Dietary composition by country in Nigeria
Nigeria: Dietary composition by country was 2.34 kilocalories per day per capita in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
2.34 kilocalories per day per capita
Change on year
up 23.8%
World rank
143rd
of 191 countries
All-time high
2.99 kilocalories per day per capita
in 1981
All-time low
0 kilocalories per day per capita
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Dietary composition by country in Nigeria, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in kilocalories per day per capita.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 2.34 kilocalories per day per capita for dietary composition by country in 2023.
The figure is up 23.8% on the previous year and up 68.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, dietary composition by country in Nigeria peaked at 2.99 kilocalories per day per capita in 1981 and was at its lowest, 0 kilocalories per day per capita, in 1961.
That places Nigeria 143rd out of 191 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Dietary composition by country in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | kilocalories per day per capita | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1962 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1963 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1964 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1965 | 1 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1966 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | -100.0% |
| 1967 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1968 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1969 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1970 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1971 | 1 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1972 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | -100.0% |
| 1973 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1974 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1975 | 1 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1976 | 1 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 2.01 kilocalories per day per capita | +100.0% |
| 1978 | 2.01 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.0% |
| 1979 | 1 kilocalories per day per capita | -50.0% |
| 1980 | 0.9991 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.3% |
| 1981 | 2.99 kilocalories per day per capita | +198.9% |
| 1982 | 0.9917 kilocalories per day per capita | -66.8% |
| 1983 | 0.9912 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.1% |
| 1984 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | -100.0% |
| 1985 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1986 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1987 | 0.9868 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1988 | 0.9865 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.0% |
| 1989 | 0.9857 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.1% |
| 1990 | 0.9845 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.1% |
| 1991 | 0.9836 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 0.9826 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 0.9812 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 0.9798 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 0.9784 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 0.9772 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 0.9762 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 0.9751 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | -100.0% |
| 2000 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 2001 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 2002 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 2003 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 2004 | 0.9641 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 2005 | 0.9625 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 0.9613 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 1.92 kilocalories per day per capita | +99.8% |
| 2008 | 1.92 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 0.9588 kilocalories per day per capita | -50.0% |
| 2010 | 1.38 kilocalories per day per capita | +43.9% |
| 2011 | 1.45 kilocalories per day per capita | +5.1% |
| 2012 | 1.42 kilocalories per day per capita | -2.1% |
| 2013 | 1.39 kilocalories per day per capita | -2.1% |
| 2014 | 1.96 kilocalories per day per capita | +41.0% |
| 2015 | 1.74 kilocalories per day per capita | -11.2% |
| 2016 | 1.53 kilocalories per day per capita | -12.1% |
| 2017 | 1.75 kilocalories per day per capita | +14.4% |
| 2018 | 1.83 kilocalories per day per capita | +4.6% |
| 2019 | 1.73 kilocalories per day per capita | -5.5% |
| 2020 | 2.07 kilocalories per day per capita | +19.7% |
| 2021 | 2.05 kilocalories per day per capita | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 1.89 kilocalories per day per capita | -7.8% |
| 2023 | 2.34 kilocalories per day per capita | +23.8% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 2.34 kilocalories per day per capita is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 7.79 kilocalories per day per capita, 30% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 2.34 kilocalories per day per capita is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.79 kilocalories per day per capita, 49% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Dietary composition by country in Nigeria changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | +198.9% | 0.9991 kilocalories per day per capita | 2.99 kilocalories per day per capita |
| 1966 | -100.0% | 1 kilocalories per day per capita | 0 kilocalories per day per capita |
| 1972 | -100.0% | 1 kilocalories per day per capita | 0 kilocalories per day per capita |
| 1977 | +100.0% | 1 kilocalories per day per capita | 2.01 kilocalories per day per capita |
| 1984 | -100.0% | 0.9912 kilocalories per day per capita | 0 kilocalories per day per capita |
| 1999 | -100.0% | 0.9751 kilocalories per day per capita | 0 kilocalories per day per capita |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.1114 kilocalories per day per capita | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | 1 kilocalories per day per capita | 9 |
| 1970s | 0.8022 kilocalories per day per capita | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | 2.01 kilocalories per day per capita | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.8928 kilocalories per day per capita | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | 2.99 kilocalories per day per capita | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.8819 kilocalories per day per capita | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | 0.9845 kilocalories per day per capita | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.7686 kilocalories per day per capita | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | 1.92 kilocalories per day per capita | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.62 kilocalories per day per capita | 1.38 kilocalories per day per capita | 1.96 kilocalories per day per capita | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.09 kilocalories per day per capita | 1.89 kilocalories per day per capita | 2.34 kilocalories per day per capita | 4 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 140 Sudan 2.56 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 141 New Zealand 2.43 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 142 Mozambique 2.37 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 144 Turkmenistan 2.33 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 145 Angola 2.33 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 146 Lithuania 2.2 kilocalories per day per capita compare
More reference data data for Nigeria
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.77 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 19.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 5.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 5.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 81.9 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 121.16 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 14.27 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is dietary composition by country in Nigeria?
- Dietary composition by country in Nigeria was 2.34 kilocalories per day per capita in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest dietary composition by country recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 2.99 kilocalories per day per capita in 1981.
- What is the lowest dietary composition by country recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 kilocalories per day per capita in 1961.
- How does Nigeria rank for dietary composition by country?
- Nigeria ranks 143rd out of 191 countries with data for 2023.
- Is dietary composition by country rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 68.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Dietary composition by country. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Quantity that is available for consumption at the end of the supply chain. It does not account for consumer waste, so the quantity that is actually consumed may be lower.