Nigeria
Leading cause: Heart Disease · 70% plant-based · 54.7 yr life expectancy · UHC 47/100
What People Eat
Cardiovascular and dietary profile drawn from WHO Global Health Estimates. Plant-based score reflects the share of whole plant foods (grains, legumes, vegetables, fruit, nuts) in the typical national diet.
Disease Burden
Leading cause of death: Heart Disease · 145 / 100k
Bars show each rate against the global range; the tick marks the world median.
Heart disease (145/100k) leads, and a 55-year life expectancy reflects heavy infectious-disease, maternal, and neonatal burdens rather than diet. The traditional diet of yam, cassava, beans, and leafy soups stays largely plant-based.
Healthcare System
Sources: WHO UHC Service Coverage Index (SDG 3.8.1) & WHO Global Health Expenditure Database. Latest available year.
What Could Improve
- Strengthening primary care, maternal health, and disease control is the decisive lever, not dietary change.
- Slow the urban rise of ultra-processed foods and sugary drinks now lifting CVD in cities.
Explore the evidence: Heart Disease
WHO Global Health Estimates · 2022 · age-standardized country data
→ 145 CVD deaths per 100k · 70% plant-based diet