Africa · Western Africa
Nigeria Demographics
Nigeria combines very large population scale, fast growth, high fertility, a very young age structure, and a medium-variant projection path that remains upward through 2050.
Core figures use UN DESA World Population Prospects 2024, World Bank World Development Indicators, and WPP-based secondary tabulations where noted. Source years differ by indicator.
Last updated: 15 June 2026
Core Demographic Indicators
Detailed Demographic Indicators
| Indicator | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-year population | 242,431,832 | 2026 | UN WPP 2024 medium variant, via WPP-based table |
| Population, latest World Bank series | 232,679,478 | 2024 | World Bank WDI, based on UN Population Division |
| Annual population growth | 2.06% | 2026 | UN WPP 2024 medium variant, via WPP-based table |
| Median age | 18.3 years | 2026 | UN WPP 2024 medium variant, via WPP-based table |
| Total fertility rate | 4.21 births per woman | 2026 | UN WPP 2024 medium variant, via WPP-based table |
| Total fertility rate, WDI value | 4.382 births per woman | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Life expectancy at birth | 55.0 years | 2026 | UN WPP 2024 medium variant, via WPP-based table |
| Life expectancy at birth, male | 54.33 years | 2024 | UN WPP-based life expectancy tabulation |
| Life expectancy at birth, female | 54.94 years | 2024 | UN WPP-based life expectancy tabulation |
| Population aged 0-14 | 41.01% | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Population aged 15-64 | 55.94% | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Population aged 65+ | 3.04866% | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Female share of population | 49.43% | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Urban population share | 55.8% | 2026 | UN WPP 2024 medium variant, via WPP-based table |
| Population density | 266 people per km² | 2026 | UN WPP 2024 medium variant, via WPP-based table |
| Land area used for density | 910,770 km² | 2026 | WPP-based table definition |
| Global population rank | 6 | 2026 | WPP-based table |
Table analysis
- The 2026 population figure is a medium-variant projection, while the 2024 World Bank value is a cross-country comparable estimate.
- The 2024 WDI age structure is very young: 41.01% aged 0-14 and only 3.04866% aged 65 or older.
- The fertility card uses the 2026 WPP-based value; the 2024 WDI fertility value is also shown to keep the source-year difference visible.
Population Trend
Nigeria Population, 1955-2026
Mid-year population estimates and medium-variant projection values
Source: UN DESA World Population Prospects 2024, shown through WPP-based historical and projection table values.
Trend analysis
- Nigeria rose from 45.1 million in 1960 to 232.7 million in 2024.
- The 2026 mid-year value is 242.4 million under the UN WPP 2024 medium-variant path.
- Projection values after 2023 should be read as scenario-based estimates, not observed census counts.
Detailed Population History
| Year | Population | Yearly % change | Yearly change | Net migration | Median age | Fertility rate | Density | Urban pop % | Urban population | World share | World population | Global rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 242,431,832 | 2.06% | 4,904,050 | -2,810 | 18.3 | 4.21 | 266 | 55.8% | 135,288,691 | 2.92% | 8,300,678,395 | 6 | UN WPP 2024 medium variant, WPP-based table |
| 2025 | 237,527,782 | 2.08% | 4,848,304 | -15,258 | 18.1 | 4.30 | 261 | 54.9% | 130,312,056 | 2.89% | 8,231,613,070 | 6 | UN WPP 2024 medium variant, WPP-based table |
