Share of women who are obese in Nigeria
Nigeria: Share of women who are obese was 18.9% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of women who are obese in Nigeria, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of women who are obese in Nigeria is 18.9%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 4.2% on the previous year and up 54.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of women who are obese in Nigeria peaked at 18.9% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 2.2%, in 1980.
Nigeria ranks 137th of 199 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of women who are obese in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 2.2% | — |
| 1981 | 2.3% | +5.1% |
| 1982 | 2.4% | +5.2% |
| 1983 | 2.6% | +5.3% |
| 1984 | 2.7% | +5.3% |
| 1985 | 2.8% | +5.4% |
| 1986 | 3.0% | +5.4% |
| 1987 | 3.1% | +5.5% |
| 1988 | 3.3% | +5.5% |
| 1989 | 3.5% | +5.6% |
| 1990 | 3.7% | +5.7% |
| 1991 | 3.9% | +5.7% |
| 1992 | 4.2% | +5.8% |
| 1993 | 4.4% | +5.9% |
| 1994 | 4.7% | +6.0% |
| 1995 | 4.9% | +6.1% |
| 1996 | 5.2% | +6.2% |
| 1997 | 5.6% | +6.3% |
| 1998 | 5.9% | +6.4% |
| 1999 | 6.3% | +6.4% |
| 2000 | 6.7% | +6.3% |
| 2001 | 7.1% | +6.0% |
| 2002 | 7.5% | +5.8% |
| 2003 | 7.9% | +5.5% |
| 2004 | 8.4% | +5.1% |
| 2005 | 8.8% | +4.8% |
| 2006 | 9.1% | +4.5% |
| 2007 | 9.5% | +4.2% |
| 2008 | 9.9% | +3.9% |
| 2009 | 10.3% | +3.6% |
| 2010 | 10.6% | +3.5% |
| 2011 | 11.0% | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 11.4% | +3.5% |
| 2013 | 11.8% | +3.7% |
| 2014 | 12.2% | +4.0% |
| 2015 | 12.8% | +4.2% |
| 2016 | 13.3% | +4.4% |
| 2017 | 13.9% | +4.5% |
| 2018 | 14.6% | +4.6% |
| 2019 | 15.2% | +4.6% |
| 2020 | 15.9% | +4.5% |
| 2021 | 16.6% | +4.4% |
| 2022 | 17.4% | +4.4% |
| 2023 | 18.1% | +4.3% |
| 2024 | 18.9% | +4.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.8% | 2.2% | 3.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.9% | 3.7% | 6.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.5% | 6.7% | 10.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.7% | 10.6% | 15.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.4% | 15.9% | 18.9% | 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)
- 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)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 3.46 million (2025)
- Age population, age 03, female, interpolated 3.30 million (2025)
- Age population, age 03, male, interpolated 3.38 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of women who are obese in Nigeria?
- Share of women who are obese in Nigeria was 18.9% in 2024, according to World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of women who are obese recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 18.9% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of women who are obese recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.2% in 1980.
- How does Nigeria rank for share of women who are obese?
- Nigeria ranks 137th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of women who are obese rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 54.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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 women who are obese. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Obesity is defined as having a body-mass index (BMI) equal to, or greater than, 30. BMI is a person's weight (in kilograms) divided by their height (in meters) squared.