Actual value and historical data chart for Nigeria Urban Population

Urban population growth (annual %) in Nigeria was reported at 3.4497 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Nigeria - Urban population growth (annual %) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on November of 2025.

The share of urban population in Nigeria stood at 54.28 percent in 2023. In a steady upward trend, the share rose by 38.87 percentage points from 1960.

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;

Actual value and historical data chart for Nigeria Urban Population Percent Of Total

Historical dataset showing Nigeria urban population by year from 1960 to 2023.

Nigeria NG: Population in Largest City: as % of Urban Population data was reported at 13.798 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 13.954 % for 2016. Nigeria NG: Population in Largest City: as % of Urban Population data is updated yearly, averaging 15.685 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 17.298 % in 1992 and a record low of 10.961 % in 1960. Nigeria NG: Population in Largest City: as % of Urban 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. Population in largest city is the percentage of a country's urban population living in that country's largest metropolitan area.; ; United Nations, World Urbanization Prospects.; Weighted average;

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 data was reported at 94,524,992.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 90,545,336.000 Person for 2016. Nigeria NG: Urban Population data is updated yearly, averaging 26,060,716.000 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 94,524,992.000 Person in 2017 and a record low of 6,955,737.000 Person in 1960. Nigeria NG: Urban 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. 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.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.; Sum;

Nigeria NG: Urban Population: % of Total Population data was reported at 49.519 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 48.683 % for 2016. Nigeria NG: Urban Population: % of Total Population data is updated yearly, averaging 28.430 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 49.519 % in 2017 and a record low of 15.410 % in 1960. Nigeria NG: Urban Population: % of Total 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. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The data are collected and smoothed by United Nations Population Division.; ; United Nations Population Division. World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.; Weighted average;

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.

Rural population (% of total population) in Nigeria was reported at 44.97 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Nigeria - Rural population - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on November of 2025.

This dataset is about countries per year in Nigeria. It has 64 rows. It features 4 columns: country, urban land area, and urban population.

This horizontal bar chart displays urban population (people) by region using the aggregation sum in Nigeria. The data is about countries per year.

About this dataset

Context

This list ranks the 19,348 cities in the United States by Nigerian population, as estimated by the United States Census Bureau. It also highlights population changes in each city over the past five years.

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, including:

• 2019-2023 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
• 2014-2018 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
• 2009-2013 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

Variables / Data Columns

• Rank by Nigerian Population: This column displays the rank of city in the United States by their Nigerian population, using the most recent ACS data available.
• City: The City for which the rank is shown in the previous column.
• Nigerian Population: The Nigerian population of the city is shown in this column.
• % of Total City Population: This shows what percentage of the total city population identifies as Nigerian. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.
• % of Total United States Nigerian Population: This tells us how much of the entire United States Nigerian population lives in that city. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.
• 5 Year Rank Trend: This column displays the rank trend across the last 5 years.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

People using at least basic drinking water services, urban (% of urban population) in Nigeria was reported at 93.67% in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Nigeria - People using at least basic drinking water services, urban (% of urban population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on November of 2025.

Nigeria NG: Population Living in Slums: % of Urban Population data was reported at 50.200 % in 2014. This records a decrease from the previous number of 62.700 % for 2009. Nigeria NG: Population Living in Slums: % of Urban Population data is updated yearly, averaging 65.800 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2014, with 7 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 77.300 % in 1990 and a record low of 50.200 % in 2014. Nigeria NG: Population Living in Slums: % of Urban 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. Population living in slums is the proportion of the urban population living in slum households. A slum household is defined as a group of individuals living under the same roof lacking one or more of the following conditions: access to improved water, access to improved sanitation, sufficient living area, and durability of housing.; ; UN HABITAT, retrieved from the United Nation's Millennium Development Goals database. Data are available at : http://mdgs.un.org/; Weighted average;

This bar chart displays urban population (people) by country using the aggregation sum in Nigeria. The data is about countries per year.

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.

Population in the largest city (% of urban population) in Nigeria was reported at 12.91 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Nigeria - Population in the largest city - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.