Ethiopia vs Nigeria: Malnutrition: Number of children who are stunted
Ethiopia
6.89 million
in 2024
Nigeria
11.44 million
in 2024
Ethiopia rank
5th
Nigeria rank
2nd
Malnutrition: Number of children who are stunted over time
- Ethiopia
- Nigeria
How they compare
Nigeria currently reports 11.44 million against 6.89 million in Ethiopia, a difference of 4.55 million.
That makes Nigeria's figure about 1.7 times Ethiopia's.
Across all 25 years both countries report, Nigeria has been ahead every year.
Ethiopia ranks 5th and Nigeria ranks 2nd of 162 countries.
Nigeria has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Ethiopia | Nigeria | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7.39 million | 10.37 million | 2.98 million | Nigeria |
| 2010s | 6.40 million | 11.55 million | 5.15 million | Nigeria |
| 2020s | 6.64 million | 11.23 million | 4.59 million | Nigeria |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher malnutrition: number of children who are stunted, Ethiopia or Nigeria?
- Nigeria, at 11.44 million against 6.89 million in Ethiopia as of 2024.
- What is the difference in malnutrition: number of children who are stunted between Ethiopia and Nigeria?
- 4.55 million, with Nigeria ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Ethiopia and Nigeria?
- 25 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2024.
- How do Ethiopia and Nigeria rank globally for malnutrition: number of children who are stunted?
- Ethiopia ranks 5th and Nigeria ranks 2nd of 162 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as Malnutrition: Number of children who are stunted. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
The number of children younger than five who are stunted – significantly shorter than the average for their age, as a consequence of poor nutrition or repeated infection.