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: September 29, 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 | 237,527,782 | 2025 | World Bank WDI, based on UN Population Division |
| Annual population growth | 2.1% | 2025 | World Bank WDI |
| Projected 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 | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| 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 |
| Net migration | -15,258 | 2025 | World Bank WDI |
| Global population rank | 6 | 2026 | WPP-based table |
Table analysis
- The latest World Bank population value is 237,527,782 for 2025; the 2026 figure shown elsewhere is a medium-variant projection.
- The 2024 WDI age structure is very young: 41.01% aged 0-14 and only 3.04866% aged 65 or older.
- The current fertility card uses the 2024 World Bank WDI value of 4.382 births per woman.
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.
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: World Bank WDI provides broad male and female age-group shares for 2024, while the separate 2025 five-year table reports total population by age band.
Male and Female Population by Broad Age Group
Broad age-sex counts for 2024 derived 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 | Derived from World Bank WDI age-sex shares |
Age-sex analysis
- The youth and working-age groups have slightly more males than females in the 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.
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 five-year table shows total population by age band; male and female comparisons are presented separately in the broad age-sex section.
Fertility and Life Expectancy
Fertility Rate, 2024
World Bank WDI total fertility rate with a 2.1 demographic reference
Source: World Bank WDI for Nigeria, 2024. The 2.1 value is shown as a demographic reference.
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 is 4.382 births per woman, compared with the 2.1 reference shown in the chart.
- 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 shows the UN WPP 2024 medium-variant scenario for future years.
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
World Bank WDI reports 237.53 million people in 2025. The UN medium-variant path places 2026 at 242.4 million and reaches 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, down from 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.
The page separates current World Bank indicators from UN WPP projection values by source year and measure.
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 | 2024-2025 annual values | 2025 population, population growth and net migration; 2024 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
- Broad age-sex counts are calculated from WDI total population, female share, and sex-specific age shares; the calculation is labelled in the table.
- Worldometer and PopulationPyramids.org provide secondary WPP-based tabulations for historical fields, projection fields and five-year age totals.
Source Notes
Source note: World Bank WDI provides current annual cross-country indicators, while UN WPP 2024 supplies historical estimates and future projection scenarios. Source years and measure types are shown in the tables. Urban population and migration figures follow the definitions used by their cited source.
Nigeria Demographics FAQ
What is Nigeria’s population?
World Bank WDI reports 237,527,782 people in 2025. The separate UN WPP 2024 medium-variant value for 2026 is 242,431,832.
Is Nigeria’s population still growing?
Yes. World Bank WDI reports population growth of 2.1% in 2025, while the UN 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.