Nigeria

The Zones in Nigeria with the highest FGM/C prevalence are South East (32.0% of women aged 15–49) and South West (30.0%).  The highest state prevalence is in Imo State, at 61.7%.  It should be noted that the data for some regions is based on relatively small numbers of women.  When population numbers are used, however, the priority states change from those with the highest percentages (Imo, Ekiti, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Kwara and Osun) to those with the highest numbers of affected girls/women – Lagos, Kaduna, Imo, Kano and Oyo.

The majority of Nigeria’s population (more than 50%) lives in rural areas.  Historically, FGM/C in Nigeria has been more likely to occur in rural areas, but in Nigeria 24.2% of women aged 15–49 and living in urban areas have undergone FGM/C, compared with 15.6% living in rural areas.  However, in recent years this appears to be changing:  16.3% of daughters aged 0–14 living in urban areas have experienced FGM/C, compared to 21.1% of those living in rural areas.

All ethnic groups practise FGM/C, although it is almost unheard of among the Tiv.  The group with the highest prevalence is the Yoruba (34.7% of women aged 15–49).

FGM prevalence is highest among Catholic women (24.5% of women aged 15–49) and lowest among Traditionalist women (11.9%, although this figure is based on a very small sample of women).

In most African countries, a mother’s level of education is a determining factor in whether her daughters will be cut.  The usual expectation is that a higher level of education is linked to a lower likelihood of FGM/C.  However, Nigerian women aged 15–49 with no formal education are the least likely to have undergone FGM/C (17.2%).  Prevalence is highest (25.6%) among women with a primary-level education, but the gap in prevalence between women with higher levels of education and lower levels of education is closing.

A similar situation is noted in relation to women’s economic statuses.  About 20% of women in Nigeria (aged 15–49) in the higher wealth quintiles have undergone FGM/C, compared with 16.4% in the lowest quintile.  Conversely, 9.8% of girls aged 0–14 and born to mothers in the wealthiest quintile have undergone FGM/C, compared with 26.6% in the lowest quintile.  This indicates that, whereas wealthier, better-educated women aged 15–49 are more likely to have undergone FGM/C than poorer, less-educated women in the same age-range, girls born to wealthier and better-educated women in Nigeria today are less likely to be cut than girls born to poorer, less-educated women.