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 Nigeria, people aged up to four years old made up the largest age group of inhabitants, where 8.1 percent are boys and 7.9 percent are girls. Similarly, children aged five to nine years held the second largest share in the population. Overall, the higher the age, the lower the share.

Population ages 0-14, female (% of female population) in Nigeria was reported at 41.36 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Nigeria - Population ages 0-14, female (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2025.

The total population in Nigeria was estimated at 223.8 million people in 2023, according to the latest census figures and projections from Trading Economics. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Nigeria Population - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

The total population in Nigeria was forecast to continuously increase between 2024 and 2029 by in total 29.2 million people (+12.82 percent). After the tenth consecutive increasing year, the total population is estimated to reach 256.86 million people and therefore a new peak in 2029. Notably, the total population was continuously increasing over the past years.According to the International Monetary Fund, the total population of a country consists of all persons falling within the scope of the census.Find more key insights for the total population in countries like Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, and Togo.

Nigeria has the largest population in Africa. As of 2024, the country counted over 232.6 million individuals, whereas Ethiopia, which ranked second, has around 132 million inhabitants. Egypt registered the largest population in North Africa, reaching nearly 116 million people. In terms of inhabitants per square kilometer, Nigeria only ranks seventh, while Mauritius has the highest population density on the whole African continent. The fastest-growing world region Africa is the second most populous continent in the world, after Asia. Nevertheless, Africa records the highest growth rate worldwide, with figures rising by over two percent every year. In some countries, such as Niger, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Chad, the population increase peaks at over three percent. With so many births, Africa is also the youngest continent in the world. However, this coincides with a low life expectancy. African cities on the rise The last decades have seen high urbanization rates in Asia, mainly in China and India. However, African cities are currently growing at larger rates. Indeed, most of the fastest-growing cities in the world are located in Sub-Saharan Africa. Gwagwalada, in Nigeria, and Kabinda, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, ranked first worldwide. By 2035, instead, Africa's fastest-growing cities are forecast to be Bujumbura, in Burundi, and Zinder, Nigeria.

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.

Population, male (% of total population) in Nigeria was reported at 50.56 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Nigeria - Population, male (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2025.

Chart and table of population level and growth rate for the Benin City, Nigeria metro area from 1950 to 2025. United Nations population projections are also included through the year 2035.

Chart and table of Nigeria population from 1950 to 2025. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100.

Chart and table of population level and growth rate for the Oyo, Nigeria metro area from 1950 to 2025. United Nations population projections are also included through the year 2035.

Population ages 20-24, male (% of male population) in Nigeria was reported at 9.2861 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Nigeria - Population ages 20-24, male (% of male population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on February of 2025.

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.

Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.

Forecast: Total Population Requiring Interventions Against Neglected Tropical Diseases in Nigeria 2024 - 2028 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

Nigeria NG: Population: Female: Ages 20-24: % of Female Population data was reported at 8.638 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 8.629 % for 2016. Nigeria NG: Population: Female: Ages 20-24: % of Female Population data is updated yearly, averaging 8.662 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9.205 % in 2003 and a record low of 8.320 % in 1988. Nigeria NG: Population: Female: Ages 20-24: % 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 20 to 24 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.; ;

Chart and table of population level and growth rate for the Calabar, Nigeria metro area from 1950 to 2025. United Nations population projections are also included through the year 2035.

Forecast: Population in Urban Agglomerations of More Than 1 Million in Nigeria 2024 - 2028 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

Chart and table of population level and growth rate for the Katsina, Nigeria metro area from 1950 to 2025. United Nations population projections are also included through the year 2035.

Forecast: Population with Access to Improved Drinking Water Sources in Nigeria 2024 - 2028 Discover more data with ReportLinker!