Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q3 in Nigeria

Nigeria: Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q3 was 16.4% in 2018. ▼ Falling

Latest (2018)
16.4%
Change on year
up 9.3%
World rank
19th
of 40 countries
All-time high
23.8%
in 2003
All-time low
11.9%
in 2008
Years of data
7
1990–2018

Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q3 in Nigeria, 1990–2018

05101520251990200420181990: 23.42003: 23.82008: 11.92011: 142013: 12.82017: 152018: 16.4

Source: Household Surveys (DHS, MICS).

Analysis

The most recent figure for prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q3 in Nigeria is 16.4%, measured in 2018.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 9.3% on the previous year and up 37.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q3 in Nigeria peaked at 23.8% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 11.9%, in 2008.

That places Nigeria 19th out of 40 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.

Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q3 in Nigeria, year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q3 in Nigeria, 1990 to 2018.
Year Value Change
1990 23.4%
2003 23.8% +1.7%
2008 11.9% -50.0%
2011 14.0% +17.6%
2013 12.8% -8.6%
2017 15.0% +17.2%
2018 16.4% +9.3%

Nigeria compared with similar countries

  • Nigeria's 16.4% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 16.4%, 1.0× the median. (21 countries reporting)
  • Nigeria's 16.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 17.1%, 96% of the median. (25 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 23.4% 23.4% 23.4% 1
2000s 17.9% 11.9% 23.8% 2
2010s 14.6% 12.8% 16.4% 4

Countries ranked near Nigeria

  1. 16 Egypt 17.3% compare
  2. 17 Indonesia 17.2% compare
  3. 18 Burkina Faso 17.1% compare
  4. 19 Tanzania, United Republic of 16.4% compare
  5. 21 Peru 15.8% compare
  6. 22 Guinea 15.5% 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): q3 in Nigeria?
Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q3 in Nigeria was 16.4% in 2018, according to Household Surveys (DHS, MICS).
What is the highest prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q3 recorded in Nigeria?
The highest recorded value was 23.8% in 2003.
What is the lowest prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q3 recorded in Nigeria?
The lowest recorded value was 11.9% in 2008.
How does Nigeria rank for prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q3?
Nigeria ranks 19th out of 40 countries with data for 2018.
Is prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q3 rising or falling in Nigeria?
Over the last ten years it is up 37.8%. 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): Q3. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q3 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-q3/nigeria/

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About this data

Indicator
Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q3
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.