Life expectancy at birth in Nigeria
Nigeria: Life expectancy at birth was 63.4 in 2021. ▲ Rising
Life expectancy at birth in Nigeria, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 63.4 for life expectancy at birth in 2021. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
The figure is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 5.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, life expectancy at birth in Nigeria peaked at 63.4 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 54.06, in 2000.
That places Nigeria 156th out of 184 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Life expectancy at birth in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 54.06 | — |
| 2001 | 54.47 | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 54.96 | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 55.58 | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 56.19 | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 56.92 | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 57.55 | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 58.18 | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 58.75 | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 59.3 | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 59.79 | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 60.2 | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 60.64 | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 61.04 | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 61.38 | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 61.73 | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 62.05 | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 62.36 | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 62.69 | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 63.07 | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 62.84 | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 63.4 | +0.9% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 63.4 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 66.81, 95% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 63.4 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 63.05, 1.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 56.6 | 54.06 | 59.3 | 10 |
| 2010s | 61.49 | 59.79 | 63.07 | 10 |
| 2020s | 63.12 | 62.84 | 63.4 | 2 |
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 life expectancy at birth in Nigeria?
- Life expectancy at birth in Nigeria was 63.4 in 2021, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest life expectancy at birth recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 63.4 in 2021.
- What is the lowest life expectancy at birth recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 54.06 in 2000.
- How does Nigeria rank for life expectancy at birth?
- Nigeria ranks 156th out of 184 countries with data for 2021.
- Is life expectancy at birth rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Life expectancy at birth (years). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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