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.

Nigeria NG: Population Projection: Mid Year data was reported at 416,996,080.000 Person in 2050. This records an increase from the previous number of 409,470,192.000 Person for 2049. Nigeria NG: Population Projection: Mid Year data is updated yearly, averaging 125,580,732.000 Person from Jun 1950 (Median) to 2050, with 101 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 416,996,080.000 Person in 2050 and a record low of 31,796,939.000 Person in 1950. Nigeria NG: Population Projection: Mid Year data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by US Census Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Nigeria – Table NG.US Census Bureau: Demographic Projection.

Population growth (annual %) in Nigeria was reported at 2.083 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Nigeria - Population growth (annual %) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

The total population of Nigeria was estimated at approximately 227.71 million people in 2024. Following a continuous upward trend, the total population has risen by around 154.29 million people since 1980. Between 2024 and 2030, the total population will rise by around 35.27 million people, continuing its consistent upward trajectory.This indicator describes the total population in the country at hand. This total population of the country consists of all persons falling within the scope of the census.

The total population in Nigeria was estimated at 232.7 million people in 2024, 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.

Nigeria NG: Population Projection: Mid Year: Growth data was reported at 1.810 % in 2050. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1.840 % for 2049. Nigeria NG: Population Projection: Mid Year: Growth data is updated yearly, averaging 2.615 % from Jun 1953 (Median) to 2050, with 98 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3.150 % in 1980 and a record low of 1.170 % in 1983. Nigeria NG: Population Projection: Mid Year: Growth data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by US Census Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Nigeria – Table NG.US Census Bureau: Demographic Projection.

According to the forecast, Africa's total population would reach nearly 2.5 billion by 2050. In 2023, the continent had around 1.36 billion inhabitants, with Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Egypt as the most populous countries. In the coming years, Africa will experience significant population growth and will close the gap significantly with the Asian population by 2100. Rapid population growth The population of Africa has been increasing annually in recent years, growing from around 818 million to over 1.39 billion between 2000 and 2021, respectively. In the same period, the annual growth rate of the population has been constantly set at roughly 2.5 percent, with a peak of 2.62 percent in 2014. The reasons behind this rapid growth are various. One factor is the high fertility rate registered in African countries. In 2021, a woman in Niger had an average of over 6.8 children in her reproductive years, the highest rate on the continent. High fertility resulted in a large young population and partly compensated for the high mortality rate in Africa, leading to fast-paced population growth. High poverty levels Africa’s population is concerned with widespread poverty. In 2024, over 429 million people on the continent are extremely poor and live with less than 2.15 U.S. dollars per day. Globally, Africa is the continent hosting the highest poverty rate. In 2024, the countries of Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo account for around 21 percent of the world's population living in extreme poverty. Nevertheless, poverty in Africa is forecast to decrease in the coming years.

Total current population for Nigeria in 2025 is 234,573,603, a 2.37% increase from 2024.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>Total population for Nigeria in 2024 was <strong>229,152,217</strong>, a <strong>0.56% increase</strong> from 2023.</li>
<li>Total population for Nigeria in 2023 was <strong>227,882,945</strong>, a <strong>2.12% increase</strong> from 2022.</li>
<li>Total population for Nigeria in 2022 was <strong>223,150,896</strong>, a <strong>2.11% increase</strong> from 2021.</li>
</ul>Total population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship. The values shown are midyear estimates.

Nigeria NG: Urban Population Growth data was reported at 4.301 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 4.370 % for 2016. Nigeria NG: Urban Population Growth data is updated yearly, averaging 4.667 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.815 % in 1960 and a record low of 3.466 % in 1961. Nigeria NG: Urban Population Growth 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. 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.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.; Weighted average;

Africa's population is projected to grow significantly in the coming years. Estimates conducted in July 2020 show that Nigeria, the most populous country on the continent, would reach around *** million inhabitants by 2100. Compared to 2021, when the country counted *** million people, this would represent an impressive growth of around *** percent. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is estimated to be the second most populous nation on the African continent, reaching *** million individuals. According to the study, nine countries in Africa would exceed 100 million people by 2100.

This is data showing population estimates for the country of Nigeria.

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.

This data release provides gridded population estimates (spatial resolution of 3 arc-seconds, approximately 100 m grid cells) with national coverage for Nigeria, along with estimates of the number of people belonging to various age-sex groups. Version 2.0 is an update to the previous version 1.2 gridded population estimates and is based on more recent and detailed settlement information and a different regional boundary definition. These model-based population estimates most likely represent the time period around 2019, corresponding to the period when the satellite imagery was processed to generate building footprints. Populations are mapped only into areas where residential settlements are predicted.

