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How Many Nigerians Have Depression or Anxiety? [2025 Statistics]
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📊 Statistics & Data Report — With Charts & Infographics
Nigeria
Mental Health
Depression
Anxiety
WHO 2025
GBD 2024
How Many Nigerians Have Depression or Anxiety? [2025 Statistics]
Over 40 million Nigerians live with a mental health disorder — yet more than 90% will never receive professional treatment. Depression and anxiety are the most common conditions. Every number below is sourced, verified, and visualised.
🔬 Primary Answer
40 Million+
Nigerians living with mental health disorders — including ~7 million with depression and ~4.9 million with anxiety disorders. Treated: fewer than 1 in 10.
Sources: WHO · TC Health Nigeria 2024 · Lagos State Mental Health Survey · GBD 2021 · Healthnika 2025
🔍 Commonly Searched Topics
- How many Nigerians have depression?
- Nigeria mental health statistics 2024 2025
- Signs of depression and anxiety in Nigeria
- Where to get mental health help in Nigeria
- Nigeria psychiatrists shortage treatment gap
- Depression treatment cost Nigeria
🌍 Who Reads This Post
- Nigerians experiencing depression or anxiety
- Family members seeking help for loved ones
- Pharmacists, doctors and community health workers
- Public health students and researchers
- NGOs, mental health advocates and policymakers
- Journalists covering health in Nigeria
🌐
Section 1 — Global Picture
Global Mental Health — 2025 Data
Mental health disorders affect more people than cancer, diabetes, and HIV combined. The WHO World Mental Health Report 2022 and Global Burden of Disease study give us the definitive global figures — the context in which Nigeria's crisis must be understood.
970M
People globally with any mental disorder
1 in 8 people on earth lives with a mental health condition — the most common are anxiety (301M) and depression (280M). Despite this, global mental health budgets average less than 2% of total health spending.
WHO World Mental Health Report 2022 · GBD 2021
280M
People globally with depression
Depression is the world's leading cause of disability (years lived with disability). It affects 3.8% of the global population, with women affected at roughly twice the rate of men. Rates rose 25% during COVID-19.
WHO / GBD 2021 · MDPI Healthcare 2024
301M
People globally with anxiety disorders
Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent mental health condition globally — encompassing GAD, panic disorder, social anxiety, PTSD, and specific phobias. Women are affected at about 1.7× the rate of men.
WHO / GBD 2021 · BusinessTats 2026
$5–6T
Annual global economic cost of mental disorders
Lost productivity, healthcare costs, and premature mortality from mental illness cost the global economy $5–6 trillion annually. Sub-Saharan Africa alone loses approximately 4% of GDP to mental disorders.
Lancet Commission / GBD Economic Valuation 2022
<2%
Of global health budgets allocated to mental health
Despite affecting 1 in 8 people, mental health receives below 2% of global health budgets on average — and under 1% in many African countries including Nigeria. High-income countries allocate 6–11%.
WHO Mental Health Atlas 2020 · PMC 2025
12.1%
Lifetime prevalence of any mental disorder — Nigeria national survey
The National Survey of Mental Health and Well-being found 12.1% lifetime prevalence of any mental disorder in Nigeria and 5.8% twelve-month prevalence — with fewer than 8% of affected individuals receiving any treatment.
National Survey of Mental Health & Well-being · Nigeria
🚨 Nigeria's Mental Health Crisis in Numbers
Over 40 million Nigerians live with a mental health disorder — yet more than 90% receive no professional treatment whatsoever
Nigeria's crisis is defined by three compounding failures: a catastrophic workforce shortage (only ~250 psychiatrists for 220+ million people), a treatment gap exceeding 90% — among the highest globally — and deep stigma that frames mental illness as spiritual failure. Nigeria's suicide rate doubled between 2020 and 2023. Mental health facilities across major cities are reporting over 200% rises in daily case intake. The annual economic burden of mental disorders in Nigeria exceeds ₦21 billion.
