Share of children with symptoms of a respiratory infection who received antibiotics in Nigeria

Nigeria: Share of children with symptoms of a respiratory infection who received antibiotics was 33.3% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
33.3%
Change on year
up 1.5%
World rank
122nd
of 132 countries
All-time high
48.1%
in 2011
All-time low
29.7%
in 2000
Years of data
19
2000–2018

Share of children with symptoms of a respiratory infection who received antibiotics in Nigeria, 2000–2018

010203040502000200920182000: 29.7 %2001: 31.6 %2002: 32.2 %2003: 33.4 %2004: 33.3 %2005: 34.3 %2006: 35.1 %2007: 40.8 %2008: 39.7 %2009: 42 %2010: 45.4 %2011: 48.1 %2012: 44.7 %2013: 41.2 %2014: 38.9 %2015: 35.4 %2016: 34.3 %2017: 32.8 %2018: 33.3 %

Source: Browne AJ et al. (2021) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

Nigeria recorded 33.3% for share of children with symptoms of a respiratory infection who received antibiotics in 2018.

That represents a change of up 1.5% on the previous year and down 16.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of children with symptoms of a respiratory infection who received antibiotics in Nigeria peaked at 48.1% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 29.7%, in 2000.

That places Nigeria 122nd out of 132 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 19 years of available data.

Share of children with symptoms of a respiratory infection who received antibiotics in Nigeria, year by year

Annual values for Share of children with symptoms of a respiratory infection who received antibiotics in Nigeria, 2000 to 2018.
Year % Change
2000 29.7%
2001 31.6% +6.4%
2002 32.2% +1.9%
2003 33.4% +3.7%
2004 33.3% -0.3%
2005 34.3% +3.0%
2006 35.1% +2.3%
2007 40.8% +16.2%
2008 39.7% -2.7%
2009 42.0% +5.8%
2010 45.4% +8.1%
2011 48.1% +5.9%
2012 44.7% -7.1%
2013 41.2% -7.8%
2014 38.9% -5.6%
2015 35.4% -9.0%
2016 34.3% -3.1%
2017 32.8% -4.4%
2018 33.3% +1.5%

Nigeria compared with similar countries

  • Nigeria's 33.3% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 49.0%, 68% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
  • Nigeria's 33.3% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 41.6%, 80% of the median. (46 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 35.2% 29.7% 42.0% 10
2010s 39.3% 32.8% 48.1% 9

Countries ranked near Nigeria

  1. 119 Burundi 35.0% compare
  2. 120 Central African Republic 34.8% compare
  3. 120 Cote d'Ivoire 34.8% compare
  4. 122 Mali 33.3% compare
  5. 124 Papua New Guinea 32.9% compare
  6. 125 Senegal 32.5% compare

See the full ranking of 132 places →

More reference data data for Nigeria

All data for Nigeria →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of children with symptoms of a respiratory infection who received antibiotics in Nigeria?
Share of children with symptoms of a respiratory infection who received antibiotics in Nigeria was 33.3% in 2018, according to Browne AJ et al. (2021) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest share of children with symptoms of a respiratory infection who received antibiotics recorded in Nigeria?
The highest recorded value was 48.1% in 2011.
What is the lowest share of children with symptoms of a respiratory infection who received antibiotics recorded in Nigeria?
The lowest recorded value was 29.7% in 2000.
How does Nigeria rank for share of children with symptoms of a respiratory infection who received antibiotics?
Nigeria ranks 122nd out of 132 countries with data for 2018.
Is share of children with symptoms of a respiratory infection who received antibiotics rising or falling in Nigeria?
Over the last ten years it is down 16.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Nigeria data come from?
The figures come from Browne AJ et al. (2021) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of children with symptoms of a respiratory infection who received antibiotics. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Share of children with symptoms of a respiratory infection who received antibiotics in Nigeria. Statizoid, drawing on Browne AJ et al. (2021) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 24 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/antibiotic-usage-in-children/nigeria/

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About this data

Indicator
Share of children with symptoms of a respiratory infection who received antibiotics
Unit
%
Source
Browne AJ et al. (2021) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
132 places, 2,508 data points, 2000–2018
Last refreshed

Caregiver reported share of children under five years old, with symptoms of lower respiratory tract infection, who received antibiotics for this illness.