Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q1 in Nigeria

Nigeria: Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q1 was 22.5% in 2018. ▼ Falling

Latest (2018)
22.5%
Change on year
up 28.6%
World rank
12th
of 40 countries
All-time high
26.3%
in 2003
All-time low
15.4%
in 2013
Years of data
7
1990–2018

Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q1 in Nigeria, 1990–2018

01020301990200420181990: 25.1 lowest2003: 26.3 lowest2008: 16.7 lowest2011: 20.7 lowest2013: 15.4 lowest2017: 17.5 lowest2018: 22.5 lowest

Source: Household Surveys (DHS, MICS). Measured in lowest.

Analysis

In 2018, prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q1 in Nigeria stood at 22.5%.

The figure is up 28.6% on the previous year and up 34.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q1 in Nigeria peaked at 26.3% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 15.4%, in 2013.

Nigeria ranks 12th of 40 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q1 in Nigeria, year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q1 (lowest) in Nigeria, 1990 to 2018.
Year lowest Change
1990 25.1%
2003 26.3% +4.8%
2008 16.7% -36.5%
2011 20.7% +24.0%
2013 15.4% -25.6%
2017 17.5% +13.6%
2018 22.5% +28.6%

Nigeria compared with similar countries

  • Nigeria's 22.5% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 16.0%, 1.4× the median. (21 countries reporting)
  • Nigeria's 22.5% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 18.1%, 1.2× the median. (25 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 25.1% 25.1% 25.1% 1
2000s 21.5% 16.7% 26.3% 2
2010s 19.0% 15.4% 22.5% 4

Countries ranked near Nigeria

  1. 9 Kenya 23.2% compare
  2. 9 Mali 23.2% compare
  3. 11 Egypt 22.9% compare
  4. 13 Dominican Republic 22.4% compare
  5. 14 Ghana 21.4% compare
  6. 15 Rwanda 21.1% compare

See the full ranking of 40 places →

More health data for Nigeria

All data for Nigeria →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q1 in Nigeria?
Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q1 in Nigeria was 22.5% in 2018, according to Household Surveys (DHS, MICS).
What is the highest prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q1 recorded in Nigeria?
The highest recorded value was 26.3% in 2003.
What is the lowest prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q1 recorded in Nigeria?
The lowest recorded value was 15.4% in 2013.
How does Nigeria rank for prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q1?
Nigeria ranks 12th out of 40 countries with data for 2018.
Is prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q1 rising or falling in Nigeria?
Over the last ten years it is up 34.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Nigeria data come from?
The figures come from Household Surveys (DHS, MICS), published as part of Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q1 (lowest). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q1 in Nigeria. Statizoid, drawing on Household Surveys (DHS, MICS). Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-diarrhea-percent-of-children-under-5-q1-lowest/nigeria/

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About this data

Indicator
Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q1 (lowest)
Unit
lowest
Source
Household Surveys (DHS, MICS)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
40 places, 248 data points, 1990–2021
Last refreshed

Prevalence of diarrhea: Percentage of children under age five years who had diarrhea in the two weeks preceding the survey.