This statistic shows the age structure in Nigeria from 2013 to 2023. In 2023, about 41.49 percent of Nigeria's total population were aged 0 to 14 years.

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.

Age dependency ratio (% of working-age population) in Nigeria was reported at 78.77 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Nigeria - Age dependency ratio (% of working-age population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

Nigeria: Dependent people as percent of the working age population: The latest value from 2024 is 78.77 percent, a decline from 80.25 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 58.13 percent, based on data from 196 countries. Historically, the average for Nigeria from 1960 to 2024 is 88.01 percent. The minimum value, 78.77 percent, was reached in 2024 while the maximum of 95.01 percent was recorded in 1987.

This statistic shows the median age of the population in Nigeria from 1950 to 2100. The median age is the age that divides a population into two numerically equal groups; that is, half the people are younger than this age and half are older. It is a single index that summarizes the age distribution of a population. In 2020, the median age of the Nigerian population was 16.9 years.

Age dependency ratio, young (% of working-age population) in Nigeria was reported at 73.32 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Nigeria - Age dependency ratio, young (% of working-age population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

Nigeria Working Age Population data was reported at 122,049,400.000 Person in Dec 2020. This records an increase from the previous number of 116,871,186.000 Person for Jun 2020. Nigeria Working Age Population data is updated quarterly, averaging 109,015,323.000 Person from Dec 2014 (Median) to Dec 2020, with 18 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 122,049,400.000 Person in Dec 2020 and a record low of 101,769,739.000 Person in Dec 2014. Nigeria Working Age Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Nigeria – Table NG.G005: Labour Force Statistics (Discontinued).

Time series data for the statistic Age population, age 24, female, interpolated and country Nigeria. Indicator Definition:Age population, female refers to female population at the specified age level. The geographical areas included in the data are the same as the data source.The indicator "Age population, age 24, female, interpolated" stands at 1.97 Million as of 12/31/2024, the highest value at least since 12/31/1961, the period currently displayed. Regarding the One-Year-Change of the series, the current value constitutes an increase of 4.43 percent compared to the value the year prior.The 1 year change in percent is 4.43.The 3 year change in percent is 10.56.The 5 year change in percent is 16.85.The 10 year change in percent is 33.00.The Serie's long term average value is 0.936 Million. It's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is 110.20 percent higher, compared to it's long term average value.The Serie's change in percent from it's minimum value, on 12/31/1960, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is +428.93%.The Serie's change in percent from it's maximum value, on 12/31/2024, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is 0.0%.

Nigeria NG: Age Dependency Ratio: % of Working-Age Population: Young data was reported at 82.602 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 82.925 % for 2016. Nigeria NG: Age Dependency Ratio: % of Working-Age Population: Young data is updated yearly, averaging 82.468 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 87.186 % in 1987 and a record low of 74.878 % in 1960. Nigeria NG: Age Dependency Ratio: % of Working-Age Population: Young data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Nigeria – Table NG.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Age dependency ratio, young, is the ratio of younger dependents--people younger than 15--to the working-age population--those ages 15-64. Data are shown as the proportion of dependents per 100 working-age population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Weighted average;

NG: Population: Female: Ages 5-9: % of Female Population data was reported at 14.459 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 14.457 % for 2016. NG: Population: Female: Ages 5-9: % of Female Population data is updated yearly, averaging 14.114 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 14.728 % in 1988 and a record low of 13.078 % in 1960. NG: Population: Female: Ages 5-9: % of Female Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Nigeria – Table NG.World Bank: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Female population between the ages 5 to 9 as a percentage of the total female population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age/sex distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; ;

School age population, primary education, both sexes (number) in Nigeria was reported at 33597851 Persons in 2020, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Nigeria - Population of the official age for primary education, both sexes - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

WorldPop produces different types of gridded population count datasets, depending on the methods used and end application. Please make sure you have read our Mapping Populations overview page before choosing and downloading a dataset.

A description of the modelling methods used for age and sex structures can be found in "https://pophealthmetrics.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1478-7954-11-11" target="_blank"> Tatem et al and Pezzulo et al. Details of the input population count datasets used can be found here, and age/sex structure proportion datasets here.
Both top-down 'unconstrained' and 'constrained' versions of the datasets are available, and the differences between the two methods are outlined here. The datasets represent the outputs from a project focused on construction of consistent 100m resolution population count datasets for all countries of the World structured by male/female and 5-year age classes (plus a <1 year class). These efforts necessarily involved some shortcuts for consistency. The unconstrained datasets are available for each year from 2000 to 2020.
The constrained datasets are only available for 2020 at present, given the time periods represented by the building footprint and built settlement datasets used in the mapping.
Data for earlier dates is available directly from WorldPop.

