Children orphaned due to AIDS deaths in Nigeria
Nigeria: Children orphaned due to AIDS deaths was 1.32 million children in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
1.32 million children
Change on year
down 7.2%
World rank
1st
of 139 countries
All-time high
1.61 million children
in 2019
All-time low
65,335 children
in 1990
Years of data
35
1990–2024
Children orphaned due to AIDS deaths in Nigeria, 1990–2024
Source: Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in children.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 1.32 million children for children orphaned due to aids deaths in 2024.
The figure is down 7.2% on the previous year and down 14.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, children orphaned due to aids deaths in Nigeria peaked at 1.61 million children in 2019 and was at its lowest, 65,335 children, in 1990.
Nigeria ranks 1st of 139 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Children orphaned due to AIDS deaths in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 65,335 children | — |
| 1991 | 88,824 children | +36.0% |
| 1992 | 118,368 children | +33.3% |
| 1993 | 154,929 children | +30.9% |
| 1994 | 199,847 children | +29.0% |
| 1995 | 253,107 children | +26.7% |
| 1996 | 314,491 children | +24.3% |
| 1997 | 383,739 children | +22.0% |
| 1998 | 460,630 children | +20.0% |
| 1999 | 544,014 children | +18.1% |
| 2000 | 629,296 children | +15.7% |
| 2001 | 715,565 children | +13.7% |
| 2002 | 803,488 children | +12.3% |
| 2003 | 890,935 children | +10.9% |
| 2004 | 977,908 children | +9.8% |
| 2005 | 1.06 million children | +8.3% |
| 2006 | 1.14 million children | +7.5% |
| 2007 | 1.21 million children | +5.9% |
| 2008 | 1.28 million children | +5.9% |
| 2009 | 1.33 million children | +3.8% |
| 2010 | 1.37 million children | +3.5% |
| 2011 | 1.43 million children | +4.0% |
| 2012 | 1.48 million children | +3.8% |
| 2013 | 1.52 million children | +2.6% |
| 2014 | 1.55 million children | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 1.57 million children | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 1.59 million children | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 1.59 million children | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 1.60 million children | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 1.61 million children | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 1.60 million children | -0.6% |
| 2021 | 1.56 million children | -2.2% |
| 2022 | 1.51 million children | -3.7% |
| 2023 | 1.43 million children | -5.3% |
| 2024 | 1.32 million children | -7.2% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 1.32 million children is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 38,246 children, 34.6× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 1.32 million children is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 83,352 children, 15.9× the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 258,328 children | 65,335 children | 544,014 children | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.00 million children | 629,296 children | 1.33 million children | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.53 million children | 1.37 million children | 1.61 million children | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.48 million children | 1.32 million children | 1.60 million children | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
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 children orphaned due to aids deaths in Nigeria?
- Children orphaned due to aids deaths in Nigeria was 1.32 million children in 2024, according to Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest children orphaned due to aids deaths recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 1.61 million children in 2019.
- What is the lowest children orphaned due to aids deaths recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 65,335 children in 1990.
- How does Nigeria rank for children orphaned due to aids deaths?
- Nigeria ranks 1st out of 139 countries with data for 2024.
- Is children orphaned due to aids deaths rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Children orphaned due to AIDS deaths. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Number of children, aged 17 and under, who have been orphaned by the death of one or both parents from AIDS at any point in their lives. This is the central estimate.