Mean body mass index (BMI) in women in Nigeria
Nigeria: Mean body mass index (BMI) in women was 23.9 in 2016. ▲ Rising
Mean body mass index (BMI) in women in Nigeria, 1975–2016
Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 23.9 for mean body mass index (bmi) in women in 2016. That is the highest value across all 42 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mean body mass index (bmi) in women in Nigeria peaked at 23.9 in 2015 and was at its lowest, 20.5, in 1975.
Nigeria ranks 156th of 190 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 42 years of available data.
Mean body mass index (BMI) in women in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 20.5 | — |
| 1976 | 20.6 | +0.5% |
| 1977 | 20.7 | +0.5% |
| 1978 | 20.8 | +0.5% |
| 1979 | 20.9 | +0.5% |
| 1980 | 21 | +0.5% |
| 1981 | 21.1 | +0.5% |
| 1982 | 21.2 | +0.5% |
| 1983 | 21.3 | +0.5% |
| 1984 | 21.4 | +0.5% |
| 1985 | 21.5 | +0.5% |
| 1986 | 21.6 | +0.5% |
| 1987 | 21.7 | +0.5% |
| 1988 | 21.8 | +0.5% |
| 1989 | 21.9 | +0.5% |
| 1990 | 22 | +0.5% |
| 1991 | 22.1 | +0.5% |
| 1992 | 22.1 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 22.2 | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 22.3 | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 22.4 | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 22.5 | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 22.6 | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 22.6 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 22.7 | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 22.8 | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 22.9 | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 23 | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 23.1 | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 23.2 | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 23.3 | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 23.3 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 23.4 | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 23.5 | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 23.5 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 23.6 | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 23.7 | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 23.7 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 23.8 | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 23.8 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 23.9 | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 23.9 | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 20.7 | 20.5 | 20.9 | 5 |
| 1980s | 21.45 | 21 | 21.9 | 10 |
| 1990s | 22.35 | 22 | 22.7 | 10 |
| 2000s | 23.2 | 22.8 | 23.5 | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.77 | 23.6 | 23.9 | 7 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 153 Guinea-Bissau 24 compare
- 153 Korea, Democratic People's Republic of 24 compare
- 153 Senegal 24 compare
- 156 Somalia 23.9 compare
- 158 Indonesia 23.8 compare
- 159 Central African Republic 23.7 compare
- 159 Sri Lanka 23.7 compare
- 159 Switzerland 23.7 compare
- 159 Zambia 23.7 compare
More gender data for Nigeria
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 99,803 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 0.6887 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 162,578 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 162,578 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 2.75 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 3.55 million (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 3.66 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 3.45 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 3.54 million (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 3.38 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mean body mass index (bmi) in women in Nigeria?
- Mean body mass index (bmi) in women in Nigeria was 23.9 in 2016, according to World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest mean body mass index (bmi) in women recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 23.9 in 2015.
- What is the lowest mean body mass index (bmi) in women recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.5 in 1975.
- How does Nigeria rank for mean body mass index (bmi) in women?
- Nigeria ranks 156th out of 190 countries with data for 2016.
- Is mean body mass index (bmi) in women rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 Mean body mass index (BMI) in women. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Body mass index (BMI) is measured as a person's weight in kilograms (kg) divided by her height (in meters), squared. The WHO define a BMI <=18.5 as 'underweight'; 18.5 to <25 as 'normal/healthy'; 25.0 to <30 as 'overweight'; and >30.0 as 'obese'.