The World Bank has raised serious concerns about the state of child healthcare in Nigeria, pointing to high mortality and malnutrition rates among young children.
In its Nigeria Development Update for April 2026, the organisation revealed that 110 out of every 1,000 children born in the country die before reaching the age of five—highlighting a persistent and troubling public health challenge.
The report also found that about 40 per cent of Nigerian children are stunted, a condition caused by long-term malnutrition that affects both physical growth and brain development. According to the Bank, this is largely driven by what it described as widespread “early growth faltering” across the country.
Beyond this, the report noted that 52 per cent of children in Nigeria are not developmentally on track, raising concerns about the long-term impact on the nation’s human capital and productivity.
The World Bank warned that Nigeria’s child mortality rate is significantly worse than that of other countries with similar income levels. It attributed this to gaps in access to quality healthcare, poor maternal care, and inadequate child nutrition.
These findings come at a time when poverty levels remain high. The report estimates that about 63 per cent of Nigerians live in poverty—a factor that continues to limit access to essential services such as proper nutrition, immunisation, clean water, and basic healthcare. Rising living costs have only made the situation more difficult for many families.
Data from the Global Hunger Index further supports these concerns. It shows that nearly 20 per cent of Nigeria’s population is undernourished, while 33.8 per cent of children under five are stunted and 11.6 per cent are wasted, indicating acute malnutrition. It also estimates that 10.5 per cent of children die before their fifth birthday.
Earlier this year, UNICEF Nigeria reported that six out of every 10 malnourished children in the country are concentrated in northern states such as Borno State, Adamawa State, Yobe State, Sokoto State, Katsina State, and Zamfara State.
The agency described the situation as critical and called for urgent, targeted interventions to tackle malnutrition and improve healthcare delivery, particularly in the most affected regions.
Overall, the reports paint a worrying picture of child health in Nigeria, underscoring the need for stronger investment in healthcare, nutrition, and social support systems to safeguard the future of the country’s children.