Sources: WHO AFRO · Healthnika Oct 2025 · TC Health Nigeria 2024 · PMC Cambridge Global Mental Health 2024 · JCMCRI 2025📊
Chart 1 — How Many Nigerians
Estimated Nigerians Affected by Mental Health Disorders
The best available estimates for each major mental health condition in Nigeria, drawn from WHO data, the Global Burden of Disease study, and the National Survey of Mental Health and Well-being. Numbers have grown since 2017 due to economic crisis, insecurity, and post-COVID effects.
Estimated Nigerians Affected by Mental Health Disorders
WHO · GBD · LSMHS · National Survey
🇳🇬
Section 2 — Nigeria Deep Dive
Nigeria's Mental Health Crisis — The Hard Numbers
Nigeria's mental health burden is simultaneously vast in scale, severe in impact, and catastrophically under-resourced. The country's 220+ million people carry one of the heaviest untreated mental health burdens on earth.
Nigeria Mental Health Statistics 2025
Most data-poor, most under-resourced
~7M
Nigerians with depressive disorders (3.9% of pop.)
WHO · TC Health Nigeria 2024~4.9M
Nigerians with anxiety disorders (2.7% of pop.)
WHO · TC Health Nigeria 2024>90%
Treatment gap — those with NO professional help
PMC Global Disparities Study 2025250
Psychiatrists serving 220M+ Nigerians (1 per 800,000)
PMC Cambridge Global MH 20245.5%
Current depression prevalence in Lagos (LSMHS household survey)
Lagos State Mental Health Survey3.5%
Current generalised anxiety prevalence in Lagos
Lagos State Mental Health Survey2×
Nigeria's suicide rate doubled from 2020 to 2023
Healthnika / Experts · October 2025₦21B+
Annual economic burden of mental disorders
Healthnika / Association of PsychiatristsNigeria has an estimated 7 million people with depressive disorders (3.9% of the population) and 4.9 million with anxiety disorders (2.7%). The Lagos State Mental Health Survey (LSMHS) — the most rigorous household mental health survey ever conducted in Nigeria, with 11,246 adult participants — found current depression symptom prevalence of 5.5% and generalised anxiety of 3.5% in Lagos. Both figures are likely underestimates for Nigeria nationally, where economic hardship, conflict, and stigma-driven underreporting are more severe outside Lagos.
The most alarming figure is the treatment gap: more than 90% of Nigerians with mental disorders receive no professional treatment — placing Nigeria among the highest treatment gaps globally. With only ~250 psychiatrists for 220+ million people (approximately 1 per 800,000 — versus the WHO recommended 1 per 10,000), the system literally cannot scale to the need even if stigma was eliminated tomorrow. Nine psychiatric hospitals serve the entire country.
The crisis is worsening rapidly. Nigeria's suicide rate doubled between 2020 and 2023. A 2024 PLOS One cross-national study found Nigerian university students and staff reported the highest prevalence of severe and extremely severe mental health conditions of all sub-Saharan African countries surveyed. Mental health facilities in major cities are reporting over 200% increases in daily case intake. The annual economic burden exceeds ₦21 billion.
🍩
Chart 2 — Prevalence & Treatment Access
Who Is Affected — and Who Gets Help
The Lagos State Mental Health Survey provides the most rigorous breakdown of current mental health prevalence. The second chart shows how shockingly few of those affected actually access care — the defining failure of Nigeria's mental health system.
Current Depression Prevalence — Lagos Adults
- Have depression symptoms5.5%
- No depression symptoms94.5%
- Both depression & anxiety1.2%
Nigeria's Mental Health Treatment Gap
- Receive NO treatment>90%
- Receive some treatment<10%
- Treated adequately<8%
Chart 3 — Global Treatment Gap Comparison
Nigeria vs the World — Who Gets Mental Health Treatment?
Nigeria's 90%+ treatment gap is among the worst globally. Even in high-income countries where 20–30% go untreated, the system failures are considered crises. In Nigeria, over 9 in 10 people with a diagnosable condition receive nothing.
Mental Health Treatment Gap by Country — 2025
Percentage of people with a diagnosable mental illness who receive NO professional treatment
🇳🇬 Nigeria
>90%
🌍 Kenya
>85%
🌍 SSA avg.
