UNICEF's country profile for Nigeria, including under-five mortality rates, child health, education and sanitation data.

As of 2023, the mortality rate of infants aged under one-year-old in Nigeria was measured at 55.17. This means that there were about 55 deaths of children under the age of one year per 1,000 live births. Child mortality rates in Africa are very high. Among the countries with the highest infant mortality rate in the world, almost all of them are African countries. Similarly, maternal mortality rates are high. In 2017, Nigeria recorded 917 deaths of mothers per 100,000 live births.

In 2023, the infant mortality rate in deaths per 1,000 live births in Nigeria was 60.1. Between 1964 and 2023, the figure dropped by 113.5, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory.

Graph and download economic data for Infant Mortality Rate for Nigeria (SPDYNIMRTINNGA) from 1964 to 2023 about mortality, infant, Nigeria, and rate.

Nigeria NG: Mortality Rate: Infant: Male: per 1000 Live Births data was reported at 70.700 Ratio in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 75.200 Ratio for 2015. Nigeria NG: Mortality Rate: Infant: Male: per 1000 Live Births data is updated yearly, averaging 88.400 Ratio from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2017, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 135.700 Ratio in 1990 and a record low of 70.700 Ratio in 2017. Nigeria NG: Mortality Rate: Infant: Male: per 1000 Live Births data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Nigeria – Table NG.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Infant mortality rate, male is the number of male infants dying before reaching one year of age, per 1,000 male live births in a given year.; ; Estimates developed by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, UN DESA Population Division) at www.childmortality.org.; Weighted average; Given that data on the incidence and prevalence of diseases are frequently unavailable, mortality rates are often used to identify vulnerable populations. Moreover, they are among the indicators most frequently used to compare socioeconomic development across countries. Under-five mortality rates are higher for boys than for girls in countries in which parental gender preferences are insignificant. Under-five mortality captures the effect of gender discrimination better than infant mortality does, as malnutrition and medical interventions have more significant impacts to this age group. Where female under-five mortality is higher, girls are likely to have less access to resources than boys.

Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births) in Nigeria was reported at 60.1 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Nigeria - Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

In 1955, the infant mortality rate in Nigeria was two hundred deaths per thousand live births, meaning that twenty percent of all newborns would not survive past their first birthday. Infant mortality would gradually decline in Nigeria over the next three decades, as mass vaccination campaigns and improvements in access to nutrition would lead to a sharp decline in the causes of infant and child mortality. This decline would largely level off at around 125 deaths per thousand live births beginning in the late 1980s, as a decline in oil revenues would lead to a scaling back of many government health programs, and the HIV/AIDS epidemic would spread rapidly throughout the country beginning in 1981 (as of 2019, Nigeria has the highest rate of mother-to-child HIV transmission worldwide). As HIV treatment would gradually improve, and the Nigerian economy would begin to recover in the 21st century, infant mortality would to decline once more in the 2000s. Despite this decline, in 2020, it is estimated that over six percent of all newborns do not make it to their first birthday, which is among the highest infant mortality rates in the world.

In 2021, the main causes of death among children aged under five in Nigeria were neonatal disorders. More specifically, close to 32 percent of all deaths were caused by neonatal disorders. Among the main cases of infant mortality in Nigeria, there were malaria, lower respiratory infections, and diarrheal diseases.

Nigeria NG: Mortality Rate: Under-5: Male: per 1000 Live Births data was reported at 106.100 Ratio in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 114.000 Ratio for 2015. Nigeria NG: Mortality Rate: Under-5: Male: per 1000 Live Births data is updated yearly, averaging 136.800 Ratio from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2017, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 222.200 Ratio in 1990 and a record low of 106.100 Ratio in 2017. Nigeria NG: Mortality Rate: Under-5: Male: per 1000 Live Births data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Nigeria – Table NG.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Under-five mortality rate, male is the probability per 1,000 that a newborn male baby will die before reaching age five, if subject to male age-specific mortality rates of the specified year.; ; Estimates Developed by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, UN DESA Population Division) at www.childmortality.org.; Weighted average; Given that data on the incidence and prevalence of diseases are frequently unavailable, mortality rates are often used to identify vulnerable populations. Moreover, they are among the indicators most frequently used to compare socioeconomic development across countries. Under-five mortality rates are higher for boys than for girls in countries in which parental gender preferences are insignificant. Under-five mortality captures the effect of gender discrimination better than infant mortality does, as malnutrition and medical interventions have more significant impacts to this age group. Where female under-five mortality is higher, girls are likely to have less access to resources than boys.

