Nigeria: prevalence of female genital mutilation

As of 2018, 20 percent of surveyed women had undergone female genital mutilation. Compared to 2013, this figure decreased by five percentage points.

Female genital mutilation is defined by the World Health Organization as any procedure that involves partial or total removal of the external genitalia and/or injury to the female genital organs for non-therapeutic reasons.

Prevalence of female genital mutilation in Nigeria in 2013 and 2018, by area

Characteristic	2013	2018
Rural	19%	16%
Urban	32%	24%
Total	25%	20%

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Release date

October 2019

More information

Region

Nigeria

Survey time period

2013 and 2018

Number of respondents

26,705 respondents

Age group

15-49 years

Supplementary notes

The source adds the following information: "Female genital mutilation (FGM), also known as female genital cutting or female circumcision, is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as any procedure that involves partial or total removal of the external genitalia and/or injury to the female genital organs whether for cultural or any other non-therapeutic reason."

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