I am afraid of numbers!

That's the truth…

I'll be upfront… mathematics was never my strength!
and I know that I am not alone…

no one likes being "the guy that gets numbers wrong."

However, I'll dissect some numbers today!

Going through numerous websites reporting on FGM, I can't help but notice one major problem… and it cuts across publications… local and international…

We are not mentioning absolute FGM numbers enough!

And if we don't mention the numbers, we risk missing the big picture!

Hear me out…

Percentage to me has always been the go-to indicator for action
in the End FGM campaign. When I first got involved in the campaign, I memorized Kenya’s 2014 FGM DHS statistics by ethnic group:

everyone seemed to know them by heart…

• Somali - 94%

• Samburu - 86%

• Kisii - 84%

• Maasai - 78%…

I never asked myself what those numbers meant.
No one seemed to care what those percentages represented either way!

My friend and I were having a conversation on successful end FGM interventions
when he said, "do you know that Nigeria has more FGM survivors than the total number of people that voted in our last general election?”

Now that was a serious claim! I had to confirm, and ALAS!

Nigeria has 20 million FGM survivors—more than the total number of people who voted in Kenya’s last election (14.4 million).

But… when you look at the percentage prevalence hierarchy, things look different!

Nigeria is just above Kenya on the FGM percentage scale. Nigeria has a 19.5% FGM prevalence, representing 20 million survivors, while Kenya has 14.8%, representing 4 million.

Then it hit me!

Looking at percentages alone can be pretty misleading!

Try this now…

Go to your search bar and type… "number of FGM survivors in _______ (country)"

What pops up?

Chances are that it's a percentage!

I started digging deeper online and quickly went down the rabbit hole, spending hours looking…

And I did some mathematics…

1. The number of FGM survivors in Nigeria is more than the entire population of Somalia.

2. The number of FGM survivors in Nigeria is more than 30 times the number of survivors in Djibouti

3. The number of FGM survivors in Nigeria is 5 times the number in Kenya…

For those who may not be familiar with the term prevalence, the closest synonym I can find is commonness. In the context of FGM, prevalence refers to how widespread the practice is among women and girls. It is measured as a percentage of the total female population in different datasets—such as by country, ethnic group, region etc.

Beyond Percentages: How can we Improve storytelling on FGM?

Recognize the Power of Absolute Numbers

Percentages are useful, but they don't always tell the full story. Always include absolute numbers (if you can get a hold of them) alongside prevalence rates to show the true scale of FGM.

Example: Instead of just saying "Nigeria has a 19.5% prevalence rate," say "Nigeria has 19.5% prevalence, representing 20 million survivors—more than the entire population of Somalia."

Put Numbers into Context

We may not immediately grasp the significance of a percentage or a large number, so relate it to something that is easy to understand.

Example: "The number of FGM survivors in Nigeria (20 million) is greater than the number of people who voted in Kenya’s last election (approximately 14.4 million)."

Such comparisons create an emotional impact but remain factual.

Define Key Terms for Accessibility

Not everyone understands "prevalence" or other statistical terms. Define them in simple language.

Example: "Prevalence means how common something is. In the case of FGM, it refers to the percentage of women in a given population who have undergone the practice."

Verify Numbers from Credible Sources

Before publishing, always fact-check using reliable sources like:

• DHS (Demographic and Health Surveys)

• UNICEF

• WHO

• National statistics bureaus etc.

Visuals to Simplify Complex Data

Infographics, maps, and charts help audiences/ decision-makers quickly grasp the scale of FGM. Instead of lengthy tables, show:

• Side-by-side comparisons of absolute numbers vs. percentages.

• Breakdowns in an easy-to-read format.

Break it down so we understand

Since many reports focus only on prevalence rankings, let's add context to the narrative by including absolute numbers. Show that countries with lower prevalence can still have a larger number of survivors.

Example: "Mali’s FGM prevalence is 89%, but the total number of survivors (10 million) is half of Nigeria’s 20 million, despite Nigeria having a lower prevalence (19.5%)."

Encourage a Shift in Advocacy and Funding Approaches

Policymakers and funders often focus on high-prevalence countries. But reporting absolute numbers can help distribute attention to places with large survivor populations that need urgent support.

Example: Nigeria, despite not having the highest prevalence, has a huge number of survivors—meaning survivor support programs must be scaled up significantly.

Capacity-build Journalists

Since many journalists are uncomfortable with numbers, organizations need to provide training on how to:

• Interpret and fact-check FGM data.

• Present statistics in a compelling, accessible way.

• Avoid common pitfalls in reporting.

Let’s talk among ourselves. Let’s think together!

Let’s discuss the importance of absolute numbers in FGM reporting. Encourage journalists, activists, and organizations to make this a standard practice.

A high prevalence but a smaller number of survivors doesn’t mean we should overlook them!

In fact, it could be an opportunity—targeted support in these communities could have a huge impact and help end FGM even faster.

– Jeremiah

If you want to see what campaigners go through ending FGM and how to better support them, check out the End FGM Live.

If you want to listen to in-depth personal journeys of campaigners ending FGM, listen to the End FGM Podcast

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