Weight-for-age <-2 SD (Underweight) in Nigeria
Nigeria: Weight-for-age <-2 SD (Underweight) was 24.4 in 2021. ▼ Falling
Latest (2021)
24.4
Change on year
up 32.5%
World rank
7th
of 95 countries
All-time high
35.1
in 1993
All-time low
18.42
in 2020
Years of data
10
1990–2021
Weight-for-age <-2 SD in Nigeria, 1990–2021
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 24.4 for weight-for-age <-2 sd in 2021.
The figure is up 32.5% on the previous year and up 0.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, weight-for-age <-2 sd in Nigeria peaked at 35.1 in 1993 and was at its lowest, 18.42, in 2020.
Nigeria ranks 7th of 95 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 10 years of available data.
Weight-for-age <-2 SD (Underweight) in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 33.14 | — |
| 1993 | 35.1 | +5.9% |
| 2003 | 26.66 | -24.1% |
| 2011 | 24.23 | -9.1% |
| 2014 | 20.57 | -15.1% |
| 2015 | 19.53 | -5.0% |
| 2016 | 31.5 | +61.3% |
| 2018 | 21.79 | -30.8% |
| 2020 | 18.42 | -15.5% |
| 2021 | 24.4 | +32.5% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 24.4 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.82, 2.1× the median. (37 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 24.4 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.29, 1.7× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 34.12 | 33.14 | 35.1 | 2 |
| 2000s | 26.66 | 26.66 | 26.66 | 1 |
| 2010s | 23.52 | 19.53 | 31.5 | 5 |
| 2020s | 21.41 | 18.42 | 24.4 | 2 |
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)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 257,921 (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)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0729 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is weight-for-age <-2 sd in Nigeria?
- Weight-for-age <-2 sd in Nigeria was 24.4 in 2021, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest weight-for-age <-2 sd recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 35.1 in 1993.
- What is the lowest weight-for-age <-2 sd recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.42 in 2020.
- How does Nigeria rank for weight-for-age <-2 sd?
- Nigeria ranks 7th out of 95 countries with data for 2021.
- Is weight-for-age <-2 sd rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Weight-for-age <-2 SD (Underweight). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 10 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).