Number of people requiring preventive treatment for river blindness in Nigeria
Nigeria: Number of people requiring preventive treatment for river blindness was 40.38 million People in 2024. ▼ Falling
Number of people requiring preventive treatment for river blindness in Nigeria, 2013–2024
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in People.
Analysis
In 2024, number of people requiring preventive treatment for river blindness in Nigeria stood at 40.38 million People. That is the lowest value across all 12 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 13.9% on the previous year and down 21.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people requiring preventive treatment for river blindness in Nigeria peaked at 55.77 million People in 2018 and was at its lowest, 40.38 million People, in 2024.
That places Nigeria 2nd out of 31 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 12 years of available data.
Number of people requiring preventive treatment for river blindness in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | People | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 50.12 million People | — |
| 2014 | 51.39 million People | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 47.48 million People | -7.6% |
| 2016 | 53.08 million People | +11.8% |
| 2017 | 49.90 million People | -6.0% |
| 2018 | 55.77 million People | +11.8% |
| 2019 | 50.57 million People | -9.3% |
| 2020 | 51.73 million People | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 50.88 million People | -1.7% |
| 2022 | 43.47 million People | -14.6% |
| 2023 | 46.89 million People | +7.9% |
| 2024 | 40.38 million People | -13.9% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 40.38 million People is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.52 million People, 8.9× the median. (28 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 40.38 million People is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.66 million People, 6.1× the median. (12 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 51.19 million People | 47.48 million People | 55.77 million People | 7 |
| 2020s | 46.67 million People | 40.38 million People | 51.73 million People | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 1 Democratic Republic of Congo 57.75 million People compare
- 3 Ethiopia 30.56 million People compare
- 4 Cote d'Ivoire 22.62 million People compare
- 5 Guinea 11.78 million People compare
More population data for Nigeria
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.1509 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.0306 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -3.23 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.0306 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.0% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 32.05 million people (2100)
- Population density 523.46 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.0% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.5063 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.22 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people requiring preventive treatment for river blindness in Nigeria?
- Number of people requiring preventive treatment for river blindness in Nigeria was 40.38 million People in 2024, according to World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people requiring preventive treatment for river blindness recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 55.77 million People in 2018.
- What is the lowest number of people requiring preventive treatment for river blindness recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 40.38 million People in 2024.
- How does Nigeria rank for number of people requiring preventive treatment for river blindness?
- Nigeria ranks 2nd out of 31 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of people requiring preventive treatment for river blindness rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 Number of people requiring preventive treatment for river blindness. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The estimated number of people at risk of river blindness) who require preventive chemotherapy.