Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Nigeria
Nigeria: Prevalence rate of obesity in adults was 13.7% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Nigeria, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Nigeria is 13.7%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.9% on the previous year and up 45.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Nigeria peaked at 13.7% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.3%, in 1980.
Nigeria ranks 150th 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.
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 1.3% | — |
| 1981 | 1.4% | +5.8% |
| 1982 | 1.4% | +5.9% |
| 1983 | 1.5% | +6.1% |
| 1984 | 1.6% | +6.2% |
| 1985 | 1.7% | +6.3% |
| 1986 | 1.8% | +6.4% |
| 1987 | 1.9% | +6.5% |
| 1988 | 2.1% | +6.6% |
| 1989 | 2.2% | +6.8% |
| 1990 | 2.4% | +6.9% |
| 1991 | 2.5% | +7.1% |
| 1992 | 2.7% | +7.2% |
| 1993 | 2.9% | +7.3% |
| 1994 | 3.1% | +7.4% |
| 1995 | 3.4% | +7.5% |
| 1996 | 3.6% | +7.6% |
| 1997 | 3.9% | +7.7% |
| 1998 | 4.2% | +7.7% |
| 1999 | 4.5% | +7.7% |
| 2000 | 4.9% | +7.5% |
| 2001 | 5.2% | +7.3% |
| 2002 | 5.6% | +7.0% |
| 2003 | 6.0% | +6.6% |
| 2004 | 6.3% | +6.2% |
| 2005 | 6.7% | +5.8% |
| 2006 | 7.1% | +5.3% |
| 2007 | 7.4% | +4.9% |
| 2008 | 7.7% | +4.4% |
| 2009 | 8.0% | +3.9% |
| 2010 | 8.3% | +3.5% |
| 2011 | 8.6% | +3.2% |
| 2012 | 8.8% | +3.1% |
| 2013 | 9.1% | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 9.4% | +3.2% |
| 2015 | 9.7% | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 10.1% | +3.6% |
| 2017 | 10.5% | +3.7% |
| 2018 | 10.8% | +3.8% |
| 2019 | 11.3% | +3.9% |
| 2020 | 11.7% | +4.0% |
| 2021 | 12.2% | +4.0% |
| 2022 | 12.7% | +3.9% |
| 2023 | 13.2% | +3.9% |
| 2024 | 13.7% | +3.9% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 13.7% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 16.0%, 85% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 13.7% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12.7%, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.7% | 1.3% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.3% | 2.4% | 4.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.5% | 4.9% | 8.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.7% | 8.3% | 11.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.7% | 11.7% | 13.7% | 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)
- 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)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0729 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Nigeria?
- Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Nigeria was 13.7% in 2024, according to World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest prevalence rate of obesity in adults recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 13.7% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence rate of obesity in adults recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.3% in 1980.
- How does Nigeria rank for prevalence rate of obesity in adults?
- Nigeria ranks 150th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence rate of obesity in adults rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 45.4%. 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 Prevalence rate of obesity in adults. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated prevalence of obesity in adults, based on general population surveys and statistical modeling. Obesity is a risk factor for chronic complications, including cardiovascular disease, and premature death.