About 23.6 per cent of paternity tests conducted by Smart DNA Nigeria returned negative results during the company’s 2025/2026 reporting period, according to its latest annual DNA Testing Report.
The report, released in Lagos on Sunday, August 24, 2026, showed that the proportion of negative paternity results declined slightly from 24.0 per cent recorded in the preceding reporting period and 26.1 per cent in 2023.
However, Smart DNA cautioned against interpreting the figure to mean that nearly one in four Nigerian children is not biologically related to the man regarded as their father.
What the 23.6% Paternity Result Means
According to the report, the 23.6 per cent figure represents only the population of people who sought DNA testing through Smart DNA during the reporting period.
The company stressed that its clients were not a random sample of Nigerian families. Instead, many had already developed doubts, concerns or other reasons for requesting DNA testing.
As a result, the findings cannot be used to estimate the prevalence of non-paternity among the wider Nigerian population.
Smart DNA said the distinction was important because presenting the figure as evidence that one in four Nigerian children is not biologically related to their presumed fathers would be misleading.
Most DNA Tests Were for Personal Reasons
The report found that 87 per cent of DNA tests conducted during the period were “Peace of Mind” tests.
These are privately initiated tests undertaken by individuals seeking confirmation of a biological relationship rather than for court proceedings, immigration applications or other official purposes.
The proportion increased from 83.7 per cent in the preceding reporting period, suggesting that personal concerns and the desire for certainty accounted for the overwhelming majority of DNA testing activity recorded by the company.
Immigration-related tests accounted for 9.7 per cent of recorded cases, while legal tests represented 1.9 per cent.
Avuncular testing accounted for one per cent, while prenatal testing represented 0.4 per cent of the recorded cases.
Older Men Accounted for Majority of Male Clients
The report also showed that older men made up the largest share of male clients whose ages were classified.
Men aged 41 years and above accounted for 48 per cent of the classified male records, while those between 31 and 40 represented another 35.8 per cent.
Combined, men above the age of 30 accounted for 83.8 per cent of the male testing population in the reported data.
The figures, however, describe the profile of people who sought testing through Smart DNA and should not be interpreted as a representation of DNA-testing behaviour among all Nigerian men.
Children Under Five Dominate Testing Population
Children aged five years and below accounted for 59.5 per cent of tested individuals, according to the report.
Smart DNA said the figure remained almost unchanged from the previous reporting period.
The concentration of testing among younger children may indicate that some families prefer to resolve questions concerning biological relationships at an early stage. However, the company noted that its data could not independently establish why parents or guardians chose to conduct the tests.
Lagos Leads DNA Testing Activity
Lagos accounted for 75.1 per cent of all classified cases during the reporting period, increasing from 69 per cent in the preceding period.
Within Lagos, Lekki recorded the highest number of named locations, followed by Ajah, Ikorodu, Yaba and Ikeja.
Lagos Mainland accounted for 61.6 per cent of cases with specific location classifications within the state.
Outside Lagos, Ogun recorded the highest level of testing activity, followed by Delta, Oyo, Rivers, Enugu, Edo, Abuja, Imo and Kwara.
The report said the increase in testing activity outside Lagos suggested that awareness and demand for DNA testing were gradually expanding to other parts of Nigeria.
Men Initiated Most DNA Testing Enquiries
Men initiated 78.6 per cent of recorded first contacts with Smart DNA during the reporting period, compared with 15.2 per cent initiated by women.
The remaining contacts were not identified in the information provided in the report.
The figures indicate that men accounted for the overwhelming majority of initial enquiries, although the data does not explain the individual circumstances that prompted each person to seek testing.
Yoruba Clients Recorded Highest Ethnic Share
The report also provided an ethnic distribution of clients, with Yoruba clients accounting for 52.6 per cent of the recorded cases.
Igbo clients represented 29.1 per cent, followed by Edo at 5.8 per cent.
A combined 5.4 per cent was attributed to Delta, Ijaw, Isoko, Urhobo and Itsekiri groups, while Hausa clients accounted for one per cent.
Smart DNA cautioned that the figures reflected its geographical and client base and should not be interpreted as evidence of differences in paternity behaviour among ethnic groups.
Why the Report Should Not Be Generalised to Nigeria
Smart DNA emphasised that its annual report does not represent a nationwide population survey.
The company said people who undergo paternity testing are more likely to have specific doubts or concerns about biological relationships than people who have never considered taking such a test.
This creates an important selection effect in interpreting the results.
In other words, the 23.6 per cent negative-result rate describes the outcomes within Smart DNA’s testing population, not the proportion of fathers or children affected by non-paternity across Nigeria.
The report therefore does not provide sufficient evidence to claim that 23.6 per cent of Nigerian fathers are raising children who are not biologically theirs.
DNA Tests Can Answer Biological Questions
The company said DNA testing can provide highly accurate answers to biological relationship questions when properly conducted and interpreted.
However, it noted that DNA results cannot independently explain the social, cultural, economic or relationship circumstances that led a family to seek testing.
This distinction is particularly important when discussing sensitive family matters, as test results may have consequences extending beyond the scientific finding itself.
Smart DNA Urges Public to Avoid Sensational Claims
Smart DNA urged members of the public to rely on evidence rather than rumours or sensational interpretations when discussing paternity testing and family relationships.
The company said its findings should be understood within the limitations of the dataset and should not be used to make broad claims about Nigerian families or ethnic groups.
The report’s findings come amid growing public interest in DNA testing in Nigeria, including its use for personal confirmation, immigration, legal proceedings and other relationship-testing purposes.
For readers interested in broader health and medical developments in Nigeria, The Bureau Journal also maintains a dedicated Health section covering healthcare, medical research, public health and health policy.
What the 2025/2026 Report Shows
Overall, the Smart DNA report points to a growing demand for DNA testing among Nigerians seeking certainty about biological relationships.
- 23.6 per cent of recorded paternity tests returned negative results.
- The negative-result rate fell from 24.0 per cent in the preceding reporting period.
- Peace of Mind tests accounted for 87 per cent of recorded DNA tests.
- Men aged 41 and above represented 48 per cent of classified male clients.
- Children aged five and below accounted for 59.5 per cent of tested individuals.
- Lagos accounted for 75.1 per cent of classified cases.
- Men initiated 78.6 per cent of recorded first contacts.
The figures provide an insight into the people seeking DNA testing through Smart DNA, but they should not be treated as a national estimate of non-paternity in Nigeria.
As with other health-related data, the context surrounding how the figures were collected is essential to understanding what they do—and do not—prove.
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