~80%
🌐 Global LMIC avg.
~75%
🇧🇷 Brazil
~55%
🇺🇸 United States
~25%
🇬🇧 UK
~20%
Chart 4 — Workforce Crisis
The Psychiatrist Crisis — Why Treatment Is Inaccessible
The single greatest structural barrier to mental health care in Nigeria is the catastrophic shortage of professionals. Nigeria has approximately 1 psychiatrist per 800,000 people. The WHO recommended minimum is 1 per 10,000 — Nigeria is 80 times below that standard.
Psychiatrists per 100,000 Population — Country Comparison
WHO Atlas · PMC 2025
Nigeria has 0.125 psychiatrists per 100,000 population — approximately 80 times below the WHO recommended minimum of 10 per 100,000
⚕️
Section 3 — Causes & Risk Factors
What Drives Depression and Anxiety in Nigeria
Nigeria's mental health crisis does not arise in a vacuum. Six specific economic, social, and structural factors compound risk — and also determine who gets help and who does not.
Economic Hardship
Nigeria's economic crisis — inflation exceeding 30%, mass unemployment, and naira devaluation — is a primary driver of mental health deterioration. Loss of income is the most commonly cited trigger of depression presentations in Nigerian facilities. Poverty and food insecurity are directly linked to both depression and anxiety.
Primary Driver
Conflict & Displacement
Over 3.2 million Nigerians are internally displaced by conflict. Studies show close to 60% of IDPs in Kaduna State had probable depression, and 16% had definite depression. Persistent insecurity, trauma, and loss drive PTSD, anxiety, and depression — particularly in the North-East, North-West, and parts of the South-East.
High Risk Group
Youth & University Crisis
A 2024 PLOS One study found Nigerian university students reported the highest prevalence of severe and extremely severe mental health conditions across sub-Saharan Africa. Social comparison, cyberbullying, economic anxiety, and graduate unemployment are driving a youth mental health crisis that is dramatically underrecognised and undertreated.
Growing Crisis
Substance Use Comorbidity
Substance use disorders — alcohol, cannabis, opioids, and stimulants — are both a cause and a consequence of depression and anxiety in Nigeria. Self-medication with substances is common when professional care is inaccessible. Nigeria has millions with comorbid substance use and mental health disorders — the "dual diagnosis" population is almost entirely untreated.
Bidirectional Link
Stigma & Traditional Beliefs
Cultural and religious framing of mental illness as spiritual failure, witchcraft, or moral weakness remains the single greatest barrier to treatment in Nigeria. Many Nigerians seek help from traditional or faith healers — sometimes experiencing further harm. Stigma affects both patients and the healthcare workers who could treat them.
Biggest Barrier
Genetic & Biological Factors
Genetic predisposition is a recognised risk factor for depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Having a first-degree relative with a mental health condition significantly increases personal risk. In Nigeria, where mental illness is often undiagnosed across generations, the true multigenerational burden is almost certainly underestimated.
Recognised Risk
📅
Chart 5 — Policy & Crisis Timeline
Nigeria's Mental Health Journey — 1991 to 2025
From a first national policy in 1991 that went largely unimplemented for 32 years, to landmark legislation in 2023, to the WHO AFRO endorsement of mhGAP — Nigeria's mental health story is one of long neglect interrupted by moments of real policy progress.
1991
Nigeria's first National Mental Health Policy adopted — then largely ignored for 32 years
Nigeria's first mental health policy is adopted in 1991, including adopting mental health as the ninth component of primary healthcare. Despite this, the policy is not implemented at community level for over three decades. Nine colonial-era psychiatric hospitals remain the entire national infrastructure for what would become a 200+ million-person population.
Source: FMOH Nigeria · JCMCRI Systematic Review 2025 · Healthnika 2025
2017
WHO/GBD data: 7 million Nigerians with depression, 4.9 million with anxiety disorders
Global Burden of Disease estimates reveal 7 million Nigerians (3.9%) live with depressive disorders and 4.9 million (2.7%) with anxiety disorders. The treatment gap already exceeds 90%. Nigeria has only about 130 functional psychiatrists at this time, with brain drain continuing to deplete the workforce.