Nigeria: Infant deaths per 1000 live births: The latest value from 2022 is 69 deaths per 1000 live births, a decline from 71 deaths per 1000 live births in 2021. In comparison, the world average is 19 deaths per 1000 live births, based on data from 187 countries. Historically, the average for Nigeria from 1964 to 2022 is 119 deaths per 1000 live births. The minimum value, 69 deaths per 1000 live births, was reached in 2022 while the maximum of 194 deaths per 1000 live births was recorded in 1964.

In 2019, Male Infant Mortality Rate in Nigeria was down by 2.1% compared to a year earlier.

60.1 (deaths per thousand live births) in 2023. Infant mortality rate is the number of infants dying before reaching one year of age, per 1,000 live births in a given year.

Nigeria NG: Mortality Rate: Infant: per 1000 Live Births data was reported at 64.600 Ratio in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 66.600 Ratio for 2016. Nigeria NG: Mortality Rate: Infant: per 1000 Live Births data is updated yearly, averaging 123.900 Ratio from Dec 1964 (Median) to 2017, with 54 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 193.700 Ratio in 1964 and a record low of 64.600 Ratio in 2017. Nigeria NG: Mortality Rate: Infant: per 1000 Live Births data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Nigeria – Table NG.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Infant mortality rate is the number of infants dying before reaching one year of age, per 1,000 live births in a given year.; ; Estimates developed by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, UN DESA Population Division) at www.childmortality.org.; Weighted average; Given that data on the incidence and prevalence of diseases are frequently unavailable, mortality rates are often used to identify vulnerable populations. Moreover, they are among the indicators most frequently used to compare socioeconomic development across countries. Under-five mortality rates are higher for boys than for girls in countries in which parental gender preferences are insignificant. Under-five mortality captures the effect of gender discrimination better than infant mortality does, as malnutrition and medical interventions have more significant impacts to this age group. Where female under-five mortality is higher, girls are likely to have less access to resources than boys.

Mortality rate, infant, female (per 1,000 live births) in Nigeria was reported at 54.8 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Nigeria - Mortality rate, infant, female (per 1,000 live births) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

Mortality rate, infant, male (per 1,000 live births) in Nigeria was reported at 65.3 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Nigeria - Mortality rate, infant, male (per 1,000 live births) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

BackgroundInfant mortality persists as a global public health concern, particularly in lower-middle-income countries (LIMCs) such as Nigeria. The risk of an infant dying before one year of age is estimated to be six times higher in Africa than in Europe. Nigeria recorded an infant mortality rate of 72.2 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2020, in contrast to the global estimate of 27.4 per 1,000 live births. Several studies have been undertaken to determine the factors influencing infant mortality.ObjectiveThis scoping review sought to identify and summarise the breadth of evidence available on factors associated with infant mortality in Nigeria.MethodsThis review followed the five-stage principles of Arksey and O’Malley’s framework. Four electronic databases were searched with no limit to publication date or study type: Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL Complete, and Web of Science. Selected studies were imported into Endnote software and then exported to Rayyan software where duplicates were removed. Included articles were thematically analysed and synthesised using the socioecological model.ResultsA total of 8,139 references were compiled and screened. Forty-eight articles were included in the final review. At the individual level, maternal- and child-related factors were revealed to influence infant mortality; socioeconomic and sociocultural factors at the interpersonal level; provision and utilisation of health services, health workforce, hospital resources and access to health services at the organisational level; housing/neighbourhood and environmental factors at the community level; and lastly, governmental factors were found to affect infant mortality at the public policy level.ConclusionFactors related to the individual, interpersonal, organisational, community and public policy levels were associated with infant mortality in Nigeria.

