Cairo, in Egypt, ranked as the most populated city in Africa as of 2025, with an estimated population of over 23 million inhabitants living in Greater Cairo. Kinshasa, in Congo, and Lagos, in Nigeria, followed with some 17.8 million and 17.2 million, respectively. Among the 15 largest cities in the continent, another one, Kano, was located in Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa. Population density trends in Africa As of 2023, Africa exhibited a population density of 50.1 individuals per square kilometer. Since 2000, the population density across the continent has been experiencing a consistent annual increment. Projections indicated that the average population residing within each square kilometer would rise to approximately 58.5 by the year 2030. Moreover, Mauritius stood out as the African nation with the most elevated population density, exceeding 627 individuals per square kilometre. Mauritius possesses one of the most compact territories on the continent, a factor that significantly influences its high population density. Urbanization dynamics in Africa The urbanization rate in Africa was anticipated to reach close to 45.5 percent in 2024. Urbanization across the continent has consistently risen since 2000, with urban areas accommodating only around a third of the total population then. This trajectory is projected to continue its rise in the years ahead. Nevertheless, the distribution between rural and urban populations shows remarkable diversity throughout the continent. In 2024, Gabon and Libya stood out as Africa’s most urbanized nations, each surpassing 80 percent urbanization. As of the same year, Africa's population was estimated to expand by 2.27 percent compared to the preceding year. Since 2000, the population growth rate across the continent has consistently exceeded 2.3 percent, reaching its pinnacle at 2.63 percent in 2013. Although the growth rate has experienced a deceleration, Africa's population will persistently grow significantly in the forthcoming years.

Estimate population figures at state administrative level and different age groups

Lagos is Nigeria's largest city and commercial capital. Lagos is among the top ten of the world's fastest-growing cities and urban areas. The megacity has the fourth highest GDP in Africa and houses one of the largest and busiest seaports of the continent.

The goal is to determine the population growth rate from 2007 to 2024, also to build a machine learning model to predict the population in 2025

As of July 2024, Nigeria's population was estimated at around 229.5 million. Between 1965 and 2024, the number of people living in Nigeria increased at an average rate of over two percent. In 2024, the population grew by 2.42 percent compared to the previous year. Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa. By extension, the African continent records the highest growth rate in the world. Africa's most populous country Nigeria was the most populous country in Africa as of 2023. As of 2022, Lagos held the distinction of being Nigeria's biggest urban center, a status it also retained as the largest city across all of sub-Saharan Africa. The city boasted an excess of 17.5 million residents. Notably, Lagos assumed the pivotal roles of the nation's primary financial hub, cultural epicenter, and educational nucleus. Furthermore, Lagos was one of the largest urban agglomerations in the world. Nigeria's youthful population In Nigeria, a significant 50 percent of the populace is under the age of 19. The most prominent age bracket is constituted by those up to four years old: comprising 8.3 percent of men and eight percent of women as of 2021. Nigeria boasts one of the world's most youthful populations. On a broader scale, both within Africa and internationally, Niger maintains the lowest median age record. Nigeria secures the 20th position in global rankings. Furthermore, the life expectancy in Nigeria is an average of 62 years old. However, this is different between men and women. The main causes of death have been neonatal disorders, malaria, and diarrheal diseases.

In 2022, roughly 15.4 million people lived in Lagos, Nigeria, making it the largest city in Africa. Lagos's population has been gradually increasing, with thousands of people flocking every year to the city, searching for job opportunities and a better life. By 2035, 24.4 million might be dwelling in the city.

Nigeria is the African country with the largest population, counting over 230 million people. As of 2024, the largest city in Nigeria was Lagos, which is also the largest city in sub-Saharan Africa in terms of population size. The city counts more than nine million inhabitants, whereas Kano, the second most populous city, registers around 3.6 million inhabitants. Lagos is the main financial, cultural, and educational center in the country. Where Africa’s urban population is booming The metropolitan area of Lagos is also among the largest urban agglomerations in the world. Besides Lagos, another most populated citiy in Africa is Cairo, in Egypt. However, Africa’s urban population is booming in other relatively smaller cities. For instance, the population of Bujumbura, in Burundi, could grow by 123 percent between 2020 and 2035, making it the fastest growing city in Africa and likely in the world. Similarly, Zinder, in Niger, could reach over one million inhabitants by 2035, the second fastest growing city. Demographic urban shift More than half of the world’s population lives in urban areas. In the next decades, this will increase, especially in Africa and Asia. In 2020, over 80 percent of the population in Northern America was living in urban areas, the highest share in the world. In Africa, the degree of urbanization was about 40 percent, the lowest among all continents. Meeting the needs of a fast-growing population can be a challenge, especially in low-income countries. Therefore, there will be a growing necessity to implement policies to sustainably improve people’s lives in rural and urban areas.

