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.

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.

According to the forecast, Africa's total population would reach nearly 2.5 billion by 2050. In 2025, the continent had around 1.55 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 In Africa, the annual growth rate of the population followed an overall increasing trend up to 2013, reaching nearly 2.63 percent. This was followed by a drop to 2.32 percent by 2023. Although population growth was slowing down, it was still growing faster than in all other regions. The reasons behind this rapid growth are various. One factor is the high fertility rate registered in African countries. In 2023, a woman in Somalia, Chad, Niger, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Central African Republic had an average of over six 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 2025, over 438 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 2025, the countries of Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo account for over 23 percent of the world's population living in extreme poverty. Nevertheless, the share of the population living in poverty in Africa is forecast to decrease in the coming years.

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 October of 2025.

Datacard: Nigeria Population and Projections (2006-2016)

  Dataset Description

This collection consists of three cleaned datasets detailing Nigeria's population statistics from 2006 to 2016. The data is broken down by state and includes population projections, age group distributions, and sex ratios.

  Source

Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS)

  Cleaned Datasets





  1. population_projection.csv

Description: Contains the base population in 2006 and… See the full description on the dataset page: https://huggingface.co/datasets/electricsheepafrica/Nigeria-Population-and-Projections-by-state-2006-2016.

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.

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.

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;

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

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 of 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 in areas where residential settlements are predicted.

The population in Africa is expected to grow by ** percent by 2050. Among the countries forecast to be the most populated in the continent, Nigeria leads, with an estimated population of over *** 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 ***** percent between 2019 and 2050. The number of inhabitants in the country is forecast to jump from **** million to **** million in the mentioned period.

Nigeria NG: Population: Growth data was reported at 2.599 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2.619 % for 2016. Nigeria 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. Nigeria 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;

This data provides gridded population estimates (at spatial resolution of 3 arc-seconds, approximately 100-metre grid cells) for Nigeria, along with the estimates of the number of people belonging to various age and sex groups. Using robust Bayesian statistical hierarchical modelling framework, population modelling and estimation experts from WorldPop (www.worldpop.org) at the University of Southampton combined ‘headcount’ (input population) datasets obtained from the 2022-23 National Malaria Elimination Program (NMEP) with settlement footprint and geospatial covariates to estimate population numbers at high-resolution grid cells. The approach facilitated accounting for the multiple levels of variability within the data, while simultaneously quantifying uncertainties in the parameter estimates. After capturing the spatial variability of population, the modelled estimates were scaled based on the UN WPP July 2025 median national population projections. This data also contains mastergrid for gridded population estimates.Population totals for administrative units are also available. SUGGESTED CITATIONSNnanatu C.C., Gadiaga A., Abbott T. J., Chamberlain H., Lazar A. N., Tatem A. J. (2025). Modelled gridded population estimates for Nigeria 2025 version 3.0. WorldPop, University of Southampton. (https://dx.doi.org/10.5258/SOTON/WP00782)

This data release provides gridded population estimates (at spatial resolution of 3 arc-seconds, approximately 100-metre grid cells) for Nigeria, along with the estimates of the number of people belonging to various age and sex groups. Using robust Bayesian statistical hierarchical modelling framework, population modelling and estimation experts from WorldPop (www.worldpop.org) at the University of Southampton combined ‘head count’ (input population) datasets obtained from the 2022-23 National Malaria Elimination Program (NMEP) with settlement footprint and geospatial covariates to estimate population numbers at high-resolution grid cells. The approach facilitated accounting for the multiple levels of variability within the data, while simultaneously quantifying uncertainties in the parameter estimates. After capturing the spatial variability of population, the modelled estimates were scaled based on the UN WPP July 2025 median national population projections. These data were produced by the WorldPop Research Group at the University of Southampton as part of the GRID3 – Phase 2 Scaling project, with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (INV-044979). Project partners included the GRID3 Inc., the Center for Integrated Earth System Information (CIESIN) within the Columbia Climate School at Columbia University, and WorldPop at the University of Southampton. The final statistical modelling was designed, developed, and implemented by Chris Nnanatu supported by Assane Gadiaga. Data processing was done by Assane Gadiaga with additional support from Attila Lazar, Tom Abbott and Heather Chamberlain. Project oversight was done by Attila Lazar and Andy Tatem. The NMEP shared household bednet distribution data along with the location of the households. The settlement footprint data was prepared and shared by CIESIN.

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 data provides gridded population estimates (at spatial resolution of 3 arc-seconds, approximately 100-metre grid cells) for Nigeria, along with the estimates of the number of people belonging to various age and sex groups. Using robust Bayesian statistical hierarchical modelling framework, population modelling and estimation experts from WorldPop (www.worldpop.org) at the University of Southampton combined ‘headcount’ (input population) datasets obtained from the 2022-23 National Malaria Elimination Program (NMEP) with settlement footprint and geospatial covariates to estimate population numbers at high-resolution grid cells. The approach facilitated accounting for the multiple levels of variability within the data, while simultaneously quantifying uncertainties in the parameter estimates. After capturing the spatial variability of population, the modelled estimates were scaled based on the UN WPP July 2025 median national population projections. This data also contains mastergrid for gridded population estimates.Population totals for administrative units are also available. SUGGESTED CITATIONSNnanatu C.C., Gadiaga A., Abbott T. J., Chamberlain H., Lazar A. N., Tatem A. J. (2025). Modelled gridded population estimates for Nigeria 2025 version 3.0. WorldPop, University of Southampton. (https://dx.doi.org/10.5258/SOTON/WP00782)

Population Projections by state, 2007-2016, Source: Nigeria Bureau of Statistics, 2016, https://nigerianstat.gov.ng/resource/POPULATION%20PROJECTION%20Nigeria%20sgfn.xls

Rural population growth (annual %) in Nigeria was reported at 0.43552 % in 2024, 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 September of 2025.