Proportion of women in ministerial level positions in Nigeria
Nigeria: Proportion of women in ministerial level positions was 8.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Proportion of women in ministerial level positions in Nigeria, 2005–2025
Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union. United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women). Women in Politics. Measured in %.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 8.6% for proportion of women in ministerial level positions in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.9% on the previous year and down 64.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of women in ministerial level positions in Nigeria peaked at 28.1% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 8.0%, in 2018.
That places Nigeria 166th out of 192 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 14 years of available data.
Proportion of women in ministerial level positions in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 10.0% | — |
| 2008 | 22.7% | +127.0% |
| 2010 | 9.7% | -57.3% |
| 2012 | 28.1% | +189.7% |
| 2014 | 25.0% | -11.0% |
| 2015 | 24.1% | -3.6% |
| 2016 | 12.0% | -50.2% |
| 2018 | 8.0% | -33.3% |
| 2019 | 10.3% | +29.3% |
| 2020 | 10.3% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 10.7% | +3.6% |
| 2023 | 17.6% | +64.7% |
| 2024 | 8.8% | -50.0% |
| 2025 | 8.6% | -2.9% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 8.6% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 20.4%, 42% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 8.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 21.8%, 39% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 16.4% | 10.0% | 22.7% | 2 |
| 2010s | 16.7% | 8.0% | 28.1% | 7 |
| 2020s | 11.2% | 8.6% | 17.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
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 proportion of women in ministerial level positions in Nigeria?
- Proportion of women in ministerial level positions in Nigeria was 8.6% in 2025, according to Inter-Parliamentary Union. United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women). Women in Politics.
- What is the highest proportion of women in ministerial level positions recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 28.1% in 2012.
- What is the lowest proportion of women in ministerial level positions recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.0% in 2018.
- How does Nigeria rank for proportion of women in ministerial level positions?
- Nigeria ranks 166th out of 192 countries with data for 2025.
- Is proportion of women in ministerial level positions rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 64.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from Inter-Parliamentary Union. United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women). Women in Politics, published as part of Proportion of women in ministerial level positions (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Women in ministerial level positions is the proportion of women in ministerial or equivalent positions (including deputy prime ministers) in the government. Prime Ministers/Heads of Government are included when they hold ministerial portfolios. Vice-Presidents and heads of governmental or public agencies are excluded.