Source: WHO · TC Health Nigeria 2024 · GBD 2017
2018
Lagos State Mental Health Survey — the most rigorous household study of mental health in Nigeria
The LSMHS, conducted with 11,246 adults in face-to-face household interviews, finds current depression prevalence of 5.5% and generalised anxiety of 3.5% in Lagos. This remains the most methodologically rigorous mental health prevalence study ever conducted in Nigeria, and its figures are used as the benchmark for national estimates.
Source: Adewuya AO et al. Comprehensive Psychiatry 2018 · PubMed 29268153
2020–2021
COVID-19 dramatically worsens Nigeria's mental health — global depression rises 25%
The COVID-19 pandemic and associated economic lockdowns cause a dramatic surge in depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders across Nigeria. Globally, depression and anxiety prevalence rises 25–28% in 2020 alone. Nigeria, simultaneously experiencing economic collapse and security deterioration, is especially hard hit. Mental health facilities begin reporting unprecedented case loads.
Source: WHO World Mental Health Report 2022 · GBD 2021
January 2023
🏛️ Nigeria's Mental Health Act signed into law — a landmark moment after decades of advocacy
The National Mental Health Act 2021 is signed into law in January 2023. Key provisions include human rights-based protections for people with mental illness, a framework for integrating mental health into primary healthcare, and provisions for mental health insurance coverage. 27 of 36 states now have dedicated mental health units in their public health departments. WHO's mhGAP 3.0 framework is contextualised and endorsed by Nigeria's National Council on Health.
Source: Healthnika 2025 · WHO AFRO Nigeria · PMC Cambridge 2024
October 2025
🚨 World Mental Health Day: 85% of Nigerians with disorders unreached; suicide rate doubled since 2020
On World Mental Health Day 2025, Nigeria's Association of Psychiatrists confirms that with 40+ million Nigerians living with mental disorders and only ~200 psychiatrists serving the whole country, over 85% lack access to any reliable mental health services. Nigeria's suicide rate has doubled from 2020 to 2023. Mental health facilities report 200%+ rises in daily case intake. The economic burden exceeds ₦21 billion annually.
Source: Healthnika · Association of Psychiatrists of Nigeria · October 10, 2025
🌍
Section 4 — Regional Context
Nigeria vs Africa — Mental Health Prevalence
Nigeria's figures sit within a broader African mental health crisis — but Nigeria's combination of scale, economic hardship, and workforce shortfall makes its treatment gap among the worst anywhere. For context, even the United States still fails to treat 25% of its mentally ill population.
🇳🇬
Nigeria
12.1%
Lifetime prevalence of any mental disorder (national survey)
National Survey of MH & Well-being
🇿🇦
South Africa
30%
Lifetime prevalence of any mental disorder
PMC / National Mental Health Survey SA
🇰🇪
Kenya
25%
Estimated adults who may experience a mental health condition
WHO Kenya estimates · ACRNHEALTH 2025
🌍
Africa avg.
