Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q2 in Nigeria

Nigeria: Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q2 was 19.7% in 2018. ▼ Falling

Latest (2018)
19.7%
Change on year
up 21.6%
World rank
13th
of 40 countries
All-time high
29.5%
in 2003
All-time low
15.0%
in 2013
Years of data
7
1990–2018

Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q2 in Nigeria, 1990–2018

01020301990200420181990: 26.62003: 29.52008: 15.52011: 16.62013: 152017: 16.22018: 19.7

Source: Household Surveys (DHS, MICS).

Analysis

Nigeria recorded 19.7% for prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q2 in 2018.

That represents a change of up 21.6% on the previous year and up 27.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q2 in Nigeria peaked at 29.5% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 15.0%, in 2013.

That places Nigeria 13th out of 40 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.

Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q2 in Nigeria, year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q2 in Nigeria, 1990 to 2018.
Year Value Change
1990 26.6%
2003 29.5% +10.9%
2008 15.5% -47.5%
2011 16.6% +7.1%
2013 15.0% -9.6%
2017 16.2% +8.0%
2018 19.7% +21.6%

Nigeria compared with similar countries

  • Nigeria's 19.7% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 15.9%, 1.2× the median. (21 countries reporting)
  • Nigeria's 19.7% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 18.0%, 1.1× the median. (25 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 26.6% 26.6% 26.6% 1
2000s 22.5% 15.5% 29.5% 2
2010s 16.9% 15.0% 19.7% 4

Countries ranked near Nigeria

  1. 10 Rwanda 21.4% compare
  2. 11 Egypt 20.7% compare
  3. 12 Zambia 20.3% compare
  4. 14 Dominican Republic 19.6% compare
  5. 15 Colombia 19.4% compare
  6. 16 Burkina Faso 19.0% 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): q2 in Nigeria?
Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q2 in Nigeria was 19.7% in 2018, according to Household Surveys (DHS, MICS).
What is the highest prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q2 recorded in Nigeria?
The highest recorded value was 29.5% in 2003.
What is the lowest prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q2 recorded in Nigeria?
The lowest recorded value was 15.0% in 2013.
How does Nigeria rank for prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q2?
Nigeria ranks 13th out of 40 countries with data for 2018.
Is prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q2 rising or falling in Nigeria?
Over the last ten years it is up 27.1%. 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): Q2. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q2 in Nigeria. Statizoid, drawing on Household Surveys (DHS, MICS). Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-diarrhea-percent-of-children-under-5-q2/nigeria/

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About this data

Indicator
Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q2
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.