World 8.2bn peopleGDP $118tnLife expectancy 73.5 yrsOnline 73.6%
NotesAdvertise
World Report nowcountries in numbers
World Report now
  1. Home
  2. Countries
  3. Nigeria
  4. Population
Population · Sub-Saharan Africa · Lower-middle income

Nigeria: population and demography

Population is 238m (2025), 6th of 217 in the world and 1st of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Population growth is 2.06% (2025), 45th of 217 in the world and 32nd of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Urban share is 63.8% (2025), 112th of 217 in the world and 10th of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Population238m2025 · world 6/217 · region 1/48Population growth2.06%2025 · world 45/217 · region 32/48Urban share63.8%2025 · world 112/217 · region 10/48Density255.52024 · world 53/216 · region 7/48
Population
Nigeria
0100m200m300m1995200020052010201520202025Nigeria238m
Population growth
NigeriaSub-Saharan AfricaLower-middle incomeWorld
0%1.0%2.0%3.0%1995200020052010201520202025Nigeria2.06%Sub-Saharan AfricaLower-middle incomeWorld
12 indicators

Population: Nigeria in detail

Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Sub-Saharan Africa; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.

IndicatorLatestWorld rankIn region~2000~2010~202010-year changeRegionIncome groupWorldSince 2000
PopulationPopulation238m20256/2171/48126m167m214m+25%since 20151.3bn2.9bn8.2bn
Population growthPopulation growth, annual %2.06%202545/21732/482.67%2.80%2.13%−0.5 ppsince 20152.43%1.30%0.91%
Urban shareUrban population, % of total63.8%2025112/21710/4843.3%51.7%59.8%+8.0 ppsince 201544.7%42.0%57.8%
DensityPopulation density, people per km²255.5202453/2167/48138.8183.0235.0+25%since 201452.7152.062.1
FertilityFertility rate, births per woman4.38202415/21713/486.125.954.70−22%since 20144.262.622.19
Birth rateBirth rate, per 1,000 people32.5202420/21718/4843.942.133.7−19%since 201432.821.116.3
Death rateDeath rate, per 1,000 people11.6202420/2171/4817.414.412.6−15%since 20148.06.97.6
Aged 0–14Population aged 0–14, % of total40.5%202520/21718/4843.7%44.4%42.8%−3.8 ppsince 201540.4%29.5%24.4%
Aged 65+Population aged 65+, % of total3.1%2025193/21731/483.0%3.0%3.0%+0.1 ppsince 20153.2%6.0%10.4%
Dependency ratioAge dependency ratio, % of working-age population77.3%202523/21720/4887.9%90.2%84.5%−12.4 ppsince 201578.1%56.1%54.5%
Net migrationNet migration, people-15,2582025165/21736/4874,53547,966-14,497+87%since 2015-223,909-3.1m0
Adolescent birthsAdolescent fertility, births per 1,000 women aged 15–1984.0202428/21727/48133.8125.489.1−32%since 201491.942.538.3
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.

Better than ten years ago

Worse than ten years ago

No rated indicator got worse over the decade.

Only indicators where higher or lower is clearly better are rated (for example, unemployment down is better, life expectancy up is better).

neighbours

Nigeria and its neighbours

Countries sharing a land border with Nigeria. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.

IndicatorNigeriaCameroonNigerChadBeninSão Tomé and Príncipe
Population238m202529.9m202527.9m202521.0m202514.8m2025240,2542025
Population growth2.06%20252.56%20253.22%20253.41%20252.40%20251.98%2025
Urban share63.8%202555.7%202518.4%202527.6%202553.4%202569.2%2025
Density255.5202461.6202421.3202416.12024128.32024245.32024
Fertility4.3820244.2620245.9320246.0320244.4820243.602024
Birth rate32.5202433.3202441.4202443.3202433.4202428.12024
Death rate11.620247.020248.7202411.120248.720245.52024
Aged 0–1440.5%202541.1%202546.2%202546.0%202541.3%202537.5%2025
Aged 65+3.1%20252.8%20252.6%20252.1%20253.2%20253.9%2025
Cameroon: populationNiger: populationChad: populationBenin: populationSão Tomé and Príncipe: population
Population in Sub-Saharan Africaall 48 economies rankedPopulation: lower-middle-income countries47 economies rankedPopulation: world leaderboardstop and bottom countriesNigeria: all key statisticscountry profile