Animal protein consumption in Nigeria
Nigeria: Animal protein consumption was 1.93 grams of protein per day per capita in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
1.93 grams of protein per day per capita
Change on year
down 2.0%
World rank
143rd
of 192 countries
All-time high
4.71 grams of protein per day per capita
in 2007
All-time low
0.8636 grams of protein per day per capita
in 1969
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Animal protein consumption in Nigeria, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in grams of protein per day per capita.
Analysis
The most recent figure for animal protein consumption in Nigeria is 1.93 grams of protein per day per capita, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.0% on the previous year and down 43.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, animal protein consumption in Nigeria peaked at 4.71 grams of protein per day per capita in 2007 and was at its lowest, 0.8636 grams of protein per day per capita, in 1969.
That places Nigeria 143rd out of 192 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 63 years of available data.
Animal protein consumption in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | grams of protein per day per capita | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1.1 grams of protein per day per capita | — |
| 1962 | 1 grams of protein per day per capita | -9.1% |
| 1963 | 1.34 grams of protein per day per capita | +34.0% |
| 1964 | 1.55 grams of protein per day per capita | +15.7% |
| 1965 | 1.41 grams of protein per day per capita | -9.0% |
| 1966 | 1.39 grams of protein per day per capita | -1.4% |
| 1967 | 1.27 grams of protein per day per capita | -8.6% |
| 1968 | 0.9537 grams of protein per day per capita | -25.2% |
| 1969 | 0.8636 grams of protein per day per capita | -9.5% |
| 1970 | 1.09 grams of protein per day per capita | +26.8% |
| 1971 | 1.54 grams of protein per day per capita | +40.4% |
| 1972 | 1.61 grams of protein per day per capita | +4.5% |
| 1973 | 1.62 grams of protein per day per capita | +0.6% |
| 1974 | 1.64 grams of protein per day per capita | +1.8% |
| 1975 | 2 grams of protein per day per capita | +21.9% |
| 1976 | 2.45 grams of protein per day per capita | +22.0% |
| 1977 | 2.62 grams of protein per day per capita | +7.0% |
| 1978 | 3.25 grams of protein per day per capita | +24.1% |
| 1979 | 3.68 grams of protein per day per capita | +13.2% |
| 1980 | 3.64 grams of protein per day per capita | -1.1% |
| 1981 | 4.58 grams of protein per day per capita | +25.9% |
| 1982 | 4.49 grams of protein per day per capita | -1.9% |
| 1983 | 3.2 grams of protein per day per capita | -28.7% |
| 1984 | 2.12 grams of protein per day per capita | -33.8% |
| 1985 | 1.57 grams of protein per day per capita | -25.9% |
| 1986 | 1.57 grams of protein per day per capita | -0.1% |
| 1987 | 2.13 grams of protein per day per capita | +35.8% |
| 1988 | 1.86 grams of protein per day per capita | -12.5% |
| 1989 | 2.16 grams of protein per day per capita | +15.8% |
| 1990 | 2.32 grams of protein per day per capita | +7.6% |
| 1991 | 2.16 grams of protein per day per capita | -6.9% |
| 1992 | 1.59 grams of protein per day per capita | -26.4% |
| 1993 | 1.79 grams of protein per day per capita | +12.2% |
| 1994 | 1.48 grams of protein per day per capita | -17.2% |
| 1995 | 1.76 grams of protein per day per capita | +19.0% |
| 1996 | 2.12 grams of protein per day per capita | +20.4% |
| 1997 | 2.07 grams of protein per day per capita | -2.4% |
| 1998 | 2.42 grams of protein per day per capita | +16.9% |
| 1999 | 2.28 grams of protein per day per capita | -5.8% |
| 2000 | 1.98 grams of protein per day per capita | -13.0% |
| 2001 | 2.61 grams of protein per day per capita | +31.6% |
| 2002 | 2.38 grams of protein per day per capita | -8.7% |
| 2003 | 2.58 grams of protein per day per capita | +8.3% |
| 2004 | 2.86 grams of protein per day per capita | +11.0% |
| 2005 | 3.05 grams of protein per day per capita | +6.6% |
| 2006 | 4.06 grams of protein per day per capita | +33.0% |
| 2007 | 4.71 grams of protein per day per capita | +16.0% |
| 2008 | 4.18 grams of protein per day per capita | -11.1% |
| 2009 | 3.59 grams of protein per day per capita | -14.3% |
| 2010 | 3.55 grams of protein per day per capita | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 3.88 grams of protein per day per capita | +9.3% |
| 2012 | 3.51 grams of protein per day per capita | -9.5% |
| 2013 | 3.43 grams of protein per day per capita | -2.3% |
| 2014 | 3.39 grams of protein per day per capita | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 3 grams of protein per day per capita | -11.5% |
| 2016 | 2.52 grams of protein per day per capita | -16.0% |
| 2017 | 2.46 grams of protein per day per capita | -2.4% |
| 2018 | 2.37 grams of protein per day per capita | -3.7% |
| 2019 | 2.36 grams of protein per day per capita | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 2.45 grams of protein per day per capita | +3.8% |
| 2021 | 2.01 grams of protein per day per capita | -18.0% |
| 2022 | 1.97 grams of protein per day per capita | -2.0% |
| 2023 | 1.93 grams of protein per day per capita | -2.0% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 1.93 grams of protein per day per capita is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2.69 grams of protein per day per capita, 72% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 1.93 grams of protein per day per capita is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.24 grams of protein per day per capita, 86% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.21 grams of protein per day per capita | 0.8636 grams of protein per day per capita | 1.55 grams of protein per day per capita | 9 |
| 1970s | 2.15 grams of protein per day per capita | 1.09 grams of protein per day per capita | 3.68 grams of protein per day per capita | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.73 grams of protein per day per capita | 1.57 grams of protein per day per capita | 4.58 grams of protein per day per capita | 10 |
| 1990s | 2 grams of protein per day per capita | 1.48 grams of protein per day per capita | 2.42 grams of protein per day per capita | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.2 grams of protein per day per capita | 1.98 grams of protein per day per capita | 4.71 grams of protein per day per capita | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.05 grams of protein per day per capita | 2.36 grams of protein per day per capita | 3.88 grams of protein per day per capita | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.09 grams of protein per day per capita | 1.93 grams of protein per day per capita | 2.45 grams of protein per day per capita | 4 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 140 East Timor 2.12 grams of protein per day per capita compare
- 141 Ecuador 1.95 grams of protein per day per capita compare
- 142 Argentina 1.94 grams of protein per day per capita compare
- 144 Mali 1.91 grams of protein per day per capita compare
- 145 Bhutan 1.88 grams of protein per day per capita compare
- 146 Hungary 1.79 grams of protein per day per capita compare
More economy & growth data for Nigeria
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate 22.77 % change on previous year (2024)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.04 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.32 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 3.99 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0148 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 18.13 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -0.9704 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0108 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 13.24 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate -17.26 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is animal protein consumption in Nigeria?
- Animal protein consumption in Nigeria was 1.93 grams of protein per day per capita in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest animal protein consumption recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 4.71 grams of protein per day per capita in 2007.
- What is the lowest animal protein consumption recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.8636 grams of protein per day per capita in 1969.
- How does Nigeria rank for animal protein consumption?
- Nigeria ranks 143rd out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is animal protein consumption rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 43.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Animal protein consumption. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Quantity that is available for consumption at the end of the supply chain. It does not account for consumer waste, so the quantity that is actually consumed may be lower.