Number of armed conflicts in Nigeria
Nigeria: Number of armed conflicts was 8 conflicts in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Number of armed conflicts in Nigeria, 1989–2025
Source: Uppsala Conflict Data Program and Peace Research Institute Oslo (2026); geoBoundaries (2023) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in conflicts.
Analysis
In 2025, number of armed conflicts in Nigeria stood at 8 conflicts. That is the highest value across all 37 years on record.
The figure is up 166.7% on the previous year and up 166.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of armed conflicts in Nigeria peaked at 8 conflicts in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0 conflicts, in 1989.
Nigeria ranks 1st of 197 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of armed conflicts in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | conflicts | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 0 conflicts | — |
| 1990 | 1 conflicts | — |
| 1991 | 0 conflicts | -100.0% |
| 1992 | 0 conflicts | — |
| 1993 | 0 conflicts | — |
| 1994 | 2 conflicts | — |
| 1995 | 0 conflicts | -100.0% |
| 1996 | 0 conflicts | — |
| 1997 | 0 conflicts | — |
| 1998 | 1 conflicts | — |
| 1999 | 2 conflicts | +100.0% |
| 2000 | 1 conflicts | -50.0% |
| 2001 | 1 conflicts | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 1 conflicts | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 2 conflicts | +100.0% |
| 2004 | 1 conflicts | -50.0% |
| 2005 | 0 conflicts | -100.0% |
| 2006 | 0 conflicts | — |
| 2007 | 0 conflicts | — |
| 2008 | 1 conflicts | — |
| 2009 | 0 conflicts | -100.0% |
| 2010 | 1 conflicts | — |
| 2011 | 2 conflicts | +100.0% |
| 2012 | 2 conflicts | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 1 conflicts | -50.0% |
| 2014 | 2 conflicts | +100.0% |
| 2015 | 3 conflicts | +50.0% |
| 2016 | 3 conflicts | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 2 conflicts | -33.3% |
| 2018 | 4 conflicts | +100.0% |
| 2019 | 3 conflicts | -25.0% |
| 2020 | 3 conflicts | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 6 conflicts | +100.0% |
| 2022 | 4 conflicts | -33.3% |
| 2023 | 5 conflicts | +25.0% |
| 2024 | 3 conflicts | -40.0% |
| 2025 | 8 conflicts | +166.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 conflicts | 0 conflicts | 0 conflicts | 1 |
| 1990s | 0.6 conflicts | 0 conflicts | 2 conflicts | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.7 conflicts | 0 conflicts | 2 conflicts | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.3 conflicts | 1 conflicts | 4 conflicts | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.83 conflicts | 3 conflicts | 8 conflicts | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More social development data for Nigeria
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 123,848 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 478,150 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 4 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 4 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.002 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 478,150 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0005 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of armed conflicts in Nigeria?
- Number of armed conflicts in Nigeria was 8 conflicts in 2025, according to Uppsala Conflict Data Program and Peace Research Institute Oslo (2026); geoBoundaries (2023) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of armed conflicts recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 8 conflicts in 2025.
- What is the lowest number of armed conflicts recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 conflicts in 1989.
- How does Nigeria rank for number of armed conflicts?
- Nigeria ranks 1st out of 197 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of armed conflicts rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 166.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from Uppsala Conflict Data Program and Peace Research Institute Oslo (2026); geoBoundaries (2023) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of armed conflicts. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Included is one-sided violence that was ongoing that year.