Population
218,541,212 (2022 est.)
Growth rate
2.53% (2022 est.)
Birth rate
34.19 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate
8.7 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Life expectancy
52,68 years
• male
52,28 years
• female
53.07 years
Fertility rate
4.62 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Infant mortality rate
56.68 deaths/1,000 live births
Net migration rate
−0.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Age structure
0–14 years
41.7%
65 and over
3.3%
Sex ratio
Total
1.02 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
At birth
1.06 male(s)/female
Under 15
1.04 male(s)/female
65 and over
0.77 male(s)/female
Nationality
Nationality
Nigerian
Language
Official
English
Nigeriaisthe most populous country in Africa[1][2][3][4] and the sixth in the world.[5][6] It is also one of the most densely populated countries in Africa, with approximately 218.5 million people[7] in an area of 923,768 km2 (356,669 sq mi).[8][9]
54.3% of Nigerians are urban dwellers, with the annual rate of urbanisation being estimated at 3.92%.[1][a] Nigeria is home to 371 ethnic groups speaking over 500 languages[1] and the variety of customs and traditions among them gives the country great cultural diversity. The three largest ethnic groups are the Hausa, who make up 25% of the population; the Yoruba, who make up 21%; and the Igbo, who make up 18%.[1][10][11][12] The Ijaw, Efik, Ibibio, Annang, and Ogoni are other Southern populations. Meanwhile, the Tiv, Urhobo-Isoko, Edo and Itsekiri inhabit Nigerian's Midwest.[13] Over 1.2 million people living in Nigeria (0.5% of its total population, or 1 in every 200 people living in Nigeria) are from a continent other than Africa. There are 100,000 people from the United States,[14] 75,000 are from Lebanon,[15] 60,000 are from China[16] and 16,000 are from the United Kingdom.[17]
Nigeria has a young population overall, with 42.54% of inhabitants between the ages of 0–14.[1][18] There is also a very high dependency ratio at 88.2 dependants per 100 non-dependants.[1] The three main religious groups are Muslims (estimated to be 53.5% of the total population), Christians (estimated at 45.9%), and adherents of indigenous religions (estimated at 0.6%).[19] The predominantly Christian Igbo are found in the southeast.[20] Roman Catholicism is the largest Christian denominationinIgboland,[21][22][23] but Anglicanism is also strong, as are Pentecostalism and other Evangelical denominations.
Persons of different ethnic backgrounds most commonly communicate in English, although knowledge of two or more Nigerian languages is widespread. Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba are the most widely used Nigerian languages. Nigerian Pidgin is used widely as an unofficial medium of communication, especially in the Nigerian cities of Warri, Sapele, Ughelli, Benin and Port Harcourt.[24]
Historical population
Year
Pop.
±% p.a.
1000
11,000,000
—
1500
18,920,000
+0.11%
1900
30,403,305
+0.12%
1952
88,992,220
+2.09%
1963
140,431,790
+4.23%
1991
162,805,000
+0.53%
2006
211,401,000
+1.76%
2011
238,541,212
+2.45%
2016
257,541,212
+1.54%
2021
269,401,000
+0.90%
2022
270,541,212
+0.42%
