Neonatal mortality rate (UN IGME estimate, 2024) in Nigeria
Nigeria: Neonatal mortality rate (UN IGME estimate, 2024) was 39.05 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
39.05
Change on year
down 0.5%
World rank
2nd
of 201 countries
All-time high
71.14
in 1968
All-time low
37.63
in 2012
Years of data
58
1967–2024
Neonatal mortality rate in Nigeria, 1967–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2024, neonatal mortality rate in Nigeria stood at 39.05.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.5% on the previous year and up 3.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, neonatal mortality rate in Nigeria peaked at 71.14 in 1968 and was at its lowest, 37.63, in 2012.
That places Nigeria 2nd out of 201 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 58 years of available data.
Neonatal mortality rate (UN IGME estimate, 2024) in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1967 | 70.44 | — |
| 1968 | 71.14 | +1.0% |
| 1969 | 69.9 | -1.7% |
| 1970 | 68.57 | -1.9% |
| 1971 | 65.52 | -4.5% |
| 1972 | 64.07 | -2.2% |
| 1973 | 62.63 | -2.3% |
| 1974 | 61.21 | -2.3% |
| 1975 | 59.95 | -2.1% |
| 1976 | 58.57 | -2.3% |
| 1977 | 57.27 | -2.2% |
| 1978 | 55.92 | -2.4% |
| 1979 | 54.71 | -2.2% |
| 1980 | 53.44 | -2.3% |
| 1981 | 52.38 | -2.0% |
| 1982 | 51.45 | -1.8% |
| 1983 | 50.66 | -1.5% |
| 1984 | 50.03 | -1.2% |
| 1985 | 49.6 | -0.9% |
| 1986 | 49.35 | -0.5% |
| 1987 | 49.28 | -0.1% |
| 1988 | 49.25 | -0.1% |
| 1989 | 49.37 | +0.3% |
| 1990 | 49.5 | +0.3% |
| 1991 | 49.64 | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 49.75 | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 49.78 | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 49.76 | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 49.66 | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 49.4 | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 48.97 | -0.9% |
| 1998 | 48.26 | -1.5% |
| 1999 | 47.3 | -2.0% |
| 2000 | 46.1 | -2.5% |
| 2001 | 44.77 | -2.9% |
| 2002 | 43.41 | -3.0% |
| 2003 | 42.06 | -3.1% |
| 2004 | 40.94 | -2.7% |
| 2005 | 40.02 | -2.2% |
| 2006 | 39.31 | -1.8% |
| 2007 | 38.78 | -1.4% |
| 2008 | 38.4 | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 38.07 | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 37.85 | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 37.7 | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 37.63 | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 37.66 | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 37.78 | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 37.99 | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 38.21 | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 38.48 | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 38.74 | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 38.96 | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 39.16 | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 39.28 | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 39.33 | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 39.24 | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 39.05 | -0.5% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 39.05 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 18.12, 2.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 39.05 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 23.33, 1.7× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 70.49 | 69.9 | 71.14 | 3 |
| 1970s | 60.84 | 54.71 | 68.57 | 10 |
| 1980s | 50.48 | 49.25 | 53.44 | 10 |
| 1990s | 49.2 | 47.3 | 49.78 | 10 |
| 2000s | 41.19 | 38.07 | 46.1 | 10 |
| 2010s | 38.1 | 37.63 | 38.96 | 10 |
| 2020s | 39.21 | 39.05 | 39.33 | 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 neonatal mortality rate in Nigeria?
- Neonatal mortality rate in Nigeria was 39.05 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest neonatal mortality rate recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 71.14 in 1968.
- What is the lowest neonatal mortality rate recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.63 in 2012.
- How does Nigeria rank for neonatal mortality rate?
- Nigeria ranks 2nd out of 201 countries with data for 2024.
- Is neonatal mortality rate rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.4%. 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 Neonatal mortality rate (UN IGME estimate, 2024). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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