Physicians in Nigeria
Nigeria: Physicians was 0.38 per 1,000 people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Physicians in Nigeria, 1960–2023
Source: Global Health Workforce Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in per 1,000 people.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 0.38 per 1,000 people for physicians in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.6% on the previous year and up 4.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, physicians in Nigeria peaked at 0.428 per 1,000 people in 2016 and was at its lowest, 0.017 per 1,000 people, in 1960.
Nigeria ranks 147th of 194 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.03 per 1,000 people | 0.017 per 1,000 people | 0.043 per 1,000 people | 2 |
| 1970s | 0.0495 per 1,000 people | 0.049 per 1,000 people | 0.05 per 1,000 people | 2 |
| 1980s | 0.1666 per 1,000 people | 0.113 per 1,000 people | 0.192 per 1,000 people | 5 |
| 1990s | 0.1885 per 1,000 people | 0.185 per 1,000 people | 0.192 per 1,000 people | 2 |
| 2000s | 0.3153 per 1,000 people | 0.255 per 1,000 people | 0.361 per 1,000 people | 7 |
| 2010s | 0.3777 per 1,000 people | 0.356 per 1,000 people | 0.428 per 1,000 people | 4 |
| 2020s | 0.384 per 1,000 people | 0.38 per 1,000 people | 0.386 per 1,000 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More health data for Nigeria
- Age population, age 08, male, interpolated 3.21 million (2025)
- Population, male 50.6% (2025)
- Age population, age 06, female, interpolated 3.15 million (2025)
- Age population, age 06, male, interpolated 3.23 million (2025)
- Age population, age 07, female, interpolated 3.13 million (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, female 66.10 million (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, total 96.25 million (2025)
- Age population, age 07, male, interpolated 3.22 million (2025)
- Age population, age 08, female, interpolated 3.11 million (2025)
- Age population, age 11, male, interpolated 3.14 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is physicians in Nigeria?
- Physicians in Nigeria was 0.38 per 1,000 people in 2023, according to Global Health Workforce Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest physicians recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 0.428 per 1,000 people in 2016.
- What is the lowest physicians recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.017 per 1,000 people in 1960.
- How does Nigeria rank for physicians?
- Nigeria ranks 147th out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is physicians rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from Global Health Workforce Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of Physicians (per 1,000 people). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Physicians include generalist and specialist medical practitioners.