Sex ratio by age in Nigeria
Nigeria: Sex ratio by age was 32.85 males per 100 females in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
32.85 males per 100 females
Change on year
up 2.5%
World rank
57th
of 212 countries
All-time high
32.85 males per 100 females
in 2023
All-time low
0 males per 100 females
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Sex ratio by age in Nigeria, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in males per 100 females.
Analysis
The most recent figure for sex ratio by age in Nigeria is 32.85 males per 100 females, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is up 2.5% on the previous year and up 6.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sex ratio by age in Nigeria peaked at 32.85 males per 100 females in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0 males per 100 females, in 1950.
That places Nigeria 57th out of 212 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Sex ratio by age in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | males per 100 females | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1951 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1952 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1953 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1954 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1955 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1956 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1957 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1958 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1959 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1960 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1961 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1962 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1963 | 20 males per 100 females | — |
| 1964 | 14.29 males per 100 females | -28.6% |
| 1965 | 11.11 males per 100 females | -22.2% |
| 1966 | 8.33 males per 100 females | -25.0% |
| 1967 | 7.14 males per 100 females | -14.3% |
| 1968 | 6.67 males per 100 females | -6.7% |
| 1969 | 6.25 males per 100 females | -6.3% |
| 1970 | 5.88 males per 100 females | -5.9% |
| 1971 | 5.56 males per 100 females | -5.6% |
| 1972 | 10 males per 100 females | +80.0% |
| 1973 | 9.52 males per 100 females | -4.8% |
| 1974 | 8.7 males per 100 females | -8.7% |
| 1975 | 12.5 males per 100 females | +43.8% |
| 1976 | 11.54 males per 100 females | -7.7% |
| 1977 | 11.11 males per 100 females | -3.7% |
| 1978 | 10.34 males per 100 females | -6.9% |
| 1979 | 12.9 males per 100 females | +24.7% |
| 1980 | 14.71 males per 100 females | +14.0% |
| 1981 | 13.51 males per 100 females | -8.1% |
| 1982 | 15 males per 100 females | +11.0% |
| 1983 | 16.28 males per 100 females | +8.5% |
| 1984 | 15.56 males per 100 females | -4.4% |
| 1985 | 16.67 males per 100 females | +7.1% |
| 1986 | 15.69 males per 100 females | -5.9% |
| 1987 | 14.81 males per 100 females | -5.6% |
| 1988 | 17.54 males per 100 females | +18.4% |
| 1989 | 18.33 males per 100 females | +4.5% |
| 1990 | 17.74 males per 100 females | -3.2% |
| 1991 | 18.75 males per 100 females | +5.7% |
| 1992 | 18.18 males per 100 females | -3.0% |
| 1993 | 19.12 males per 100 females | +5.1% |
| 1994 | 19.72 males per 100 females | +3.1% |
| 1995 | 20.27 males per 100 females | +2.8% |
| 1996 | 19.74 males per 100 females | -2.6% |
| 1997 | 19.23 males per 100 females | -2.6% |
| 1998 | 18.75 males per 100 females | -2.5% |
| 1999 | 18.52 males per 100 females | -1.2% |
| 2000 | 19.75 males per 100 females | +6.7% |
| 2001 | 19.75 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 19.75 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 20.73 males per 100 females | +5.0% |
| 2004 | 21.95 males per 100 females | +5.9% |
| 2005 | 21.69 males per 100 females | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 22.35 males per 100 females | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 24.14 males per 100 females | +8.0% |
| 2008 | 26.97 males per 100 females | +11.7% |
| 2009 | 26.09 males per 100 females | -3.3% |
| 2010 | 26.04 males per 100 females | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 27.27 males per 100 females | +4.7% |
| 2012 | 29.7 males per 100 females | +8.9% |
| 2013 | 30.77 males per 100 females | +3.6% |
| 2014 | 30.56 males per 100 females | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 30.36 males per 100 females | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 31.03 males per 100 females | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 31.67 males per 100 females | +2.0% |
| 2018 | 32.26 males per 100 females | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 32.56 males per 100 females | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 31.54 males per 100 females | -3.1% |
| 2021 | 31.25 males per 100 females | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 32.06 males per 100 females | +2.6% |
| 2023 | 32.85 males per 100 females | +2.5% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 32.85 males per 100 females is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 25.49 males per 100 females, 1.3× the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 32.85 males per 100 females is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 30.72 males per 100 females, 1.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Sex ratio by age in Nigeria changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | +80.0% | 5.56 males per 100 females | 10 males per 100 females |
| 1975 | +43.8% | 8.7 males per 100 females | 12.5 males per 100 females |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0 males per 100 females | 0 males per 100 females | 0 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 1960s | 7.38 males per 100 females | 0 males per 100 females | 20 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 1970s | 9.81 males per 100 females | 5.56 males per 100 females | 12.9 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 1980s | 15.81 males per 100 females | 13.51 males per 100 females | 18.33 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 1990s | 19 males per 100 females | 17.74 males per 100 females | 20.27 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 2000s | 22.32 males per 100 females | 19.75 males per 100 females | 26.97 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 2010s | 30.22 males per 100 females | 26.04 males per 100 females | 32.56 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.92 males per 100 females | 31.25 males per 100 females | 32.85 males per 100 females | 4 |
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 sex ratio by age in Nigeria?
- Sex ratio by age in Nigeria was 32.85 males per 100 females in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest sex ratio by age recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 32.85 males per 100 females in 2023.
- What is the lowest sex ratio by age recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 males per 100 females in 1950.
- How does Nigeria rank for sex ratio by age?
- Nigeria ranks 57th out of 212 countries with data for 2023.
- Is sex ratio by age rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Sex ratio by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of males per 100 females at age 100+.