Number of suicides in Nigeria
Nigeria: Number of suicides was 10,540 deaths in 2021. ▲ Rising
Number of suicides in Nigeria, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of suicides in Nigeria is 10,540 deaths, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
That represents a change of up 11.5% on the previous year and up 27.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of suicides in Nigeria peaked at 10,540 deaths in 2021 and was at its lowest, 6,618 deaths, in 2000.
That places Nigeria 13th out of 194 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Number of suicides in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 6,618 deaths | — |
| 2001 | 6,916 deaths | +4.5% |
| 2002 | 6,889 deaths | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 7,024 deaths | +2.0% |
| 2004 | 7,315 deaths | +4.1% |
| 2005 | 7,250 deaths | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 7,612 deaths | +5.0% |
| 2007 | 7,810 deaths | +2.6% |
| 2008 | 7,919 deaths | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 8,244 deaths | +4.1% |
| 2010 | 8,261 deaths | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 8,252 deaths | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 8,259 deaths | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 8,236 deaths | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 8,361 deaths | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 8,265 deaths | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 8,409 deaths | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 8,466 deaths | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 8,818 deaths | +4.2% |
| 2019 | 8,950 deaths | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 9,454 deaths | +5.6% |
| 2021 | 10,540 deaths | +11.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7,360 deaths | 6,618 deaths | 8,244 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 8,428 deaths | 8,236 deaths | 8,950 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 9,997 deaths | 9,454 deaths | 10,540 deaths | 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)
- Population ages 60-64, female, annual growth rate 2.57 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, female, per capita 0.0093 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, annual growth rate 3.06 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per capita 0.0089 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of suicides in Nigeria?
- Number of suicides in Nigeria was 10,540 deaths in 2021, according to World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of suicides recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 10,540 deaths in 2021.
- What is the lowest number of suicides recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 6,618 deaths in 2000.
- How does Nigeria rank for number of suicides?
- Nigeria ranks 13th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is number of suicides rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of suicides. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of deaths from self-harm in both sexes.