| 2024 | 232,679,478 | 2.10% | 4,796,533 | -35,202 | 17.9 | 4.38 | 255 | 53.9% | 125,447,884 | 2.85% | 8,161,972,572 | 6 | UN WPP 2024, WPP-based table; population also matches WDI |
| 2023 | 227,882,945 | 2.12% | 4,732,049 | -57,936 | 17.8 | 4.48 | 250 | 53.0% | 120,696,717 | 2.82% | 8,091,734,930 | 6 | UN WPP 2024, WPP-based table |
| 2022 | 223,150,896 | 2.12% | 4,577,358 | -51,680 | 17.6 | 4.55 | 245 | 52.0% | 116,057,853 | 2.78% | 8,021,407,192 | 6 | UN WPP 2024, WPP-based table |
| 2020 | 213,996,181 | 2.33% | 4,664,861 | -14,497 | 17.2 | 4.70 | 235 | 50.1% | 107,112,526 | 2.71% | 7,887,001,292 | 6 | UN WPP 2024, WPP-based table |
| 2015 | 190,671,878 | 2.73% | 4,805,798 | -116,162 | 16.7 | 5.50 | 209 | 45.5% | 86,673,094 | 2.55% | 7,470,491,872 | 7 | UN WPP 2024, WPP-based table |
| 2010 | 166,642,886 | 2.82% | 4,325,127 | 47,966 | 16.7 | 5.95 | 183 | 41.4% | 68,949,828 | 2.37% | 7,021,732,148 | 7 | UN WPP 2024, WPP-based table |
| 2005 | 145,017,253 | 2.79% | 3,726,952 | -17,146 | 16.8 | 6.06 | 159 | 37.4% | 54,288,918 | 2.20% | 6,586,970,132 | 7 | UN WPP 2024, WPP-based table |
| 2000 | 126,382,494 | 2.66% | 3,112,613 | 74,535 | 16.8 | 6.12 | 139 | 33.7% | 42,627,440 | 2.05% | 6,171,702,993 | 10 | UN WPP 2024, WPP-based table |
| 1995 | 110,819,428 | 2.67% | 2,739,701 | 73,243 | 16.5 | 6.27 | 122 | 31.4% | 34,785,545 | 1.92% | 5,758,878,982 | 10 | UN WPP 2024, WPP-based table |
| 1990 | 97,120,925 | 2.73% | 2,444,590 | 135,959 | 16.2 | 6.46 | 107 | 29.1% | 28,276,132 | 1.82% | 5,327,803,110 | 10 | UN WPP 2024, WPP-based table |
| 1985 | 84,897,973 | 2.85% | 2,226,666 | 61,514 | 16.2 | 6.62 | 93 | 25.2% | 21,434,266 | 1.74% | 4,868,943,465 | 10 | UN WPP 2024, WPP-based table |
| 1980 | 73,764,641 | 3.07% | 2,070,765 | 198,672 | 16.7 | 6.85 | 81 | 21.9% | 16,139,321 | 1.66% | 4,447,606,236 | 11 | UN WPP 2024, WPP-based table |
| 1975 | 63,410,815 | 2.56% | 1,503,395 | 75,603 | 17.3 | 6.77 | 70 | 19.8% | 12,535,584 | 1.56% | 4,070,735,277 | 11 | UN WPP 2024, WPP-based table |
| 1970 | 55,893,838 | 2.22% | 1,161,415 | 7,953 | 17.9 | 6.47 | 61 | 17.8% | 9,942,297 | 1.51% | 3,694,683,794 | 11 | UN WPP 2024, WPP-based table |
| 1965 | 50,086,764 | 2.14% | 1,006,596 | 32,988 | 18.3 | 6.37 | 55 | 16.6% | 8,296,771 | 1.50% | 3,334,533,703 | 13 | UN WPP 2024, WPP-based table |
| 1960 | 45,053,782 | 1.94% | 823,629 | 12,131 | 18.3 | 6.36 | 49 | 15.4% | 6,955,737 | 1.49% | 3,015,470,894 | 14 | UN WPP 2024, WPP-based table |
| 1955 | 40,935,635 | 1.89% | 730,525 | -12,617 | 18.2 | 6.40 | 45 | 12.1% | 4,952,844 | 1.49% | 2,740,213,792 | 13 | UN WPP 2024, WPP-based table |
Table analysis
- The table shows Nigeria moving from 40.9 million in 1955 to 242.4 million in 2026.
- Urban share rises from 12.1% in 1955 to 55.8% in 2026 in this WPP-based table.
- The global rank column places Nigeria at 6th in 2024, 2025 and 2026.
- Rows from 2024 onward are part of the UN WPP projection period, even when shown alongside historical values.
Age Structure
Age Structure, 2024
Population share by broad age group
Source: World Bank WDI, based on UN Population Division age distributions. Counts are derived from the 2024 total population and rounded.
| Age group | Population | Share | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-14 | 95,421,854 | 41.01% | 2024 | World Bank WDI; count derived from total population |
| 15-64 | 130,160,900 | 55.94% | 2024 | World Bank WDI; count derived from total population |
| 65+ | 7,093,606 | 3.04866% | 2024 | World Bank WDI; count derived from total population |
Data analysis
- The under-15 group is about 95.4 million people in the 2024 WDI-derived count.
