A new report by Statista has ranked Nigeria as the African country with the lowest life expectancy, with newborns in 2025 projected to live an average of 54.8 years. In contrast, Tunisia leads the continent with a projected life expectancy of 76.9 years, followed closely by Algeria (76.7), Cabo Verde (76.4), Morocco (75.7), and Mauritius (75.3).
According to Statista’s Forecast of Life Expectancy at Birth in Africa, North African and island nations continue to dominate the rankings due to stronger healthcare systems, higher living standards, and greater investment in education and social services. Across Africa, the average life expectancy stands at just over 64 years, underscoring wide disparities in health and living conditions across regions.
The bottom-ranked countries include Nigeria (54.8 years), Chad (55.4), Central African Republic (57.9), South Sudan (57.9), Lesotho (58.2), and Somalia (59.1).
Health experts say Nigeria’s poor ranking stems from high infant and maternal mortality, weak healthcare infrastructure, insecurity, poor nutrition, and rising cases of noncommunicable diseases.
Former president of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Prof. Francis Faduyile, noted that Nigeria’s high rate of child and maternal deaths significantly drags down the national average. “When many children die young and several adults perish prematurely, even a few elderly survivors cannot raise the average,” he explained.
Similarly, Prof. Emmanuel Ameh, a paediatric surgeon at the National Hospital, Abuja, said Nigeria’s persistently high infant and under-five mortality second only to India globally has a huge impact.
On mental health, Dr. Charles Umeh of the University of Lagos linked widespread insecurity and economic hardship to declining psychological well-being. “There is no health without mental health,” he stressed.
A food scientist at CAPPA, Bukola Olukemi-Odele, attributed worsening life expectancy to poor diet and economic hardship. She noted that the high cost of living has made nutritious food unaffordable, pushing many toward processed meals high in salt and sugar fueling heart disease and diabetes.
The 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) shows that while under-five mortality dropped slightly from 132 to 110 deaths per 1,000 live births since 2018, neonatal mortality rose from 39 to 41.
Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Salako, emphasized renewed focus on newborn health, announcing the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Initiative (MAMII) and the Nigeria Child Survival Action Plan (2025–2029) as key interventions.
Experts are calling on the government to urgently strengthen healthcare systems, address food insecurity, and promote preventive health measures. They warn that without decisive action, Nigeria’s life expectancy could decline even further in the coming years.
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