Weight-for-height <-3 SD in Nigeria

Nigeria: Weight-for-height <-3 SD was 3.1 in 2021. ▼ Falling

Latest (2021)
3.1
Change on year
up 124.8%
World rank
3rd
of 84 countries
All-time high
4.75
in 2003
All-time low
1.38
in 2020
Years of data
9
1990–2021

Weight-for-height <-3 SD in Nigeria, 1990–2021

123451990200520211990: 4.42003: 4.72011: 3.12014: 1.82015: 1.82016: 2.92018: 1.82020: 1.42021: 3.1

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

The most recent figure for weight-for-height <-3 sd in Nigeria is 3.1, measured in 2021.

The figure is up 124.8% on the previous year and down 1.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, weight-for-height <-3 sd in Nigeria peaked at 4.75 in 2003 and was at its lowest, 1.38, in 2020.

Nigeria ranks 3rd of 84 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 4.44 4.44 4.44 1
2000s 4.75 4.75 4.75 1
2010s 2.28 1.76 3.14 5
2020s 2.24 1.38 3.1 2

Countries ranked near Nigeria

  1. 1 India 7.53 compare
  2. 2 Yemen 5.17 compare
  3. 3 Oman 3.1 compare
  4. 5 Lao People's Democratic Republic 2.7 compare
  5. 6 Mauritania 2.6 compare

See the full ranking of 140 places →

More health data for Nigeria

All data for Nigeria →

Frequently asked questions

What is weight-for-height <-3 sd in Nigeria?
Weight-for-height <-3 sd in Nigeria was 3.1 in 2021, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest weight-for-height <-3 sd recorded in Nigeria?
The highest recorded value was 4.75 in 2003.
What is the lowest weight-for-height <-3 sd recorded in Nigeria?
The lowest recorded value was 1.38 in 2020.
How does Nigeria rank for weight-for-height <-3 sd?
Nigeria ranks 3rd out of 84 countries with data for 2021.
Is weight-for-height <-3 sd rising or falling in Nigeria?
Over the last ten years it is down 1.2%. 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-height <-3 SD (severe wasting). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Weight-for-height <-3 SD in Nigeria. Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 21 August 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/weight-for-height-3-sd-severe-wasting/nigeria/

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About this data

Indicator
Weight-for-height <-3 SD (severe wasting)
Source
UNICEF
Licence
UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
140 places, 2,174 data points, 1986–2024
Last refreshed