12.5%
12-month prevalence of mental disorders across sub-Saharan Africa
ACRNHEALTH 2025 · WHO Africa
🇺🇸
United States
23.4%
Adults who experienced mental illness in 2024
SAMHSA · ACRNHEALTH 2025
🌐
Global
12.5%
1 in 8 people globally lives with any mental health disorder
WHO World Mental Health Report 2022
📋
Section 5 — Quick Reference Data
All Key Statistics at a Glance
Nigeria Mental Health — Master Data Table
Cite with attribution to enavecpharmacy.com
| Statistic | Figure | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global: people with any mental disorder | 970 million | 2022 | WHO World Mental Health Report 2022 |
| Global: people with depression | 280 million (3.8%) | 2022 | WHO / GBD 2021 |
| Global: people with anxiety disorders | 301 million (4%) | 2022 | WHO / GBD 2021 |
| Nigeria: estimated all mental disorders | >40 million | 2024 | WHO · TC Health Nigeria · Healthnika 2025 |
| Nigeria: depressive disorders | ~7 million (3.9%) | 2017+ | WHO · TC Health Nigeria 2024 |
| Nigeria: anxiety disorders | ~4.9 million (2.7%) | 2017+ | WHO · TC Health Nigeria 2024 |
| Nigeria: lifetime prevalence any mental disorder | 12.1% | Survey | National Survey of Mental Health & Well-being |
| Nigeria: 12-month prevalence any mental disorder | 5.8% | Survey | National Survey of Mental Health & Well-being |
| Lagos: current depression symptom prevalence | 5.5% | 2018 | Lagos State Mental Health Survey (LSMHS) |
| Lagos: current generalised anxiety prevalence | 3.5% | 2018 | Lagos State Mental Health Survey (LSMHS) |
| Lagos: co-morbid depression & anxiety | 1.2% | 2018 | Lagos State Mental Health Survey (LSMHS) |
| Nigeria: treatment gap | >90% | 2025 | PMC Global Disparities Study 2025 |
| Nigeria: proportion receiving any treatment | <8% | Survey | National Survey of Mental Health & Well-being |
| Nigeria: psychiatrists total | ~250 | 2024 | PMC Cambridge Global Mental Health 2024 |
| Nigeria: psychiatrists per 100,000 population | ~0.125 | 2024 | PMC / Association of Psychiatrists of Nigeria |
| Nigeria: psychiatric hospitals nationwide | 9 | 2025 | Healthnika 2025 |
| Nigeria: severe MH needs who cannot access care | 80–85% | 2024 | Fadele et al. Cambridge Global MH 2024 |
| Nigeria: IDPs with probable depression | ~60% in Kaduna | 2024 | TC Health Nigeria 2024 |
| Nigeria: annual economic burden of mental disorders | >₦21 billion | 2025 | Healthnika · Association of Psychiatrists |
| Nigeria: suicide rate change 2020–2023 | Doubled | 2023 | Healthnika · World Mental Health Day 2025 |
| States with mental health units (of 36) | 27 + FCT | 2025 | WHO AFRO · Dr Ojo interview 2025 |
📌
Section 6 — Key Takeaways
What the Data Tells Us
-
1Over 40 million Nigerians live with mental health disorders — 7 million with depression, 4.9 million with anxiety — yet fewer than 1 in 10 receives any treatment. These numbers represent a population larger than Ghana living with diagnosable, treatable conditions that are destroying productivity, relationships, and lives. The economic cost exceeds ₦21 billion annually. This is not a niche health issue — it is one of Nigeria's largest public health crises. (WHO · TC Health Nigeria 2024 · Healthnika 2025)
-
2Nigeria's 90%+ treatment gap is not primarily a patient problem — it is a system problem. With only ~250 psychiatrists for 220+ million people — 80 times fewer than the WHO minimum standard — even if every Nigerian with a mental disorder tried to access care tomorrow, the system could not come close to providing it. Building the mental health workforce is the most urgent structural intervention. (PMC Global Disparities 2025 · PMC Cambridge 2024)
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3The 2023 Mental Health Act is a landmark — but implementation is the real test. Signing the National Mental Health Act was historic. 27 states now have mental health units in their public health departments. WHO's mhGAP 3.0 has been endorsed. These are measurable wins. The urgent need is funding, training, and community-level deployment — without which the legislation remains words on paper. (WHO AFRO · Healthnika 2025)
-
4Stigma is the invisible multiplier that makes every other barrier worse. Even where mental health services exist, Nigerians frequently avoid them because mental illness is still widely framed as spiritual failure or social shame. This prevents early help-seeking, causes crises that could have been averted, and drives the suicide rate that doubled from 2020 to 2023. Destigmatisation is not a "nice to have" — it is a clinical intervention that saves lives. (Frontiers Public Health 2023 · TC Health Nigeria)
-
5The community pharmacy is an untapped frontline mental health resource in Nigeria. With ~250 psychiatrists and thousands of community pharmacies, pharmacists are already the most accessible health professionals in Nigeria. They can screen for depression and anxiety (PHQ-9, GAD-7), provide psychoeducation and stigma reduction, ensure medication adherence, and make timely referrals. In a country with this workforce crisis, the pharmacy is the mental health touchpoint that already exists at community level — and it is waiting to be activated.
