Prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age in Nigeria
Nigeria: Prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age was 37.9% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age in Nigeria, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Observatory Data Repository/World Health Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of women ages 15-49.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 37.9% for prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 11.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age in Nigeria peaked at 50.3% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 37.9%, in 2023.
That places Nigeria 36th out of 192 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % of women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 50.3% | — |
| 2001 | 49.9% | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 49.5% | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 49.1% | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 48.7% | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 48.2% | -1.0% |
| 2006 | 47.7% | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 47.1% | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 46.4% | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 45.6% | -1.7% |
| 2010 | 44.9% | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 44.2% | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 43.5% | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 42.9% | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 42.3% | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 41.8% | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 41.2% | -1.4% |
| 2017 | 40.7% | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 40.1% | -1.5% |
| 2019 | 39.5% | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 38.9% | -1.5% |
| 2021 | 38.4% | -1.3% |
| 2022 | 38.1% | -0.8% |
| 2023 | 37.9% | -0.5% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 37.9% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 33.5%, 1.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 37.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 39.4%, 96% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 48.2% | 45.6% | 50.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 42.1% | 39.5% | 44.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.3% | 37.9% | 38.9% | 4 |
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 prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age in Nigeria?
- Prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age in Nigeria was 37.9% in 2023, according to Global Health Observatory Data Repository/World Health Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 50.3% in 2000.
- What is the lowest prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.9% in 2023.
- How does Nigeria rank for prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age?
- Nigeria ranks 36th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from Global Health Observatory Data Repository/World Health Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of Prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age (% of women ages 15-49). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age refers to the combined prevalence of both non-pregnant with haemoglobin levels below 12 g/dL and pregnant women with haemoglobin levels below 11 g/dL.