Share of children who are stunted vs. GDP per capita in Nigeria
Nigeria: Share of children who are stunted vs. GDP per capita was 33.8% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Share of children who are stunted vs. GDP per capita in Nigeria, 1990–2021
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 33.8% for share of children who are stunted vs. gdp per capita in 2021.
The figure is up 7.3% on the previous year and down 5.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of children who are stunted vs. gdp per capita in Nigeria peaked at 48.7% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 31.5%, in 2020.
That places Nigeria 18th out of 97 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 10 years of available data.
Share of children who are stunted vs. GDP per capita in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 48.7% | — |
| 1993 | 43.8% | -10.1% |
| 2003 | 42.5% | -3.0% |
| 2011 | 35.8% | -15.8% |
| 2014 | 33.6% | -6.1% |
| 2015 | 33.0% | -1.8% |
| 2016 | 43.6% | +32.1% |
| 2018 | 36.8% | -15.6% |
| 2020 | 31.5% | -14.4% |
| 2021 | 33.8% | +7.3% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 33.8% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 22.7%, 1.5× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 33.8% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 28.5%, 1.2× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 46.2% | 43.8% | 48.7% | 2 |
| 2000s | 42.5% | 42.5% | 42.5% | 1 |
| 2010s | 36.6% | 33.0% | 43.6% | 5 |
| 2020s | 32.6% | 31.5% | 33.8% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More economy & growth data for Nigeria
- 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)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 1.19 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0041 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 5 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 4.01 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 148.16 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0138 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 16.86 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 13.91 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of children who are stunted vs. gdp per capita in Nigeria?
- Share of children who are stunted vs. gdp per capita in Nigeria was 33.8% in 2021, according to World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of children who are stunted vs. gdp per capita recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 48.7% in 1990.
- What is the lowest share of children who are stunted vs. gdp per capita recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.5% in 2020.
- How does Nigeria rank for share of children who are stunted vs. gdp per capita?
- Nigeria ranks 18th out of 97 countries with data for 2021.
- Is share of children who are stunted vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of children who are stunted vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The share of children who are stunted – significantly shorter than the average for their age. GDP per capita is adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.