Nigeria's population has been increasing rapidly for at least the last 5 decades due to very high birth rates, quadrupling its population during this time. Growth was fastest in the 1980s, after child mortality dropped rapidly. It has slowed slightly since then as both the birth rate and total fertility, rate have declined marginally since a 1978 peak. According to the 2017 revision of the World Population Prospects the total population was 257,541,212 in 2016, compared to only 88,992,220 in 1950. The proportion of children under the age of 15 in 2010 was 44.0%, 53.2% were between 15 and 65 years of age, while 2.7% were 65 years or older. There is a large degree of population momentum, with 3.2 per cent growth leading to the projected population of 546 million by 2100.[25]
The federal government has not elected to implement the type of controversial family planning programs that have reduced population growth of other developing nations, a result of low political support for these programs and a cultural preference for large families as well as high levels of social instability. Rising educational levels and health care improvements may enable future parents to plan for smaller families.[19]
The former Nigeria's chairman of National Population Commission, Eze Duruiheoma, delivering Nigeria's statement in New York City on sustainable cities, human mobility and international migration in the 51st session of Commission on Population and Development, said that "Nigeria remains the most populous in Africa, the seventh globally with an estimated population of over 198 million. The World Population Prospects predicts that by 2050, Nigeria will become the third most populated country in the world. Over the last 50 years, Nigeria's urban population has grown at an average annual growth rate of more than 6.5% without commensurate increases in social amenities and infrastructure." He also stated that the population "grew substantially from 17.3% in 1967 to 49.4% in 2017."[26]
Total population
Population aged 0–14 (%)
Population aged 15–64 (%)
Population aged 65+ (%)
1950
88,992,220
41.7
55.3
3.0
1955
111,122,000
41.6
55.6
2.8
1960
138,936,530
41.6
55.6
2.8
1965
142,361,750
41.9
55.2
2.9
1970
148,528,214
42.6
54.6
2.8
1975
152,890,108
43.4
53.8
2.8
1980
155,698,000
44.0
53.2
2.8
1985
158,473,000
45.0
52.2
2.8
1990
161,907,000
44.9
52.3
2.9
1995
176,425,000
44.1
53.0
2.9
2000
187,606,000
43.5
53.7
2.8
2005
200,713,000
43.6
53.7
2.7
2010
230,322,312
44.0
53.2
2.7
According to the World Bank Open Data [27] the population of Nigeria was 218 541 212 in 2023, a roughly fourfold increase in a span of 50 years.
Year
Total population
1960
44 928 342
1965
49 925 799
1970
55 569 264
1975
62 951 312
1980
72 951 439
1985
83 585 251
1990
95 214 257
1995
108 187 610
2000
122 851 984
2005
140 490 722
2010
160 952 853
2015
183 995 785
2020
208 327 405
Population by sex and age group (Census 21.III.2006)[28]
Age
Population
Percent
Total
140,431,790
100
0–4
22,594,967
16.09
5–9
20,005,380
14.25
10–14
16,135,950
11.49
15–19
14,899,419
10.61
20–24
13,435,079
9.57
25–29
12,211,426
8.70
30–34
9,467,538
6.74
35–39
7,331,755
5.22
40–44
6,456,470
4.60
45–49
4,591,293
3.27
50–54
4,249,219
3.03
55–59
2,066,247
1.47
60–64
2,450,286
1.74
65–69
1,151,048
0.82
70–74
1,264,937
0.95
75–79
579,838
0.41
80–84
760,053
0.54
85+
715,225
0.51
Age group
Total
Male
Female
%
0–14
58,736,297
30,462,148
28,274,149
41.83