This statistic shows the 20 countries* with the highest infant mortality rate in 2024. An estimated 101.3 infants per 1,000 live births died in the first year of life in Afghanistan in 2024. Infant and child mortality Infant mortality usually refers to the death of children younger than one year. Child mortality, which is often used synonymously with infant mortality, is the death of children younger than five. Among the main causes are pneumonia, diarrhea – which causes dehydration – and infections in newborns, with malnutrition also posing a severe problem. As can be seen above, most countries with a high infant mortality rate are developing countries or emerging countries, most of which are located in Africa. Good health care and hygiene are crucial in reducing child mortality; among the countries with the lowest infant mortality rate are exclusively developed countries, whose inhabitants usually have access to clean water and comprehensive health care. Access to vaccinations, antibiotics and a balanced nutrition also help reducing child mortality in these regions. In some countries, infants are killed if they turn out to be of a certain gender. India, for example, is known as a country where a lot of girls are aborted or killed right after birth, as they are considered to be too expensive for poorer families, who traditionally have to pay a costly dowry on the girl’s wedding day. Interestingly, the global mortality rate among boys is higher than that for girls, which could be due to the fact that more male infants are actually born than female ones. Other theories include a stronger immune system in girls, or more premature births among boys.

Under-5 mortality rate of Nigeria slipped by 2.96% from 108.1 deaths per thousand live births in 2022 to 104.9 deaths per thousand live births in 2023. Since the 1.22% downward trend in 2013, under-5 mortality rate sank by 18.87% in 2023. Under-five mortality rate is the probability per 1,000 that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five, if subject to current age-specific mortality rates.

