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The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has revealed that a child born in Nigeria in 2019, is likely to live only to the year 2074 – 55 years of age. But a child born on the same day in Denmark or a Western country is likely to live up to the 22nd century.

According to the statement released by UNICEF, a child born in 2019 in any African country will likely not live up to 2100 or witness the beginning of the 22nd century. This is because most African children still die as a result of premature birth, complications during delivery, and infections such as sepsis and pneumonia.

“In Nigeria, only one out of every three babies is delivered in a health centre, decreasing a new-born baby’s chance of survival,” said Pernille Ironside, Acting Representative of UNICEF in Nigeria.

On New Year’s Day, 25,685 babies were born in Nigeria, representing up to 6.5% of the estimated 395,072 babies to be born globally on January 1, 2019.