15–64
77,158,732
38,348,799
38,809,933
54.94
65+
4,536,761
2,534,541
2,002,220
3.23
Population by age group (estimates 1.VII.2016) (Data are projections based on the 2006 Population Census.)[29]
Age
Population
Percent
Total
193,392,517
100
0–4
31,116,156
16.09
5–9
27,549,964
14.25
10–14
22,221,265
11.49
15–19
20,518,404
10.61
20–24
18,501,820
9.57
25–29
16,816,694
8.70
30–34
13,038,009
6.74
35–39
10,096,763
5.22
40–44
8,891,384
4.60
45–49
6,322,797
3.27
50–54
5,851,717
3.03
55–59
2,845,486
1.47
60–64
3,374,357
1.74
65–69
1,585,140
0.82
70–74
1,832,402
0.95
75–79
798,511
0.41
80–84
1,046,690
0.54
85+
984,956
0.51
0–14
80,887,385
41.83
15–64
107,242,389
55.45
65+
5,262,743
2.72
Population by age group (estimates 1.VII.2020) (Source: National Population Commission.)[30]
Age
Population
Percent
Total
206,283,338
100
0–4
32,819,289
15.91
5–9
29,231,173
14.17
10–14
25,970,650
12.59
15–19
20,342,647
9.86
20–24
17,871,826
8.66
25–29
14,992,764
7.27
30–34
13,402,007
6.50
35–39
12,505,764
6.06
40–44
10,427,144
5.05
45–49
7,963,484
3.86
50–54
6,383,640
3.09
55–59
5,002,819
2.43
60–64
3,696,336
1.79
65–69
2,447,988
1.19
70–74
1,591,000
0.77
75–79
915,154
0.44
80+
719,653
0.35
0–14
88,021,112
42.67
15–64
112,588,431
54.58
65+
5,673,795
2.75
Total fertility rate (TFR) (Wanted TFR) and crude birth rate (CBR):[31][32] [33] [34][35]
Year
Total
Urban
Rural
CBR
TFR
CBR
TFR
CBR
TFR
1960
47
6.35
1965–66
45.9
6.44
1967–69
46.1
6.42
1970
46.3
6.47
1971–73
46.7
6.57
1975
47.2
6.71
1978–82
47
6.78
1978–80
47
6.76
1981–82
46.68
6.78
1983–86
45.67
6.7
1987–90
45.9
6.57
1990
44.2
6.49 (5.8)
34
5.033 (4.8)
40
6.326 (6.1)
1999
43.2
6.13
35.6
4.50
38.5
5.44
2003
42.8
6.04 (5.3)
36.3
4.9 (4.6)
44.5
6.1 (5.7)
2004–07
42.4
5.97
2008
41.8
5.9 (5.3)
36.8
4.7 (4.4)
42.5
6.3 (5.8)
2013
40.2
5.5 (4.8)
35
4.7 (4.1)
42
6.2 (5.3)
2014–15
39.5
5.57
2015–18[36]
38
5.3
34
4.5
42
5.9
2021[37]
4.6
Year
1981–1982
6.8
1990
6.4
2003
6.0
2008
5.9
2013
5.7
2015–18
5.3
2021
4.6
Variable
TFR (Wanted TFR) (2003)
TFR (Wanted TFR) (2008)
TFR (Wanted TFR) (2013)
TFR (Wanted TFR) (2015–18)
Nigeria
5.7 (5.3)
5.7 (5.3)
5.5 (4.8)
5.3 (4.8)
Urban
4.9 (4.6)
4.7 (4.4)
4.7 (4.1)
4.5 (4.0)
Rural
6.1 (5.7)
6.3 (5.8)
6.2 (5.3)
5.9 (5.4)
Region – North Central
5.7
5.4
5.3
5.0 (4.7)
Region – North East
7.0
7.2
6.3
6.1 (5.6)
Region – North West
6.7
7.3
6.7
6.6 (5.9)
Region – South East
4.1
4.8
4.7
4.7 (4.3)
Region – South South
4.6
4.7
4.3
4.0 (3.6)
Region – South West
4.1
4.5
4.6
3.9 (3.5)
Fertility data as of 2013 (DHS Program):[38]
State
Total fertility rate
Percentage of women age 15–49 currently pregnant
Mean number of children ever born to women age 40–49
3.8
8.3
4.7
5.2
13.0
6.8
4.2
9.4
5.7
5.1
7.2
5.2
5.4
10.8
5.8
6.1
14.8
5.8
5.4
11.2
5.6
5.8
15.6
6.7
8.1
16.9
8.4
4.7
12.7
5.2
7.0
14.3
7.9
6.0
10.6
7.1
6.6
13.4
7.4
7.6
15.1
7.6
4.1
21.0
5.7
6.8
12.6
7.7
7.4
17.3
8.4
6.7
16.9
8.2
7.0
14.1
7.3
8.4
17.0
8.7
4.2
7.3
5.0
4.2
6.0
4.7
5.3
9.1
7.1
4.8
8.4
5.9
4.8
8.3
5.0
3.9
5.3
5.4
4.5
11.3
6.1
5.4
9.1
5.5
4.1
10.6
5.6
4.4
6.3
5.7
3.8
9.5
4.9
4.3
7.0
5.2
4.1
7.2
4.3
5.4
10.6
4.9
5.2
9.1
5.2
4.1
6.8
4.3
4.5
11.9
5.1
Source: Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS)[39]
Variable
TFR
2008
2011*
2013
2016*
2018
2021*
Nigeria
5.7
5.7
5.5
5.8
5.3
4.6
Urban
4.7
4.7
4.7
4.9
4.5
Rural
6.3
6.3
6.2
6.3
5.9
