Number of neonatal deaths by region in Nigeria
Nigeria: Number of neonatal deaths by region was 295,006 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Number of neonatal deaths by region in Nigeria, 1968–2024
Source: UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, UN Population Division), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2024, number of neonatal deaths by region in Nigeria stood at 295,006. That is the highest value across all 57 years on record.
The figure is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 5.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of neonatal deaths by region in Nigeria peaked at 295,006 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 178,740, in 1971.
Nigeria ranks 2nd of 195 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 57 years of available data.
Number of neonatal deaths by region in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 178,997 | — |
| 1969 | 180,201 | +0.7% |
| 1970 | 181,317 | +0.6% |
| 1971 | 178,740 | -1.4% |
| 1972 | 179,765 | +0.6% |
| 1973 | 181,052 | +0.7% |
| 1974 | 183,387 | +1.3% |
| 1975 | 186,001 | +1.4% |
| 1976 | 187,003 | +0.5% |
| 1977 | 188,814 | +1.0% |
| 1978 | 190,614 | +1.0% |
| 1979 | 190,633 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 190,116 | -0.3% |
| 1981 | 190,462 | +0.2% |
| 1982 | 191,420 | +0.5% |
| 1983 | 193,424 | +1.0% |
| 1984 | 192,013 | -0.7% |
| 1985 | 193,077 | +0.6% |
| 1986 | 194,790 | +0.9% |
| 1987 | 197,811 | +1.6% |
| 1988 | 202,377 | +2.3% |
| 1989 | 208,756 | +3.2% |
| 1990 | 213,734 | +2.4% |
| 1991 | 219,121 | +2.5% |
| 1992 | 224,886 | +2.6% |
| 1993 | 230,552 | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 235,958 | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 242,224 | +2.7% |
| 1996 | 246,113 | +1.6% |
| 1997 | 248,499 | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 249,684 | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 252,490 | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 255,337 | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 255,093 | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 253,614 | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 251,925 | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 250,787 | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 251,407 | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 252,717 | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 254,688 | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 258,694 | +1.6% |
| 2009 | 261,876 | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 265,521 | +1.4% |
| 2011 | 269,728 | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 272,389 | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 275,552 | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 279,929 | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 281,973 | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 281,986 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 282,641 | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 283,238 | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 283,004 | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 282,628 | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 287,722 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 291,114 | +1.2% |
| 2023 | 294,425 | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 295,006 | +0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 179,599 | 178,997 | 180,201 | 2 |
| 1970s | 184,733 | 178,740 | 190,633 | 10 |
| 1980s | 195,425 | 190,116 | 208,756 | 10 |
| 1990s | 236,326 | 213,734 | 252,490 | 10 |
| 2000s | 254,614 | 250,787 | 261,876 | 10 |
| 2010s | 277,596 | 265,521 | 283,238 | 10 |
| 2020s | 290,179 | 282,628 | 295,006 | 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)
- 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 40-44, male, annual growth rate 1.79 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, per capita 0.024 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, annual growth rate 3.12 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, per capita 0.0197 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of neonatal deaths by region in Nigeria?
- Number of neonatal deaths by region in Nigeria was 295,006 in 2024, according to UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, UN Population Division), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of neonatal deaths by region recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 295,006 in 2024.
- What is the lowest number of neonatal deaths by region recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 178,740 in 1971.
- How does Nigeria rank for number of neonatal deaths by region?
- Nigeria ranks 2nd out of 195 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of neonatal deaths by region rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, UN Population Division), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of neonatal deaths by region. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 57 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The estimated number of neonates – babies under 28 days old – who die each year.