A New report from The Federal Ministry of Health andSocial Welfare indicates that the life expectancy of Nigerians is 54.63 years, way below the global average.
The 2024 State of the Nation Health Report indicates though there is a slight improvement over life expectancy in 2022, Nigeria is still 25.5% below the global figure of 73.3 years.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines life expectancy as “the average number of years that a newborn could expect to live if they were to pass through life exposed to the sex and age-specific death rates prevailing at the time of their birth, for a specific year, in a given country, territory, or geographical area.”
This report which looked at the life expectancy in 200 countries, places Nigeria at the very bottom of the ladder in 200th place, below countries like Liberia and Somalia.
So why is the Nigerian figure so low? Well the report highlights ongoing health and socio-economic challenges.
It also states that Communicable diseases such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis contribute significantly to the disease burden, negatively impacting overall health outcomes and life expectancy.
Mass migration to urban areas at a rapid pace, with 54% of Nigerians now living in urban areas, driven by the search for better economic opportunities and access to essential services has also brought its own challenges, including a strain on infrastructure, pollution, and the growth of informal settlements, particularly in rapidly expanding cities like Abuja.
Economically, the report noted that Nigeria had seen notable growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which reached N60.9 trillion with a growth rate of 3.19% in 2024, up from 2.98% in 2023.
In spite of this growth, it is noted that the benefits remained unevenly distributed, with 63% of Nigerians living in multidimensional poverty and facing challenges in health, education, and living standards.
It highlighted that gender and age disparities persisted, with women, particularly in rural areas, facing higher poverty levels, limited access to healthcare, and lower educational attainment compared to men.
According to the report, the unemployment rate among young people aged 15 to 24 years was high, at 8.4%, with young women being disproportionately affected.
“These socioeconomic disparities have far-reaching implications for health outcomes, as poverty and unemployment are closely linked to poor health and limited access to healthcare services.
The report, a publication of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of Nigeria’s health status and draws from a wide range of sources to offer insights into public health, health policies, and social determinants of health, guiding policymakers and healthcare providers in their efforts to improve health for all Nigerians.
Editor: Anoyoyo Ogiagboviogie