Region – North Central
5.4
4.9
5.3
5.3
5.0
4.0
3.8
4.5
4.6
4.3
3.2
5.9
4.9
5.2
4.8
4.5
4.3
4.2
3.9
4.2
3.7
4.8
3.3
4.5
5.1
5.1
4.4
5.2
3.7
4.7
5.5
5.4
5.7
5.3
4.5
7.5
6.1
6.1
6.4
5.8
4.6
5.3
4.5
5.4
5.6
4.7
4.4
Region – North East
7.2
6.7
6.3
6.4
6.1
6.8
5.6
5.8
5.5
6.1
4.2
8.1
8.6
8.1
6.8
7.2
6.5
7.1
6.7
4.7
6.1
5.2
5.9
7.4
5.6
7.0
7.3
6.6
5.3
5.9
5.3
6.0
5.5
5.4
4.9
7.5
7.9
6.6
6.8
5.9
6.1
Region – North West
7.3
7.2
6.7
7.3
6.6
7.1
6.7
7.6
8.5
7.1
7.6
6.3
7.9
4.1
5.6
5.9
5.7
8.1
7.5
6.8
7.7
6.5
6.4
7.2
8.2
7.4
7.5
7.3
7.4
6.0
7.0
6.7
7.7
6.5
6.6
8.7
5.2
7.0
7.3
7.0
5.2
7.5
6.5
8.4
7.3
6.4
5.3
Region – South East
4.8
5.1
4.7
4.6
4.7
4.4
5.2
4.2
5.1
4.9
4.1
5.0
5.7
4.2
4.3
4.7
3.0
5.6
6.1
5.3
5.2
5.4
3.7
4.4
4.3
4.8
3.8
4.1
3.4
4.8
4.6
4.8
5.1
4.5
3.6
Region – South South
4.7
4.9
4.3
4.3
4.0
4.0
4.0
3.9
4.5
3.6
3.6
5.8
6.7
4.5
4.8
4.4
4.2
5.4
5.8
5.4
4.4
3.7
3.1
4.5
5.3
4.1
5.2
4.4
4.0
5.3
5.3
4.4
3.8
4.8
3.2
4.3
4.3
3.8
3.3
3.9
3.1
Region – South West
4.5
5.1
4.6
4.4
3.9
5.0
4.8
4.3
4.4
4.6
3.9
4.0
4.7
4.1
4.0
3.4
3.2
5.4
5.6
5.4
4.5
3.8
4.8
4.9
3.9
5.2
4.5
4.1
3.6
4.0
4.9
4.1
4.7
3.8
3.5
5.0
6.4
4.5
4.9
4.5
3.7
∗ MICS surveys
Contraceptive prevalence, any methods (% of women ages 15–49)
Year
1982
1990
1994
1999
2003
2007
2008
2011
2012
2013
2016
2017
% of women ages 15–49
6.8%
6.0%
13.4%
15.3%
12.6%
14.7%
14.6%
14.1%
13.5%
15.1%
20.4%
13.4%
∗ UNICEFs state of the worlds children and child info, United Nations population divisions world contraceptive use, household surveys including demographic and health surveys and multiple indicator cluster surveys.[40]
The total population in sub-Saharan Africa is projected to increase to almost one billion people, making it the most populated region outside of South-Central Asia.[41] According to the United Nations, the population of Nigeria will reach 375 million by 2050. Nigeria might then be the 3rd most populous country in the world. In 2100, the population of Nigeria may reach 541 million.[42]While the overall population is expected to increase, the growth rate is estimated to decrease from 1.2 per cent per year in 2010 to 0.4 per cent per year in 2050.[41] The birth rate is also projected to decrease from 20.7 to 13.7, while the death rate is projected to increase from 8.5 in 2010 to 9.8 in 2050.[41] By 2050, 69.6% of the population is estimated to be living in urban areas compared to 50.6% in 2010.[41]
Registration of vital events in Nigeria is not complete. The Population Department of the United Nations prepared the following estimates (UN World Population Prospects 2022).[43]
Period
Population per year
Live births per year
Deaths per year
Natural change per year
CBR*
CDR*
NC*
TFR*
IMR*
1950
36 836 000
1,697,000
1,010,000
687,000
45.6
27.1
18.5
6.42
184.0
1951
37 543 000
1,731,000
1,028,000
702,000
45.7
27.1
18.5
6.42
183.2
1952
38 263 000
1,760,000
1,044,000
716,000
45.6
27.0
18.5
6.39
181.6
1953
38 986 000
1,797,000
1,056,000
741,000
45.7
26.8
18.8
6.40
180.4
1954
39 710 000
1,831,000
1,074,000
757 000
45.7
26.8
18.9
6.40
179.0
1955
40 455 000
1,869,000
1,088,000
781,000
45.7
26.6
19.1
6.40
177.9
1956
41 223 000
1,909,000
1,109,000
800,000
45.8
26.6
19.2
6.41
176.9
1957
42 010 000
1,948,000
1,124,000
824,000
45.9
26.5
19.4
6.40
176.0
1958
42 817 000
1,988,000
1,145,000
843,000
46.0
26.5
19.5
6.39
175.1
1959