The Egyptian area of Cairo‑Alexandria‑Suhag was the largest city cluster in Africa as of 2021. Considering the over 1,000 cities that are part of the cluster (cities with over ****** residents that are within 100 kilometers' distance, adding up to a population of over *** million), the area counted around ** million inhabitants. The clusters of Lagos‑Ibadan‑Cotonou and Onitsha‑Uyo‑Port Harcourt in Nigeria followed, accounting for approximately ** million and ** million residents, respectively.

Population of Lagos State, Nigeria, by Local Government Area in 1996 and 2006.

In 2022, Nigeria's population was estimated at around *** million individuals. Demographic projections show that the Nigerian population might experience a constant increase in the next decades. By 2050, it is forecast that the population will grow to over *** million people compared to 2022.

Lagos is a city with a population of 2,529,859 and lies in the 5000 and above (Very High) density category. The city has an area of 305.05 km² with a total green space of 14% and a tree coverage of 2%. The city lies in the Torrid Zone of the world. The city has improved its Urban green space per capita when compared to Global Average and also improved its Urban green space per capita when compared to previous year. Within Africa, 30.8% of cities are ranked lower than Lagos.

The Egyptian capital, Cairo, is the largest agglomeration on the African continent. In 2023, almost ** million people resided in Greater Cairo (consisting of parts of three governorates). Johannesburg-Pretoria, South Africa, and Lagos, Nigeria, followed, with close to **** million and **** million inhabitants, respectively.

This statistic shows the total population of Nigeria from 2013 to 2023 by gender. In 2023, Nigeria's female population amounted to approximately 112.68 million, while the male population amounted to approximately 115.21 million inhabitants.

The metropolitan area of Lagos in Nigeria counted over ********** middle-class people as of 2018. This was the highest number in Africa. Addis Ababa in Ethiopia followed with *********** individuals belonging to the middle class. The middle-class population included people who had a disposable income of over ** percent of their salary, were employed, had a business activity, or were in education, and had at least a secondary school degree.

Nigeria's population structure reveals a youthful demographic, with those aged **** years comprising the largest age group compared to the total of those between the ages of 30 and 84 years. The majority of the young population are men. This demographic trend has significant implications for Nigeria's future, particularly in terms of economic development and social services. It has the potential to offer a large future workforce that could drive economic growth if it is adequately educated and employed. However, without sufficient investment in health, education, and job creation, this youth bulge could strain public resources and fuel unemployment and social unrest. Poverty challenges amid population growth Despite Nigeria's large youth population, the country faces substantial poverty challenges. This is largely due to its youth unemployment rate, which goes contrary to the expectation that the country’s large labor force would contribute to employment and the economic development of the nation. In 2022, an estimated **** million Nigerians lived in extreme poverty, defined as living on less than **** U.S. dollars a day. This number is expected to rise in the coming years, indicating a growing disparity between population growth and economic opportunities. The situation is particularly dire in rural areas, where **** million people live in extreme poverty compared to *** million in urban centers. Linguistic and ethnic diversity Nigeria's population is characterized by significant linguistic and ethnic diversity. Hausa is the most commonly spoken language at home, used by ** percent of the population, followed by Yoruba at ** percent and Igbo at ** percent. This linguistic variety reflects Nigeria's complex ethnic composition, with major groups including Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, and Fulani. English, the country's official language, serves as the primary language of instruction in schools, promoting literacy across diverse communities.

The fastest growing city in Africa is Bujumbura, in Burundi. In 2020, this city had an estimated population of about one million. By 2035, the population of Bujumbura could increase by 123 percent and reach roughly 2.3 million people. Zinder, in Niger, had about half million inhabitants in 2020 and, with a growth rate of 118 percent, is Africa's second fastest growing city. In 2035, Zinder could have over one million residents.

As of 2021, the largest city in whole Africa is Lagos, in Nigeria. Other highly populated cities in Africa are Kinshasa, in Congo, Cairo, and Alexandria, both located in Egypt.