❓
Section 7 — Frequently Asked Questions
Your Questions Answered
Based on WHO and Global Burden of Disease data, approximately 7 million Nigerians (3.9% of the population) live with depressive disorders. The Lagos State Mental Health Survey — the most rigorous household study ever conducted in Nigeria (11,246 adult participants) — found a current depression symptom prevalence of 5.5% in Lagos alone. At 5.5% applied to Nigeria's estimated 140 million adults, that would suggest approximately 7–8 million Nigerians may be experiencing current depressive symptoms. The National Survey of Mental Health and Well-being found a 12-month prevalence of all mental disorders at 5.8%, with depression and anxiety the most common conditions. (Sources: WHO · TC Health Nigeria 2024 · LSMHS 2018 · National Survey of MH & Well-being)
Depression symptoms: persistent sadness or low mood lasting more than 2 weeks; loss of interest in things you used to enjoy; fatigue and lack of energy; difficulty concentrating or making decisions; feelings of worthlessness or guilt; changes in appetite or sleep; and in severe cases, thoughts of death or suicide. Anxiety symptoms: persistent, excessive worry; restlessness or feeling on edge; difficulty concentrating; muscle tension; sleep problems; and physical symptoms such as racing heart, sweating, or trembling. Important for Nigeria: Depression and anxiety frequently present through physical symptoms in Nigerian settings — headaches, chest pain, "body pain," or general weakness — rather than directly as sadness. This "somatic presentation" leads to frequent misdiagnosis. If you have had unexplained physical symptoms for more than 2 weeks with no clear medical cause, speak to a doctor or pharmacist about screening for depression. (Sources: WHO · LSMHS 2018 · PMC)
Mental health support is available through several routes in Nigeria: (1) Federal neuropsychiatric hospitals — 9 across Nigeria including Yaba (Lagos), Uselu (Benin City), Aro (Abeokuta), Dawaki (Abuja). (2) Teaching hospital psychiatry departments — all federal and state teaching hospitals have psychiatry outpatient services. (3) mhGAP-trained primary care workers — many PHCs in all 27 states with mental health units now have workers trained to assess and treat common mental disorders including depression and anxiety. (4) NGOs and helplines — She Writes Woman (suicide hotline: 0800 800 0001 — free), Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative (MANI), NEEM Foundation. (5) Teletherapy platforms — several Nigerian platforms including Sochiatry, Wellbeing Africa, and others offer online therapy. (6) Your community pharmacist — pharmacists can screen, educate, and refer. Start there if you do not know where to go. (Sources: WHO AFRO Nigeria · Healthnika 2025)
Yes — both conditions are highly treatable. Effective options available in Nigeria include: Talking therapies (CBT) — Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is the most evidence-based treatment for both depression and anxiety, and is increasingly available via teletherapy. Antidepressant medication — SSRIs (fluoxetine, sertraline, escitalopram) are effective for both conditions. WHO mhGAP has trained Nigerian primary care workers to prescribe first-line antidepressants safely. Exercise — Regular aerobic exercise has been shown in clinical trials to reduce depressive and anxiety symptoms comparably to mild antidepressant treatment. Social support and community — Strong evidence supports structured social support in reducing depression severity. The major barrier in Nigeria is not the absence of treatments — it is accessing them through the 90%+ treatment gap. If you are experiencing symptoms, please contact a helpline, a pharmacist, or a doctor. (Sources: WHO mhGAP · National Mental Health Act 2023)
Several compounding factors explain Nigeria's mental health underfunding: (1) Budget allocation — Nigeria allocates less than 1% of its health budget to mental health, versus the WHO recommendation of at least 10%. (2) The "invisible illness" problem — Mental health conditions lack visible physical markers, making them politically less tractable than diseases with obvious suffering. (3) Stigma at policy level — Policymakers who view mental illness through a spiritual or moral lens are unlikely to fund it as a medical priority. (4) 32 years of policy inaction — Nigeria's first mental health policy (1991) was essentially ignored until the 2023 Act. (5) Brain drain — Trained psychiatrists and psychologists emigrate to higher-income countries at significant rates. The 2023 Mental Health Act and WHO's engagement are beginning to address these gaps — but a costed, funded national mental health action plan remains the critical missing piece. (Sources: PMC Cambridge 2024 · WHO AFRO · Healthnika 2025 · JCMCRI 2025)
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📎
📎 How to Cite This Page
APA Format
Enavec Pharmacy. (2025, April). How many Nigerians have depression or anxiety? [2025 statistics]. Enavec Pharmacy. https://enavecpharmacy.com/nigeria-depression-anxiety-statistics
MLA Format
Enavec Pharmacy. "How Many Nigerians Have Depression or Anxiety? [2025 Statistics]." Enavec Pharmacy, April 2025, enavecpharmacy.com/nigeria-depression-anxiety-statistics.