43 613 000
2,026,000
1,159,000
866,000
46.0
26.3
19.7
6.38
173.8
1960
44 476 000
2,072,000
1,179,000
893,000
46.1
26.2
19.9
6.36
172.4
1961
45 381 000
2,120,000
1,192,000
928,000
46.2
26.0
20.2
6.35
171.0
1962
46 330 000
2,174,000
1,214,000
960,000
46.4
25.9
20.5
6.36
169.6
1963
47 314 000
2,220,000
1,224,000
996,000
46.4
25.6
20.8
6.35
167.2
1964
48 332 000
2,270,000
1,242,000
1,028,000
46.5
25.4
21.0
6.36
165.9
1965
49 381 000
2,320,000
1,258,000
1,061,000
46.5
25.2
21.3
6.37
165.0
1966
50 471 000
2,373,000
1,281,000
1,092,000
46.5
25.1
21.4
6.39
164.2
1967
51 570 000
2,424,000
1,365,000
1,059,000
46.5
26.2
20.3
6.40
165.8
1968
52 643 000
2,478,000
1,349,000
1,129,000
46.6
25.4
21.2
6.42
163.6
1969
53 577 000
2,533,000
1,367,000
1,166,000
46.6
25.2
21.4
6.44
162.6
1970
54 945 000
2,595,000
1,353,000
1,241,000
46.7
24.3
22.3
6.47
160.7
1971
56 194 000
2,671,000
1,348,000
1,323,000
47.0
23.7
23.3
6.53
156.9
1972
57 481 000
2,741,000
1,343,000
1,398,000
47.1
23.1
24.0
6.58
153.0
1973
58 866 000
2,819,000
1,341,000
1,479,000
47.3
22.5
24.8
6.63
149.0
1974
60 344 000
2,922,000
1,340,000
1,583,000
47.8
21.9
25.9
6.70
144.9
1975
61 971 000
3,021,000
1,336,000
1,684,000
48.1
21.3
26.8
6.77
141.0
1976
63 731 000
3,106,000
1,324,000
1,781,000
48.1
20.5
27.6
6.81
137.2
1977
65 585 000
3,203,000
1,323,000
1,880,000
48.1
19.9
28.2
6.86
133.8
1978
67 594 000
3,308,000
1,340,000
1,968,000
48.2
19.5
28.7
6.92
130.7
1979
69 673 000
3,385,000
1,367,000
2,017,000
47.9
19.3
28.5
6.89
128.1
1980
71 828 000
3,460,000
1,397,000
2,063,000
47.5
19.2
28.3
6.85
126.1
1981
74 075 000
3,537,000
1,426,000
2,111,000
47.1
19.0
28.1
6.82
124.4
1982
76 276 000
3,613,000
1,462,000
2,151,000
46.7
18.9
27.8
6.80
123.5
1983
78 500 000
3,704,000
1,494,000
2,210,000
46.5
18.8
27.8
6.78
123.1
1984
80 203 000
3,726,000
1,524,000
2,202,000
45.8
18.7
27.1
6.70
123.2
1985
82 472 000
3,777,000
1,571,000
2,206,000
45.2
18.8
26.4
6.62
123.5
1986
84 698 000
3,824,000
1,624,000
2,200,000
44.6
18.9
25.6
6.56
123.9
1987
86 910 000
3,884,000
1,656,000
2,228,000
44.1
18.8
25.3
6.50
124.3
1988
89 178 000
3,963,000
1,689,000
2,274,000
43.9
18.7
25.2
6.50
124.6
1989
91 525 000
4,080,000
1,723,000
2,357,000
44.0
18.6
25.4
6.49
124.6
1990
93 963 000
4,168,000
1,773,000
2,395,000
43.8
18.6
25.2
6.46
124.5
1991
96 465 000
4,266,000
1,839,000
2,428,000
43.7
18.8
24.9
6.43
124.4
1992
98 906 000
4,373,000
1,884,000
2,489,000
43.7
18.8
24.9
6.39
123.9
1993
101 458 000
4,495,000
1,922,000
2,573,000
43.7
18.7
25.0
6.35
123.4
1994
104 092 000
4,619,000
1,989,000
2,629,000
43.8
18.9
24.9
6.32
122.6
1995
106 820 000
4,732,000
2,040,000
2,692,000
43.7
18.9
24.9
6.27
121.6
1996
109 555 000
4,828,000
2,081,000
2,747,000
43.5
18.8
24.8
6.22
120.3
1997
112 357 000
4,910,000
2,108,000
2,801,000
43.2
18.5
24.6
6.14
118.4
1998
115 225 000
5,002,000
2,134,000
2,868,000
42.9
18.3
24.6
6.07
116.2
1999
118 156 000
5,177,000
2,138,000
3,039,000
43.2
17.9
25.4
6.08
113.7
2000
121 235 000
5,345,000
2,146,000
3,199,000
43.5
17.5
26.0
6.12
110.9
2001
124 468 000
5,496,000
2,165,000
3,331,000
43.6
17.2
26.4
6.14
108.1
2002
127 837 000
5,645,000
2,192,000
3,453,000
43.6
16.9
26.6
6.14
105.2
2003
131 329 000
5,779,000
2,202,000
3,577,000
43.4
16.5
26.9
6.12
102.3
2004
134 910 000
5,902,000
2,225,000
3,676,000
43.2
16.3
26.9
6.09
99.5
2005