The 2003 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (2003 NDHS) is the third national Demographic and Health Survey conducted in Nigeria. The 2003 NDHS is based on a nationally representative sample of over 7,000 households. All women age 15-49 in these households and all men age 15-59 in a subsample of one-third of the households were individually interviewed. The survey provides up-to-date information on the population and health situation in Nigeria. The 2003 NDHS was designed to provide estimates for key indicators such as fertility, contraceptive use, infant and child mortality, immunization levels, use of family planning, maternal and child health, breastfeeding practices, nutritional status of mothers and young children, use of mosquito nets, female genital cutting, marriage, sexual activity, and awareness and behaviour regarding AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections in Nigeria. MAIN RESULTS FERTILITY Fertility Levels, Trends, and Preferences. The total fertility rate (TFR) in Nigeria is 5.7. This means that at current fertility levels, the average Nigerian woman who is at the beginning of her childbearing years will give birth to 5.7 children by the end of her lifetime. Compared with previous national surveys, the 2003 survey shows a modest decline in fertility over the last two decades: from a TFR of 6.3 in the 1981-82 National Fertility Survey (NFS) to 6.0 in the 1990 NDHS to 5.7 in the 2003 NDHS. However, the 2003 NDHS rate of 5.7 is significantly higher than the 1999 NDHS rate of 5.2. Analysis has shown that the 1999 survey underestimated the true levels of fertility in Nigeria. On average, rural women will have one more child than urban women (6.1 and 4.9, respectively). Fertility varies considerably by region of residence, with lower rates in the south and higher rates in the north. Fertility also has a strong negative correlation with a woman's educational attainment. Most Nigerians, irrespective of their number of living children, want large families. The ideal number of children is 6.7 for all women and 7.3 for currently married women. Nigerian men want even more children than women. The ideal number of children for all men is 8.6 and for currently married men is 10.6. Clearly, one reason for the slow decline in Nigerian fertility is the desire for large families. FAMILY PLANNING Knowledge of Family Planning Methods. About eight in ten women and nine in ten men know at least one modern method of family planning. The pill, injectables, and the male condom are the most widely known modern methods among both women and men. Mass media is an important source of information on family planning. Radio is the most frequent source of family planning messages: 40 percent of women and 56 percent of men say they heard a radio message about family planning during the months preceding the survey. However, more than half of women (56 percent) and 41 percent men were not exposed to family planning messages from a mass media source. Current Use. A total of 13 percent of currently married women are using a method of family planning, including 8 percent who are using a modern method. The most common modern methods are the pill, injectables, and the male condom (2 percent each). Urban women are more than twice as likely as rural women to use a method of contraception (20 percent versus 9 percent). Contraceptive use varies significantly by region. For example, one-third of married women in the South West use a method of contraception compared with just 4 percent of women in the North East and 5 percent of women in the North West. CHILD HEALTH Mortality. The 2003 NDHS survey estimates infant mortality to be 100 per 1,000 live births for the 1999-2003 period. This infant mortality rate is significantly higher than the estimates from both the 1990 and 1999 NDHS surveys; the earlier surveys underestimated mortality levels in certain regions of the country, which in turn biased downward the national estimates. Thus, the higher rate from the 2003 NDHS is more likely due to better data quality than an actual increase in mortality risk overall. The rural infant mortality rate (121 per 1,000) is considerably higher than the urban rate (81 per 1,000), due in large part to the difference in neonatal mortality rates. As in other countries, low maternal education, a low position on the household wealth index, and shorter birth intervals are strongly associated with increased mortality risk. The under-five mortality rate for the 1999-2003 period was 201 per 1,000. Vaccinations. Only 13 percent of Nigerian children age 12-23 months can be considered fully vaccinated, that is, have received BCG, measles, and three doses each of DPT and polio vaccine (excluding the polio vaccine given at birth). This is the lowest vaccination rate among African countries in which DHS surveys have been conducted since 1998. Less than half of children have received each of the recommended vaccinations, with the exception of polio 1 (67 percent) and polio 2 (52 percent). More than three times as many urban children as rural children are fully vaccinated (25 percent and 7 percent, respectively). WHO guidelines are that children should complete the schedule of recommended vaccinations by 12 months of age. In Nigeria, however, only 11 percent of children age 12-23 months received all of the recommended vaccinations before their first birthday. WOMEN'S HEALTH Breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is almost universal in Nigeria, with 97 percent of children born in the five years preceding the survey having been breastfed. However, just one-third of children were given breast milk within one hour of birth (32 percent), and less than two-thirds were given breast milk within 24 hours of birth (63 percent). Overall, the median duration of any breastfeeding is 18.6 months, while the median duration of exclusive breastfeeding is only half a month. Complementary Feeding. At age 6-9 months, the recommended age for introducing complementary foods, three-quarters of breast-feeding infants received solid or semisolid foods during the day or night preceding the interview; 56 percent received food made from grains, 25 percent received meat, fish, shellfish, poultry or eggs, and 24 percent received fruits or vegetables. Fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin A were consumed by 20 percent of breastfeeding infants age 6-9 months. Maternal Care. Almost two-thirds of mothers in Nigeria (63 percent) received some antenatal care (ANC) for their most recent live birth in the five years preceding the survey. While one-fifth of mothers (21 percent) received ANC from a doctor, almost four in ten women received care from nurses or midwives (37 percent). Almost half of women (47 percent) made the minimum number of four recommended visits, but most of the women who received antenatal care did not get care within the first three months of pregnancy. In terms of content of care, slightly more than half of women who received antenatal care said that they were informed of potential pregnancy complications (55 percent). Fifty-eight percent of women received iron tablets; almost two-thirds had a urine or blood sample taken; and 81 percent had their blood pressure measured. Almost half (47 percent) received no tetanus toxoid injections during their most recent birth. WOMEN'S CHARACTERISTICS AND STATUS Across all maternal care indicators, rural women are disadvantaged compared with urban women, and there are marked regional differences among women. Overall, women in the south, particularly the South East and South West, received better care than women in the north, especially women in the North East and North West. Female Circumcision. Almost one-fifth of Nigerian women are circumcised, but the data suggest that the practice is declining. The oldest women are more than twice as likely as the youngest women to have been circumcised (28 percent versus 13 percent). Prevalence is highest among the Yoruba (61 percent) and Igbo (45 percent), who traditionally reside in the South West and South East. Half of the circumcised respondents could not identify the type of procedure performed. Among those women who could identify the type of procedure, the most common type of circumcision involved cutting and removal of flesh (44 percent of all circumcised women). Four percent of women reported that their vaginas were sewn closed during circumcision. MALARIA CONTROL PROGRAM INDICATORS Nets. Although malaria is a major public health concern in Nigeria, only 12 percent of households report owning at least one mosquito net. Even fewer, 2 percent of households, own an insecticide treated net (ITN). Rural households are almost three times as likely as urban households to own at least one mosquito net. Overall, 6 percent of children under age five sleep under a mosquito net, including 1 percent of children who sleep under an ITN. Five percent of pregnant women slept under a mosquito net the night before the survey, one-fifth of them under an ITN. Use of Antimalarials. Overall, 20 percent of women reported that they took an antimalarial for prevention of malaria during their last pregnancy in the five years preceding the survey. Another 17 percent reported that they took an unknown drug, and 4 percent took paracetamol or herbs to prevent malaria. Only 1 percent received intermittent preventative treatment (IPT)-or preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (Fansidar/SP) during an antenatal care visit. Among pregnant women who took an antimalarial, more than half (58 percent) used Daraprim, which has been found to be ineffective as a chemoprophylaxis during pregnancy. Additionally, 39 percent used chloroquine, which was the chemoprophylactic drug of choice until the introduction of IPT in Nigeria in 2001. Among children who were sick with fever/convulsions, one-third took antimalarial drugs, the majority receiving the drugs

