Population growth in Nigeria
Nigeria: Population growth was 2.1% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Population growth in Nigeria, 1961–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 2.1% for population growth in 2025.
That represents a change of down 1.0% on the previous year and down 18.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population growth in Nigeria peaked at 3.1% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 2.1%, in 1961.
That places Nigeria 45th out of 215 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.1% | 2.1% | 2.2% | 9 |
| 1970s | 2.7% | 2.3% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.8% | 2.6% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.6% | 2.6% | 2.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.8% | 2.7% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.6% | 2.2% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.1% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More climate change data for Nigeria
- Population, total 237.53 million (2025)
- Urban population growth 3.3% (2025)
- Urban population 151.48 million (2025)
- Urban population 63.8% (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 17.6% (2025)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 12.47 billion cubic meters (2022)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 5.6% (2022)
- Terrestrial protected areas 13.9% (2025)
- Terrestrial and marine protected areas 11.6% (2025)
- Marine protected areas 0.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population growth in Nigeria?
- Population growth in Nigeria was 2.1% in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest population growth recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 3.1% in 1980.
- What is the lowest population growth recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.1% in 1961.
- How does Nigeria rank for population growth?
- Nigeria ranks 45th out of 215 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population growth rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
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.