- The working-age group is the largest broad group, at 55.94% of the population.
- The 65+ share remains low at 3.04866%, showing that Nigeria’s age structure is still youth-heavy.
Broad Age-Sex Population Structure
Age-sex coverage note: The available current dataset supports broad male/female age-group analysis. This is not a full population pyramid because current 5-year age-by-sex counts were not available in the retrieved source table.
Male and Female Population by Broad Age Group
Broad age-sex counts for 2024, rounded from WDI sex and age shares
Source: World Bank WDI. Counts are rounded calculations from total population, female share, and sex-specific broad age shares.
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Male share | Female share | Sex ratio | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-14 | 48,396,031 | 47,029,006 | 95,425,037 | 50.72% | 49.28% | 102.91 | 2024 | Calculated from World Bank WDI sex and age shares |
| 15-64 | 65,904,733 | 64,251,214 | 130,155,947 | 50.64% | 49.36% | 102.57 | 2024 | Calculated from World Bank WDI sex and age shares |
| 65+ | 3,367,184 | 3,726,427 | 7,093,611 | 47.47% | 52.53% | 90.36 | 2024 | World Bank WDI age-sex series; rounded |
Age-sex analysis
- The youth and working-age groups have slightly more males than females in the rounded 2024 values.
- The 65+ group has more females than males: 3.73 million females compared with 3.37 million males.
- The sex ratio falls from about 103 males per 100 females in the youth group to about 90 males per 100 females among people aged 65 or older.
- Because counts are calculated from rounded source shares, row totals may differ slightly from other WDI totals.
Five-Year Age Distribution
| Age group | Population | Share | Category | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 34,221,128 | 14.4% | Youth | 2025 | PopulationPyramids.org, based on UN WPP 2024 |
| 5-9 | 31,747,790 | 13.4% | Youth | 2025 | PopulationPyramids.org, based on UN WPP 2024 |
| 10-14 | 30,276,683 | 12.7% | Youth | 2025 | PopulationPyramids.org, based on UN WPP 2024 |
| 15-19 | 26,858,427 | 11.3% | Young adult | 2025 | PopulationPyramids.org, based on UN WPP 2024 |
| 20-24 | 22,798,374 | 9.6% | Young adult | 2025 | PopulationPyramids.org, based on UN WPP 2024 |
| 25-29 | 18,257,168 | 7.7% | Working age | 2025 | PopulationPyramids.org, based on UN WPP 2024 |
| 30-34 | 15,162,389 | 6.4% | Working age | 2025 | PopulationPyramids.org, based on UN WPP 2024 |
| 35-39 | 12,880,664 | 5.4% | Working age | 2025 | PopulationPyramids.org, based on UN WPP 2024 |
| 40-44 | 11,276,784 | 4.7% | Working age | 2025 | PopulationPyramids.org, based on UN WPP 2024 |
| 45-49 | 9,472,830 | 4.0% | Working age | 2025 | PopulationPyramids.org, based on UN WPP 2024 |
| 50-54 | 7,339,696 | 3.1% | Working age | 2025 | PopulationPyramids.org, based on UN WPP 2024 |
| 55-59 | 5,625,635 | 2.4% | Working age | 2025 | PopulationPyramids.org, based on UN WPP 2024 |
| 60-64 | 4,319,219 | 1.8% | Working age | 2025 | PopulationPyramids.org, based on UN WPP 2024 |
| 65-69 | 3,163,582 | 1.3% | Senior | 2025 | PopulationPyramids.org, based on UN WPP 2024 |
| 70-74 | 2,099,863 | 0.9% | Senior | 2025 | PopulationPyramids.org, based on UN WPP 2024 |
| 75-79 | 1,215,092 | 0.5% | Senior | 2025 | PopulationPyramids.org, based on UN WPP 2024 |
| 80-84 | 582,674 | 0.2% | Senior | 2025 | PopulationPyramids.org, based on UN WPP 2024 |
| 85-89 | 189,342 | 0.1% | Senior | 2025 | PopulationPyramids.org, based on UN WPP 2024 |
| 90-94 | 36,523 | 0.0% | Senior | 2025 | PopulationPyramids.org, based on UN WPP 2024 |
| 95-99 | 3,730 | 0.0% | Senior | 2025 | PopulationPyramids.org, based on UN WPP 2024 |
| 100+ | 200 | 0.0% | Senior | 2025 | PopulationPyramids.org, based on UN WPP 2024 |
Table analysis
- The three youngest 5-year groups together account for about 40.5% of the 2025 tabulated population.