The 2008 Nigeria Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) is a nationally representative survey of 33,385 women age 15-49 and 15,486 men age 15-59. The 2008 NDHS is the fourth comprehensive survey conducted in Nigeria as part of the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) programme. The data are intended to furnish programme managers and policymakers with detailed information on levels and trends in fertility; nuptiality; sexual activity; fertility preferences; awareness and use of family planning methods; infants and young children feeding practices; nutritional status of mothers and young children; early childhood mortality and maternal mortality; maternal and child health; and awareness and behaviour regarding HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections. Additionally, the 2008 NDHS collected information on malaria prevention and treatment, neglected tropical diseases, domestic violence, fistulae, and female genital cutting (FGC). The 2008 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (2008 NDHS) was implemented by the National Population Commission from June to October 2008 on a nationally representative sample of more than 36,000 households. All women age 15-49 in these households and all men age 15-59 in a sub-sample of half of the households were individually interviewed. While significantly expanded in content, the 2008 NDHS is a follow-up to the 1990, 1999, and 2003 NDHS surveys and provides updated estimates of basic demographic and health indicators covered in these earlier surveys. In addition, the 2008 NDHS includes the collection of information on violence against women. Although previous surveys collected data at the national and zonal levels, the 2008 NDHS is the first NDHS survey to collect data on basic demographic and health indicators at the state level. The primary objectives of the 2008 NDHS project were to provide up-to-date information on fertility levels; nuptiality; sexual activity; fertility preferences; awareness and use of family planning methods; breastfeeding practices; nutritional status of mothers and young children; early childhood mortality and maternal mortality; maternal and child health; and awareness and behaviour regarding HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections. MAIN FINDINGS FERTILITY The survey results show fertility in Nigeria has remained at a high level over the last 17 years from 5.9 births per woman in 1991 to 5.7 births in 2008. On average, rural women are having two children more than urban women (6.3 and 4.7 children, respectively). Fertility differentials by education and wealth are noticeable. Women who have no formal education and women in the lowest wealth quintile on average are having 7 children, while women with higher than a secondary education are having 3 children and women in the highest wealth quintile are having 4 children. FAMILY PLANNING In the 2008 NDHS, 72 percent of all women and 90 percent of all men know at least one contraceptive method. Male condoms, the pill, and injectables are the most widely known methods. Twenty-nine percent of currently married women have used a family planning method at least once in their lifetime. Fifteen percent of currently married women are using any contraceptive method and 10 percent are using a modern method. The most commonly used methods among currently married women are injectables (3 percent), followed by male condoms and the pill (2 percent each). Current use of contraception in Nigeria has increased from 6 percent in 1990 and 13 percent in 2003 to 15 percent in 2008. There has been a corresponding increase in the use of modern contraceptive methods, from 4 percent in 1990 and 8 percent in 2003 to 10 percent in 2008. CHILD HEALTH Data from the 2008 NDHS indicate that the infant mortality rate is 75 deaths per 1,000 live births, while the under-five mortality rate is 157 per 1,000 live births for the five-year period immediately preceding the survey. The neonatal mortality rate is 40 per 1,000 births. Thus, almost half of childhood deaths occurred during infancy, with one-quarter taking place during the first month of life. Child mortality is consistently lower in urban areas than in rural areas. There is also variation in the mortality level across zones. The infant mortality and under-five mortality rates are highest in the North East, and lowest in the South West. In Nigeria, children are considered fully vaccinated when they receive one dose of BCG vaccine, three doses of DPT vaccine, three doses of polio vaccine, and one dose of measles vaccine. Overall, 23 percent of children 12-23 months have received all vaccinations at the time of the survey. Fifty percent of children have received the BCG vaccination, and 41 percent have been vaccinated against measles. The coverage of the first dose of DPT vaccine and polio 1 is 52 and 68 percent, respectively). However, only 35 percent of children have received the third dose of DPT vaccine, and 39 percent