Plain Text
Source: Enavec Pharmacy (April 2025). Nigeria Depression & Anxiety Statistics [2025]. Retrieved from enavecpharmacy.com/nigeria-depression-anxiety-statistics
📚 Primary Sources & Methodology
Every statistic on this page is sourced from WHO, peer-reviewed journals, the National Survey of Mental Health and Well-being, or the Lagos State Mental Health Survey. All sources are named, dated, and verifiable. No figures are extrapolated without citation.
1
WHO World Mental Health Report 2022. Geneva: World Health Organization. Global statistics on mental disorder prevalence, disability burden, treatment gaps, and health system investment. who.int/publications/i/item/9789240049338
2
TC Health Nigeria. "Nigeria's Mental Health Crisis: A Mind-Boggling Burden on 40 Million Minds." March 2024. tchealthng.com — citing WHO GBD 2017 prevalence data on depression and anxiety in Nigeria.
3
Healthnika. "World Mental Health Day: 85% unreached as Nigeria buckles under massive care gap." October 10, 2025. healthnika.com — Association of Psychiatrists of Nigeria data; suicide rate doubling; ₦21B economic burden.
4
Adewuya AO et al. "Current prevalence, comorbidity and associated factors for symptoms of depression and generalised anxiety in the Lagos State Mental Health Survey (LSMHS)." Comprehensive Psychiatry. 2018;81:60–65. PubMed 29268153.
5
Fadele KP, Igwe SC et al. "Mental health challenges in Nigeria: Bridging the gap between demand and resources." Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health. 2024;11:e29. doi:10.1017/gmh.2024.19 · PMC10988134.
6
PMC. "Global Disparities in Mental Health Systems: A Comparative Cross-sectional Study of Ten Countries." 2025. PMC12531183 — includes Nigeria treatment gap >90% figure, psychiatrist density data.
7
Ike OO et al. "Cross-National variations in mental health: depression, anxiety, and stress among university staff and students in Sub-Saharan Africa." PLOS One. June 3, 2025. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0322163
8
WHO AFRO Nigeria. "Nigeria strengthens mental health response using public health perspective." Interview with Dr Tunde Massey-Ferguson Ojo, National Mental Health Programme coordinator. afro.who.int 2025.
9
JCMCRI. "Mental health challenges in Nigeria: Bridging the Gap Between Demand and Resources." Systematic review of 27 empirical studies 2020–2024. jcmcrimages.org · March 2025.
10
ACRNHEALTH. "Mental Health in Africa: The Next Frontier for Public Health and Human Development." November 4, 2025 — includes Nigeria national survey data, regional comparisons, and treatment access statistics.
11
Liu J et al. "Estimation of the Global Disease Burden of Depression and Anxiety 1990–2044: Analysis of GBD 2019." Healthcare. 2024;12(17):1721. doi:10.3390/healthcare12171721
12
Abubakar AK et al. "Prevalence of mental health illness in Nigeria: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis." Systematic Reviews / Springer Nature Link. September 26, 2025. doi:10.1186/s13643-025-02934-9
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