In 2024, Gabon had the highest urbanization rate in Africa, with over 90 percent of the population living in urban areas. Libya and Djibouti followed at around 82 percent and 79 percent, respectively. On the other hand, many countries on the continent had the majority of the population residing in rural areas. As of 2023, urbanization in Malawi, Rwanda, Niger, and Burundi was below 20 percent. A growing urban population On average, the African urbanization rate stood at approximately 45 percent in 2023. The number of people living in urban areas has been growing steadily since 2000 and is forecast to increase further in the coming years. The urbanization process is particularly rapid in Burundi, Uganda, and Tanzania. In these countries, the urban population grew by over five percent in 2023 compared to the previous year. However, in 39 countries on the continent, the urban population growth was over three percent. The most populous cities in Africa Africa’s largest city is Lagos in Nigeria, counting around nine million people. It is followed by Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Cairo in Egypt, each with over seven million inhabitants. Moreover, other cities on the continent are growing rapidly. The population of Bujumbura in Burundi will increase by 123 percent between 2020 and 2035, registering the highest growth rate on the continent. Other fast-growing cities are Zinder in Niger, Kampala in Uganda, and Kabinda in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Nigeria plastic bottles market, valued at $45.53 million in 2025, is projected to experience robust growth, exhibiting a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 6.10% from 2025 to 2033. This expansion is fueled by several key drivers. The burgeoning food and beverage sector, particularly bottled water, carbonated soft drinks, and juices, constitutes a significant demand driver. Rising disposable incomes and changing consumer preferences towards convenient packaging are further boosting market growth. Increased urbanization and a growing population also contribute to the elevated demand for plastic bottles across various sectors, including pharmaceuticals, personal care, and household chemicals. While the market faces restraints such as environmental concerns regarding plastic waste and fluctuating resin prices, the overall growth trajectory remains positive, driven by the strong demand from key end-use industries. The market is segmented by resin type (Polyethylene (PE), Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), Polypropylene (PP), and others) and end-use industries (food & beverage, pharmaceuticals, personal care, industrial, and others). Key players like Bestaf Holdings, Shan Packaging Limited, and others are shaping the competitive landscape, with both established and emerging players vying for market share. The market's future success hinges on addressing environmental sustainability concerns through initiatives promoting recycling and the adoption of eco-friendly alternatives. The regional distribution of the market within Nigeria is likely to be influenced by population density and industrial concentration, with major cities and manufacturing hubs potentially commanding larger market shares. Further research is needed to accurately delineate regional segmentation data. However, the overall positive growth outlook suggests significant opportunities for investors and industry participants. The market's resilience is underscored by its diversification across several end-use sectors, mitigating risks associated with fluctuations in individual industry performances. The continuous innovation in resin technology and packaging design also presents avenues for enhanced product offerings and market penetration. Strategic partnerships focused on sustainable practices are vital to ensure long-term market viability and environmental responsibility. Recent developments include: July 2024: Propak West Africa opened registration for the 2024 Propak manufacturing exhibition, set to take place in September in Lagos, Nigeria. The exhibition will feature over 250 companies worldwide, all presenting their latest packaging innovations., September 2023: SIPA Solutions, an Italy-based company manufacturing plastic solutions, opened a new office in Lagos, Nigeria, marking a significant expansion of its global operations. This strategic move into West Africa is poised to bolster the company's operations. Through this expansion, SIPA seeks to fortify its presence and provide enhanced support to both existing and potential partners in Nigeria.. Key drivers for this market are: Growing Popularity of Non-alcoholic Beverages in the Country, Increasing Availability of Wide Range of Plastic Bottles. Potential restraints include: Growing Popularity of Non-alcoholic Beverages in the Country, Increasing Availability of Wide Range of Plastic Bottles. Notable trends are: Polyethylene (PE) Segment is Estimated to Record the Largest Market Share.

In 2020, the Nigerian government allocated one of its highest disbursements to the State of Lagos, which received *** billion Naira. Of this, the local government of Alimosho was given *** billion Naira, the largest amount among the ** local governments. The FAAC (Federal Account Allocation Committee) disbursements represent the funds given to states and regions. They are allocated in proportion to each state population and, consequently, to the number of local governments in the state.

There were over 270 universities in Nigeria as of 2024, two of which were founded within the first half of that year. Of the total count, 149 were private while state and federal universities added up to 63 and 62, respectively. Some of Nigeria's oldest universities are the University of Ibadan, the University of Nigeria, the Obafemi Awolowo University, and the University of Lagos. These four institutions were founded between the end of the 1940s and the beginning of the 1960s. Nigeria’s biggest institutes As of 2019, the National Open University of Nigeria was the largest university in Nigeria by number of students. The number of all students enrolled in this institution reached 565,000 in the said year. The National Open University of Nigeria is one of the largest open and distance learning institutes in Africa. It is based in Abuja but has several campuses across Nigeria. What Nigerians study the most There were over 1.8 million full-time undergraduate university students in Nigeria as of 2019. Sciences and social sciences were the most common disciplines chosen by Nigerian students. Administration and management followed as the third most popular faculty. Among master and diploma students, however, administration and management had the largest number of students.