- The largest single 5-year group is 0-4, with 34.2 million people.
- The table is total-only; it should not be used as a substitute for a full age-by-sex population pyramid.
Fertility and Life Expectancy
Fertility Rate Compared With Replacement Level
Births per woman, 2024 WDI value
Source: World Bank WDI for Nigeria 2024 fertility value; replacement level is a broad benchmark of 2.1 births per woman.
Life Expectancy by Sex
Life expectancy at birth, 2024
Source: UN WPP-based life expectancy tabulation, 2024.
| Measure | Value | Year | Unit | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total fertility rate | 6.063 | 2005 | Births per woman | UN WPP-based fertility series |
| Total fertility rate | 5.503 | 2015 | Births per woman | UN WPP-based fertility series |
| Total fertility rate | 4.700 | 2020 | Births per woman | World Bank WDI / UN WPP |
| Total fertility rate | 4.636 | 2021 | Births per woman | World Bank WDI / UN WPP |
| Total fertility rate | 4.552 | 2022 | Births per woman | World Bank WDI / UN WPP |
| Total fertility rate | 4.482 | 2023 | Births per woman | World Bank WDI / UN WPP |
| Total fertility rate | 4.382 | 2024 | Births per woman | World Bank WDI / UN WPP |
| Life expectancy at birth, total | 54.64 | 2024 | Years | UN WPP-based life expectancy tabulation |
| Life expectancy at birth, male | 54.33 | 2024 | Years | UN WPP-based life expectancy tabulation |
| Life expectancy at birth, female | 54.94 | 2024 | Years | UN WPP-based life expectancy tabulation |
Data analysis
- The 2024 fertility rate of 4.382 births per woman is more than double the 2.1 replacement-level benchmark.
- The fertility series in the table falls from 6.063 in 2005 to 4.382 in 2024.
- Female life expectancy is 0.61 years higher than male life expectancy in the 2024 tabulation.
Population Projection
Medium-Variant Population Projection
Projected mid-year population, 2030-2050
Source: UN DESA World Population Prospects 2024, medium-fertility variant, shown through WPP-based projection table values.
| Year | Projected population | Yearly % change | Yearly change | Net migration assumption | Median age | Fertility rate | Urban pop % | Urban population | Scenario | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2030 | 262,380,970 | 2.01% | 4,970,638 | 24,085 | 19.3 | 3.82 | 59.6% | 156,299,881 | Medium variant | UN WPP 2024, WPP-based table |
| 2035 | 287,685,763 | 1.86% | 5,060,959 | 35,506 | 20.5 | 3.41 | 64.3% | 184,887,647 | Medium variant | UN WPP 2024, WPP-based table |
| 2040 | 312,710,416 | 1.68% | 5,004,931 | 41,202 | 21.7 | 3.10 | 69.1% | 216,083,536 | Medium variant | UN WPP 2024, WPP-based table |
| 2045 | 336,662,502 | 1.49% | 4,790,417 | 44,157 | 22.7 | 2.85 | 74.3% | 250,285,391 | Medium variant | UN WPP 2024, WPP-based table |
| 2050 | 359,185,556 | 1.30% | 4,504,611 | 56,965 | 23.9 | 2.66 | 79.9% | 287,130,349 | Medium variant | UN WPP 2024, WPP-based table |
Projection analysis
- The medium-variant path rises from 262.4 million in 2030 to 359.2 million in 2050.
- The projected annual growth rate slows from 2.01% in 2030 to 1.30% in 2050.
- The projection table keeps scenario values separate from observed or estimated historical rows.
- Population projections are scenario-based estimates, not guaranteed predictions.