WorldPop (www.worldpop.org - School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton; Department of Geography and Geosciences, University of Louisville; Departement de Geographie, Universite de Namur) and Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University (2018). Global High Resolution Population Denominators Project - Funded by The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (OPP1134076). https://dx.doi.org/10.5258/SOTON/WP00646

Age dependency ratio, old (% of working-age population) in Nigeria was reported at 5.4501 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Nigeria - Age dependency ratio, old (% of working-age population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

Nigeria NG: Prevalence of Underweight: Weight for Age: % of Children Under 5 data was reported at 31.500 % in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 19.400 % for 2015. Nigeria NG: Prevalence of Underweight: Weight for Age: % of Children Under 5 data is updated yearly, averaging 26.950 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2016, with 10 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 35.100 % in 1993 and a record low of 19.400 % in 2015. Nigeria NG: Prevalence of Underweight: Weight for Age: % of Children Under 5 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Nigeria – Table NG.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Prevalence of underweight children is the percentage of children under age 5 whose weight for age is more than two standard deviations below the median for the international reference population ages 0-59 months. The data are based on the WHO's child growth standards released in 2006.; ; UNICEF, WHO, World Bank: Joint child malnutrition estimates (JME). Aggregation is based on UNICEF, WHO, and the World Bank harmonized dataset (adjusted, comparable data) and methodology.; Linear mixed-effect model estimates; Undernourished children have lower resistance to infection and are more likely to die from common childhood ailments such as diarrheal diseases and respiratory infections. Frequent illness saps the nutritional status of those who survive, locking them into a vicious cycle of recurring sickness and faltering growth (UNICEF, www.childinfo.org). Estimates of child malnutrition, based on prevalence of underweight and stunting, are from national survey data. The proportion of underweight children is the most common malnutrition indicator. Being even mildly underweight increases the risk of death and inhibits cognitive development in children. And it perpetuates the problem across generations, as malnourished women are more likely to have low-birth-weight babies. Stunting, or being below median height for age, is often used as a proxy for multifaceted deprivation and as an indicator of long-term changes in malnutrition.

Nigeria NG: Probability of Dying at Age 5-9 Years: per 1000 data was reported at 13.400 Ratio in 2019. This records a decrease from the previous number of 13.700 Ratio for 2018. Nigeria NG: Probability of Dying at Age 5-9 Years: per 1000 data is updated yearly, averaging 18.600 Ratio from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2019, with 30 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 25.600 Ratio in 1990 and a record low of 13.400 Ratio in 2019. Nigeria NG: Probability of Dying at Age 5-9 Years: per 1000 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Nigeria – Table NG.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Probability of dying between age 5-9 years of age expressed per 1,000 children aged 5, if subject to age-specific mortality rates of the specified year.; ; Estimates developed by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, UN DESA Population Division) at www.childmortality.org.; Weighted average; Aggregate data for LIC, UMC, LMC, HIC are computed based on the groupings for the World Bank fiscal year in which the data was released by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation.

As of January 2025, around **** percent of social media users in Nigeria aged between 18 and 24 years were men. Moreover, the share for women in the same age group corresponded to nearly ** percent.

Time series data for the statistic Age population, age 18, male, interpolated and country Nigeria. Indicator Definition:Age population, male refers to male population at the specified age level. The geographical areas included in the data are the same as the data source.The indicator "Age population, age 18, male, interpolated" stands at 2.57 Million as of 12/31/2024, the highest value at least since 12/31/1961, the period currently displayed. Regarding the One-Year-Change of the series, the current value constitutes an increase of 3.35 percent compared to the value the year prior.The 1 year change in percent is 3.35.The 3 year change in percent is 9.73.The 5 year change in percent is 17.01.The 10 year change in percent is 37.82.The Serie's long term average value is 1.16 Million. It's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is 121.25 percent higher, compared to it's long term average value.The Serie's change in percent from it's minimum value, on 12/31/1960, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is +465.27%.The Serie's change in percent from it's maximum value, on 12/31/2024, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is 0.0%.

Graph and download economic data for Age Dependency Ratio: Older Dependents to Working-Age Population for Nigeria (SPPOPDPNDOLNGA) from 1960 to 2024 about 64 years +, Nigeria, working-age, ratio, and population.

Nigeria NG: Age Dependency Ratio: % of Working-Age Population data was reported at 87.767 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 88.092 % for 2016. Nigeria NG: Age Dependency Ratio: % of Working-Age Population data is updated yearly, averaging 87.752 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 92.743 % in 1987 and a record low of 79.958 % in 1960. Nigeria NG: Age Dependency Ratio: % of Working-Age Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Nigeria – Table NG.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Age dependency ratio is the ratio of dependents--people younger than 15 or older than 64--to the working-age population--those ages 15-64. Data are shown as the proportion of dependents per 100 working-age population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Weighted average; Relevance to gender indicator: this indicator implies the dependency burden that the working-age population bears in relation to children and the elderly. Many times single or widowed women who are the sole caregiver of a household have a high dependency ratio.

Time series data for the statistic Age population, age 07, female, interpolated and country Nigeria. Indicator Definition:Age population, female refers to female population at the specified age level. The geographical areas included in the data are the same as the data source.The indicator "Age population, age 07, female, interpolated" stands at 3.13 Million as of 12/31/2024. Regarding the One-Year-Change of the series, the current value constitutes a decrease of -0.2557 percent compared to the value the year prior.The 1 year change in percent is -0.2557.The 3 year change in percent is 0.7241.The 5 year change in percent is 3.59.The 10 year change in percent is 16.57.The Serie's long term average value is 1.63 Million. It's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is 92.44 percent higher, compared to it's long term average value.The Serie's change in percent from it's minimum value, on 12/31/1960, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is +433.92%.The Serie's change in percent from it's maximum value, on 12/31/2023, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is -0.256%.