Medical doctors per 1,000 people in Nigeria
Nigeria: Medical doctors per 1,000 people was 0.38 per 1,000 people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Medical doctors per 1,000 people in Nigeria, 1960–2023
Source: World Health Organization (Global Health Workforce Statistics), OECD, and country data, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in per 1,000 people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for medical doctors per 1,000 people in Nigeria is 0.38 per 1,000 people, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 1.6% on the previous year and up 4.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, medical doctors per 1,000 people in Nigeria peaked at 0.428 per 1,000 people in 2016 and was at its lowest, 0.017 per 1,000 people, in 1960.
That places Nigeria 147th out of 194 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.03 per 1,000 people | 0.017 per 1,000 people | 0.043 per 1,000 people | 2 |
| 1970s | 0.0495 per 1,000 people | 0.049 per 1,000 people | 0.05 per 1,000 people | 2 |
| 1980s | 0.1666 per 1,000 people | 0.113 per 1,000 people | 0.192 per 1,000 people | 5 |
| 1990s | 0.1885 per 1,000 people | 0.185 per 1,000 people | 0.192 per 1,000 people | 2 |
| 2000s | 0.3153 per 1,000 people | 0.255 per 1,000 people | 0.361 per 1,000 people | 7 |
| 2010s | 0.3777 per 1,000 people | 0.356 per 1,000 people | 0.428 per 1,000 people | 4 |
| 2020s | 0.384 per 1,000 people | 0.38 per 1,000 people | 0.386 per 1,000 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More health data for Nigeria
- 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)
- Deaths in armed conflicts based on where they occurred 726 deaths (2026)
- Deaths in armed conflicts by region 726 deaths (2026)
- Age population, age 25, male, interpolated 2.03 million (2025)
- Age population, age 25, female, interpolated 1.96 million (2025)
- Age population, age 24, male, interpolated 2.13 million (2025)
- Age population, age 24, female, interpolated 2.06 million (2025)
- Age population, age 23, male, interpolated 2.23 million (2025)
- Age population, age 23, female, interpolated 2.15 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is medical doctors per 1,000 people in Nigeria?
- Medical doctors per 1,000 people in Nigeria was 0.38 per 1,000 people in 2023, according to World Health Organization (Global Health Workforce Statistics), OECD, and country data, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest medical doctors per 1,000 people recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 0.428 per 1,000 people in 2016.
- What is the lowest medical doctors per 1,000 people recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.017 per 1,000 people in 1960.
- How does Nigeria rank for medical doctors per 1,000 people?
- Nigeria ranks 147th out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is medical doctors per 1,000 people rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.7%. 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 Workforce Statistics), OECD, and country data, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Medical doctors per 1,000 people. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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