Obesity in men vs. women in Nigeria
Nigeria: Obesity in men vs. women was 8.5% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Obesity in men vs. women in Nigeria, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, obesity in men vs. women in Nigeria stood at 8.5%. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.3% on the previous year and up 30.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, obesity in men vs. women in Nigeria peaked at 8.5% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.3%, in 1980.
Nigeria ranks 152nd of 199 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Obesity in men vs. women in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0.3% | — |
| 1981 | 0.4% | +10.7% |
| 1982 | 0.4% | +11.0% |
| 1983 | 0.4% | +11.3% |
| 1984 | 0.5% | +11.5% |
| 1985 | 0.5% | +11.6% |
| 1986 | 0.6% | +11.8% |
| 1987 | 0.7% | +12.0% |
| 1988 | 0.8% | +12.1% |
| 1989 | 0.9% | +12.2% |
| 1990 | 1.0% | +12.3% |
| 1991 | 1.1% | +12.4% |
| 1992 | 1.2% | +12.4% |
| 1993 | 1.4% | +12.4% |
| 1994 | 1.5% | +12.3% |
| 1995 | 1.7% | +12.1% |
| 1996 | 1.9% | +12.0% |
| 1997 | 2.1% | +11.8% |
| 1998 | 2.4% | +11.5% |
| 1999 | 2.7% | +11.2% |
| 2000 | 3.0% | +10.8% |
| 2001 | 3.3% | +10.3% |
| 2002 | 3.6% | +9.8% |
| 2003 | 3.9% | +9.2% |
| 2004 | 4.2% | +8.6% |
| 2005 | 4.6% | +7.9% |
| 2006 | 4.9% | +7.1% |
| 2007 | 5.2% | +6.2% |
| 2008 | 5.5% | +5.4% |
| 2009 | 5.7% | +4.5% |
| 2010 | 5.9% | +3.7% |
| 2011 | 6.1% | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 6.3% | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 6.4% | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 6.5% | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 6.6% | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 6.8% | +2.1% |
| 2017 | 6.9% | +2.3% |
| 2018 | 7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 7.3% | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 7.5% | +2.8% |
| 2021 | 7.7% | +3.0% |
| 2022 | 8.0% | +3.1% |
| 2023 | 8.2% | +3.2% |
| 2024 | 8.5% | +3.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.7% | 1.0% | 2.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.4% | 3.0% | 5.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.6% | 5.9% | 7.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.0% | 7.5% | 8.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 149 Mali 9.0% compare
- 150 Cape Verde 8.8% compare
- 151 Botswana 8.7% compare
- 153 Equatorial Guinea 8.5% compare
- 154 Côte d'Ivoire 8.2% compare
- 155 Comoros 8.1% compare
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 obesity in men vs. women in Nigeria?
- Obesity in men vs. women in Nigeria was 8.5% in 2024, according to World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest obesity in men vs. women recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 8.5% in 2024.
- What is the lowest obesity in men vs. women recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3% in 1980.
- How does Nigeria rank for obesity in men vs. women?
- Nigeria ranks 152nd out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is obesity in men vs. women rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Obesity in men vs. women. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Obesity is defined as having a body-mass index (BMI) equal to, or greater than, 30. BMI is a person's weight (in kilograms) divided by their height (in meters) squared.