87 | -2.7% |
| 1980 | 106.51 | -2.2% |
| 1981 | 104.71 | -1.7% |
| 1982 | 103.49 | -1.2% |
| 1983 | 102.9 | -0.6% |
| 1984 | 102.81 | -0.1% |
| 1985 | 103 | +0.2% |
| 1986 | 103.41 | +0.4% |
| 1987 | 103.82 | +0.4% |
| 1988 | 104.19 | +0.4% |
| 1989 | 104.43 | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 104.66 | +0.2% |
| 1991 | 104.72 | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 104.7 | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 104.7 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 104.56 | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 104.17 | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 103.38 | -0.8% |
| 1997 | 102.06 | -1.3% |
| 1998 | 100.17 | -1.9% |
| 1999 | 97.69 | -2.5% |
| 2000 | 94.9 | -2.9% |
| 2001 | 91.79 | -3.3% |
| 2002 | 88.65 | -3.4% |
| 2003 | 85.59 | -3.4% |
| 2004 | 82.69 | -3.4% |
| 2005 | 80.03 | -3.2% |
| 2006 | 77.68 | -2.9% |
| 2007 | 75.6 | -2.7% |
| 2008 | 73.8 | -2.4% |
| 2009 | 72.33 | -2.0% |
| 2010 | 71.07 | -1.7% |
| 2011 | 69.98 | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 69.11 | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 68.49 | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 68.14 | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 68 | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 68.07 | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 68.32 | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 68.67 | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 69.12 | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 69.49 | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 69.9 | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 70.16 | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 70.13 | -0.0% |
| 2024 | 69.77 | -0.5% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 69.77 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 28.71, 2.4× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 69.77 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 37.19, 1.9× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Infant mortality rate (UN IGME estimate, 2024) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | +36.6% | 159.52 | 217.93 |
| 1971 | -31.0% | 206.58 | 142.45 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 182.09 | 159.52 | 217.93 | 6 |
| 1970s | 132.71 | 108.87 | 206.58 | 10 |
| 1980s | 103.93 | 102.81 | 106.51 | 10 |
| 1990s | 103.08 | 97.69 | 104.72 | 10 |
| 2000s | 82.31 | 72.33 | 94.9 | 10 |
| 2010s | 68.9 | 68 | 71.07 | 10 |
| 2020s | 69.89 | 69.49 | 70.16 | 5 |
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)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 257,921 (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 infant mortality rate in Nigeria?
- Infant mortality rate in Nigeria was 69.77 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest infant mortality rate recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 217.93 in 1968.
- What is the lowest infant mortality rate recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 68 in 2015.
- How does Nigeria rank for infant mortality rate?
- Nigeria ranks 2nd out of 201 countries with data for 2024.
- Is infant mortality rate rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Infant mortality rate (UN IGME estimate, 2024). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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