These data were produced by the WorldPop Research Group at the University of Southampton in collaboration with the National Population Commission of Nigeria. This work was part of the Geo-Referenced Infrastructure and Demographic Data for Development (GRID3 ) programme with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (INV 009579, formerly OPP 1182425). Project partners included the United Nations Population Fund, Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), a center within the Columbia Climate School at Columbia University, and the Flowminder Foundation. Statistical modelling was led by Chris Jochem and Doug Leasure additional support and oversight from Attila Lazar and Andy Tatem. Chris Lloyd provided the residential building classification. The microcensus data were originally collected by eHealth Africa and Oak Ridge National Laboratory with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The WorldPop grou and GRID3 partners are acknowledged for their project support.

RELEASE CONTENT

1. NGA_population_v2_0_gridded.zip
2. NGA_population_v2_0_admin.zip
3. NGA_population_v2_0_sql.sql
4. NGA_population_v2_0_mastergrid.tif
5. NGA_population_v2_0_tiles.zip
6. NGA_population_v2_0_agesex.zip

LICENSE These data (1-6) may be redistributed using a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License.

Recommended citations

WorldPop and National Population Commission of Nigeria. 2021. Bottom-up gridded population estimates for Nigeria, version 2.0. WorldPop, University of Southampton. doi: 10.5258/SOTON/WP00729.

For further details, please, read NGA_population_v2_0_README.pdf

These data were produced by the WorldPop Research Group at the University of Southampton. This work was part of the GRID3 project with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (OPP1182408). Project partners included the United Nations Population Fund, Center for International Earth Science Information Network in the Earth Institute at Columbia University, and the Flowminder Foundation. These data may be distributed using a Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike 4.0 License. Contact release@worldpop.org for more information.

The population in Africa is expected to grow by 90 percent by 2050. Among the countries forecast to be the most populated in the continent, Nigeria leads, with an estimated population of over 401 million people. Currently, the nation has already the largest number of inhabitants in Africa. The highest population growth is expected to be measured in Angola, by 143.3 percent between 2019 and 2050. The number of inhabitants in the country is forecast to jump from 31.8 million to 77.4 million in the mentioned period.

Rural population growth (annual %) in Nigeria was reported at 0.44535 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Nigeria - Rural population growth (annual %) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

As of 2023, the total population of Africa was over 1.48 billion. The number of inhabitants on the continent increased annually from 2000 onwards. In comparison, the total population was around 831 million in 2000. According to forecasts, Africa will experience impressive population growth in the coming years and would nearly reach the Asian population by 2100. Over 200 million people in Nigeria Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa. In 2023, the country’s population exceeded 223 million people. Ethiopia followed with a population of around 127 million, while Egypt ranked third, accounting for approximately 113 million individuals. Other leading African countries in terms of population were the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, South Africa, and Kenya. Additionally, Niger, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Chad recorded the highest population growth rate on the continent in 2023, with the number of residents rising by over 3.08 percent compared to the previous year. On the other hand, the populations of Tunisia and Eswatini registered a growth rate below 0.85 percent, while for Mauritius and Seychelles, it was negative. Drivers for population growth Several factors have driven Africa’s population growth. For instance, the annual number of births on the continent has risen constantly over the years, jumping from nearly 32 million in 2000 to almost 46 million in 2023. Moreover, despite the constant decline in the number of births per woman, the continent’s fertility rate has remained considerably above the global average. Each woman in Africa had an average of over four children throughout her reproductive years as of 2021, compared to a world rate of around two births per woman. At the same time, improved health and living conditions contributed to decreasing mortality rate and increasing life expectancy in recent years, driving population growth.

This data release provides gridded population estimates (spatial resolution of 3 arc-seconds, approximately 100 m grid cells) with national coverage for Nigeria, along with estimates of the number of people belonging to various age-sex groups. Version 2.1 is an update to the previous version 2.0 gridded population estimates and is based on a correction of the settlement map. These model-based population estimates most likely represent the time period around 2019, corresponding to the period when the satellite imagery was processed to generate building footprints. Populations are mapped only into areas where residential settlements are predicted. These data were produced by the WorldPop Research Group at the University of Southampton. This work was part of the GRID3 Bridge Funding project with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (INV-045694). Project partners included the GRID3 Inc and the Center for International Earth Science Information Network in the Earth Institute at Columbia University. Statistical modelling was originally led by Chris Jochem and Doug Leasure with additional support and oversight from Attila Lazar and Andy Tatem. Ortis Yankey led the population map update with additional support from Edith Darin.

The authors followed rigorous procedures designed to ensure that the used data, the applied method and thus the results are appropriate and of reasonable quality. If users encounter apparent errors or misstatements, they should contact WorldPop at release@worldpop.org.

SUGGESTED CITATIONS

WorldPop. 2023. Bottom-up gridded population estimates for Nigeria, version 2.1. WorldPop, University of Southampton. DOI: 10.5258/SOTON/WP00765

NG: Population: Growth data was reported at 2.599 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2.619 % for 2016. NG: Population: Growth data is updated yearly, averaging 2.552 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3.044 % in 1978 and a record low of 1.976 % in 1960. NG: Population: Growth 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. Annual population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage . Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.; ; Derived from total population. Population source: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision, (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.; Weighted average;

Population Projection, 2016 - Nigeria