Smile Train

Nigeria

Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and the 8th most populous in the world. Only about half of the population has access to potable water and appropriate sanitation.

155 million people living in Nigeria

84% of population lives off less than $2 a day

51 average life expectancy age

29% attendance rate for secondary education

Report Card

60
local partnerships
150+
active partner surgeons
6,250+
smiles and counting
Email

Executive Summary

Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, is a nation of extremes. Great wealth and even greater poverty exist side by side. Though Nigeria’s economy is fast growing, illiteracy rates remain high while life expectancy and access to health care remain low. In this diverse country of more than 155 million, many children born with clefts are considered monsters. Some newborns are even killed because of their cleft.

Nigeria is a high priority country to Smile Train due to its high population, low GDP, and high percentage people living on less than $2 per day. Smile Train’s goal for the country is to increase cleft awareness throughout every community so that no child has to die because they are born with a cleft lip or palate.