Regional Demographic Comparison
| Country | Population | Median age | Youth share | 65+ share | Year | Source note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | 237,527,793 | 19.2 | 40.5% | 3.1% | 2025 | PopulationPyramids.org, based on UN WPP 2024 |
| Cameroon | 29,879,345 | 19.1 | 41.1% | 2.8% | 2025 | PopulationPyramids.org, based on UN WPP 2024 |
| Niger | 27,917,839 | 16.7 | 46.2% | 2.6% | 2025 | PopulationPyramids.org, based on UN WPP 2024 |
| Chad | 21,003,716 | 16.9 | 46.0% | 2.1% | 2025 | PopulationPyramids.org, based on UN WPP 2024 |
| Ghana | 35,064,283 | 22.4 | 35.4% | 3.8% | 2025 | PopulationPyramids.org, based on UN WPP 2024 |
Comparison analysis
- Nigeria’s 2025 population is far larger than the comparison countries listed in this same-source table.
- Ghana has the oldest median age in this group at 22.4 years.
- Niger and Chad have higher youth shares than Nigeria, while Nigeria still remains strongly youth-heavy at 40.5%.
- All comparison rows use the same secondary tabulation source based on UN WPP 2024.
Demographic Overview
Nigeria’s population is still rising quickly, with the 2026 WPP-based mid-year value at 242.4 million and the medium-variant path reaching 359.2 million by 2050.
The 2024 WDI age structure is youth-heavy: 41.01% of the population is aged 0-14, while the 65+ group is just above 3%.
The 2024 fertility rate is 4.382 births per woman, well above the 2.1 replacement-level benchmark, but lower than the values shown for 2005 and 2015.
The WPP-based table places Nigeria’s urban share at 53.9% in 2024 and 55.8% in 2026, with urban population rising alongside total population.
Broad WDI-derived age-sex values show slightly more males in youth and working ages, while the 65+ group is female-heavy.
Some headline values use 2026 medium-variant projections, while WDI age and sex shares use 2024 annual data. The tables label each source year.
Data Sources and Methodology
| Source | Year or release | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| UN DESA World Population Prospects | 2024 Revision | Population estimates and projections, medium-variant projection path, fertility and life expectancy context. |
| UNdata World Population Prospects table | 2024 Revision; UNdata update 2024 | Official WPP source confirmation and distinction between estimates and projections. |
| World Bank World Development Indicators | 2024 annual values | 2024 population, population growth, age-group shares, sex share, fertility, and broad age-sex calculations. |
| Worldometer WPP-based country table | WPP 2024 elaboration | Detailed population history table fields such as yearly change, median age, density, urban share, world share, and rank. Treated as a secondary WPP-based tabulation. |
| PopulationPyramids.org | 2025 country profile, based on UN WPP 2024 | Five-year total age distribution and same-source regional comparison values. Treated as a secondary WPP-based tabulation. |
Method note
- Population counts are shown as persons and rounded only where noted.
- Broad age-sex counts are calculated from WDI total population, female share, and sex-specific age shares; the calculation is labelled in the table.
- Projection rows use the UN WPP medium variant and are not census observations.
- Secondary WPP-based tabulations are used only where they expose fields not visible in the directly retrieved WDI tables.
Methodological Safety Note
Methodological Safety Note: Nigeria’s demographic values can differ by source because resident population, mid-year estimate, model estimate, census count and projection are not identical measures. UN WPP 2024 treats 1950-2023 as estimates and 2024-2100 as projections. World Bank WDI values are annual cross-country series based largely on UN Population Division data. Urban population depends on national urban definitions. Net migration values are not the same as immigration and emigration counts. Sex ratio is males per 100 females. Fertility values are births per woman and the 2.1 replacement benchmark is a general reference, not a Nigeria-specific target. Missing 5-year age-by-sex data was not filled with invented values.
Nigeria Demographics FAQ
What is Nigeria’s population?
The WPP-based 2026 mid-year population is 242,431,832. The World Bank WDI 2024 value is 232,679,478.
Is Nigeria’s population still growing?
Yes. The WPP-based table shows 2.06% growth for 2026, and the medium-variant projection rises to 359,185,556 by 2050.
How young is Nigeria’s population?
World Bank WDI places 41.01% of Nigeria’s 2024 population in the 0-14 age group, while 3.04866% is aged 65 or older.
What is Nigeria’s fertility rate?
The World Bank WDI 2024 fertility rate is 4.382 births per woman. The WPP-based 2026 value shown in the history table is 4.21.
Does this page include a full population pyramid?
No. A full population pyramid requires current 5-year age-by-sex counts. The page includes broad age-sex analysis and total 5-year age groups, but it does not label those data as a full pyramid.