Overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in Nigeria
Nigeria: Overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) was 1.6% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
1.6%
Change on year
up 6.7%
World rank
156th
of 162 countries
All-time high
6.6%
in 2000
All-time low
1.4%
in 2019
Years of data
25
2000–2024
Overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in Nigeria, 2000–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
In 2024, overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in Nigeria stood at 1.6%.
The figure is up 6.7% on the previous year and down 15.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in Nigeria peaked at 6.6% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 1.4%, in 2019.
That places Nigeria 156th out of 162 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 6.6% | — |
| 2001 | 6.3% | -4.5% |
| 2002 | 5.9% | -6.3% |
| 2003 | 5.5% | -6.8% |
| 2004 | 5.1% | -7.3% |
| 2005 | 4.7% | -7.8% |
| 2006 | 4.3% | -8.5% |
| 2007 | 3.9% | -9.3% |
| 2008 | 3.5% | -10.3% |
| 2009 | 3.1% | -11.4% |
| 2010 | 2.8% | -9.7% |
| 2011 | 2.5% | -10.7% |
| 2012 | 2.3% | -8.0% |
| 2013 | 2.1% | -8.7% |
| 2014 | 1.9% | -9.5% |
| 2015 | 1.8% | -5.3% |
| 2016 | 1.7% | -5.6% |
| 2017 | 1.6% | -5.9% |
| 2018 | 1.5% | -6.3% |
| 2019 | 1.4% | -6.7% |
| 2020 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 1.5% | +7.1% |
| 2023 | 1.5% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 1.6% | +6.7% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 1.6% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 4.7%, 34% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 1.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.2%, 38% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4.9% | 3.1% | 6.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.0% | 1.4% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.5% | 1.4% | 1.6% | 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)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in Nigeria?
- Overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in Nigeria was 1.6% in 2024, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 6.6% in 2000.
- What is the lowest overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.4% in 2019.
- How does Nigeria rank for overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%)?
- Nigeria ranks 156th out of 162 countries with data for 2024.
- Is overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.8%. 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, published as part of Overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (% weight-for-height >+2 SD), model-based estimates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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