have received the third dose of polio vaccine. A comparison of the 2008 NDHS results with those of the earlier surveys shows there has been an increase in the overall vaccination coverage in Nigeria from 13 percent in 2003 to the current rate of 23 percent. However, the percentage of children with no vaccinations has not improved for the same period, 27 percent in 2003 and 29 percent in 2008. MATERNAL HEALTH In Nigeria more than half of women who had a live birth in the five years preceding the survey received antenatal care from a health professional (58 percent); 23 percent from a doctor, 30 percent from a nurse or midwife, and 5 percent from an auxiliary nurse or midwife. Thirty-six percent of mothers did not receive any antenatal care. Tetanus toxoid injections are given during pregnancy to prevent neonatal tetanus. Overall, 48 percent of last births in Nigeria were protected against neonatal tetanus. More than one-third of births in the five years before the survey were delivered in a health facility (35 percent). Twenty percent of births occurred in public health facilities and 15 percent occurred in private health facilities. Almost two-thirds (62 percent) of births occurred at home. Nine percent of births were assisted by a doctor, 25 percent by a nurse or midwife, 5 percent by an auxiliary nurse or midwife, and 22 percent by a traditional birth attendant. Nineteen percent of births were assisted by a relative and 19 percent of births had no assistance at all. Two percent of births were delivered by a caesarean section. Overall, 42 percent of mothers received a postnatal check-up for the most recent birth in the five years preceding the survey, with 38 percent having the check-up within the critical 48 hours after delivery. Results from the 2008 NDHS show that the estimated maternal mortality ratio during the seven-year period prior to the survey is 545 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. BREASTFEEDING AND NUTRITION Ninety-seven percent of Nigerian children under age five were breastfed at some point in their life. The median breastfeeding duration in Nigeria is long (18.1 months). On the other hand, the median duration for exclusive breastfeeding is only for half a month. A small proportion of babies (13 percent) are exclusively breastfed throughout the first six months of life. More than seven in ten (76 percent) children age 6-9 months receive complementary foods. Sixteen percent of babies less than six months of age are fed with a bottle with a nipple, and the proportion bottle-fed peaks at 17 percent among children in the age groups 2-3 months and 4-5 months. Anthropometric measurements carried out at the time of the survey indicate that, overall, 41 percent of Nigerian children are stunted (short for their age), 14 percent are wasted (thin for their height), and 23 percent are underweight. The indices show that malnutrition in young children increases with age, starting with wasting, which peaks among children age 6-8 months, underweight peaks among children age 12-17 months, and stunting is highest among children age 18-23 months. Stunting affects half of children in this age group and almost one-third of children age 18-23 months are severely stunted. Overall, 66 percent of women have a body mass index (BMI) in the normal range; 12 percent of women are classified as thin and 4 percent are severely thin. Twenty-two percent of women are classified as overweight or obese, with 6 percent in the latter category. MALARIA Seventeen percent of all households interviewed during the survey had at least one mosquito net, while 8 percent had more than one. Sixteen percent of households had at least one net that had been treated at some time (ever-treated) with an insecticide. Eight percent of households had at least one insecticide-treated net (ITN). Mosquito net usage is low among young children and pregnant women, groups that are particularly vulnerable to the effects of malaria. Overall, 12 percent of children under five slept under a mosquito net the night before the survey. Twelve percent of children slept under an ever-treated net and 6 percent slept under an ITN. Among pregnant women, 12 percent slept under any mosquito net the night before the interview. Twelve percent slept under an ever-treated net and 5 percent slept under an ITN. Among women who had their last birth in the two years before the survey, 18 percent took an anti-malarial drug during the pregnancy. Eleven percent of all pregnant women took at least one dose of a sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) drug such as Fansidar, Amalar, or Maloxine, while 7 percent reported taking two or more doses of an SP drug. Eight percent of the women who took an SP drug were given the drug during an antenatal care visit, a practice known as intermittent preventive treatment (IPT). HIV/AIDS KNOWLEDGE AND BEHAVIOUR The majority of women (88 percent) and men (94 percent) age 15-49 have heard of HIV or AIDS. However, only 23 percent