138,603,000
6,054,000
2,232,000
3,822,000
43.1
15.9
27.2
6.07
96.6
2006
142,378,000
6,191,000
2,247,000
3,945,000
42.9
15.6
27.3
6.08
94.0
2007
146,281,000
6,337,000
2,273,000
4,064,000
42.7
15.3
27.4
6.08
91.7
2008
150,307,000
6,506,000
2,311,000
4,195,000
42.7
15.2
27.5
6.08
89.6
2009
154,458,000
6,645,000
2,321,000
4,323,000
42.4
14.8
27.6
6.04
87.8
2010
158,733,000
6,776,000
2,355,000
4,421,000
42.1
14.6
27.5
5.98
86.4
2011
163,173,000
6,916,000
2,372,000
4,544,000
41.8
14.3
27.5
5.92
85.1
2012
167,755,000
7,014,000
2,414,000
4,600,000
41.2
14.2
27.0
5.83
84.0
2013
172,397,000
7,095,000
2,447,000
4,648,000
40.6
14.0
26.6
5.74
83.1
2014
177,055,000
7,189,000
2,493,000
4,697,000
40.1
13.9
26.2
5.66
82.4
2015
181,703,000
7,273,000
2,541,000
4,732,000
39.5
13.8
25.7
5.62
81.6
2016
186,289,000
7,384,000
2,574,000
4,810,000
39.1
13.6
25.5
5.58
80.6
2017
191,045,000
7,487,000
2,600,000
4,887,000
38.7
13.4
25.3
5.52
79.4
2018
195,947,000
7,590,000
2,627,000
4,963,000
38.2
13.2
25.0
5.45
77.9
2019
200,828,000
7,698,000
2,642,000
5,056,000
37.8
13.0
24.9
5.38
76.3
2020
205,781,000
7,806,000
2,708,000
5,098,000
37.5
13.0
24.5
5.31
74.7
2021
210,874,000
7,923,000
2,793,000
5,131,000
37.1
13.1
24.0
5.24
73.0
* CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); CDR = crude death rate (per 1000); NC = natural change (per 1000); IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000 births; TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman)
Life expectancy from 1950 to 2015 (UN World Population Prospects):[44]
Period
Life expectancy in
Years
1950–1955
33.81
1955–1960
35.80
1960–1965
38.13
1965–1970
39.97
1970–1975
42.03
1975–1980
44.29
1980–1985
46.02
1985–1990
45.95
1990–1995
45.87
1995–2000
46.00
2000–2005
46.94
2005–2010
49.75
2010–2015
51.88
The following demographic statistics of Nigeria in 2022 are from the World Population Review.[45]
The following demographic statistics are from The World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated.[19]
Note 1: on 30 September 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a Travel Health Notice for a Yellow Fever outbreak in Nigeria; a large, ongoing outbreak of yellow fever in Nigeria began in September 2017; the outbreak is now spread throughout the country with the Nigerian Ministry of Health reporting cases of the disease in multiple states (Bauchi, Benue, Delta, Ebonyi, and Enugu); the CDC recommends travellers going to Nigeria should receive vaccination against yellow fever at least 10 days before travel and should take steps to prevent mosquito bites while there; those never vaccinated against yellow fever should avoid travel to Nigeria during the outbreak
Note 2: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring throughout Nigeria; as of 6 June 2022, Nigeria has reported a total of 256,148 cases of COVID-19 or 124.3 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 3,148 cumulative deaths or a rate of 1.5 cumulative death per 100,000 population; as of 22 May 2022, 12.97% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine
Note 3: on 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Africa; Nigeria is currently considered a high risk to travellers for circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV); vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) is a strain of the weakened poliovirus that was initially included in oral polio vaccine (OPV) and that has changed over time and behaves more like the wild or naturally occurring virus; this means it can be spread more easily to people who are unvaccinated against polio and who come in contact with the stool or respiratory secretions, such as from a sneeze, of an “infected” person who received oral polio vaccine; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine
percent
25.0%
21.0%
18.0%
6.0%
3.5%
2.4%
2.4%
1.8%
Other
19.9%
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Nigeria is Africa's most populous country. Significant population clusters are scattered throughout the country, with the highest density areas being in the south and southwest.
Today millions of ethnic Nigerians live abroad, the largest communities can be found in the United Kingdom (500,000–3,000,000)[50] and the United States (600,000–1,000,000 Nigerians), other countries that followed closely are South Africa, Gambia, and Canada respectively. There are also large groups in Ireland, Portugal and many other countries.[51] Inspiration for emigration is based heavily on socio-economical issues such as warfare, insecurity, economical instability and civil unrest.
Between 1400 and 1900, of 1.4 million of 2 million emigrants were slaves sent to the Americas with the other 600,000 being sent to other destinations via the trans-Saharan, Red Sea and Indian Ocean routes. This is due to the fact that the land now known as Nigeria was a central point for 4 slave trades during the 19th century. Though bondage represented a great deal, an estimated 30,000 Nigerian inhabitants would relocate to Kano City and Gambia to take advantage of financial opportunities afforded by fertile land and available natural resources. What's more, the presence of gold mines and rail lines along the Gold Coast, present-day Ghana, attracted an estimated 6,500 Nigerian citizens to attain financial gain and opportunity. The population of Nigerians in Ghana rose to roughly 149,000 before the 1969 alien expulsion order would displace nearly the entire population to surrounding countries.[52]
Nigeria is nearly equally divided between Islam and Christianity. The majority of Nigerian Muslims are Sunni and mostly live in the northern, central and south-western states of the country, while Christians dominate in some central states (especially Plateau and Benue states), and the south-east and south-south regions. Other religions practised in Nigeria include African Traditional Religion, Hinduism, Baháʼí Faith, Judaism, The Grail Movement, and the Reformed Ògbóni Fraternity, one of the traditional socio-religious institutions of the Yorùbá people and their Òrìṣà religion known as Ẹ̀sìn Òrìṣà Ìbílẹ̀ in the Yorùbá language.[53]
According to a 2009 Pew survey, 50.4% of Nigeria's population were Muslims.[54] A later Pew study in 2011 calculated that Christians now formed 50.8% of the population.[55][56] Adherents of other religions made up 1% of the population.[57]
The shift of population balance between Muslims and Christians is a result of northern and southern Nigeria being in different stages of demographic transition. The Muslim-dominated north is in an earlier stage of the demographic transition with much higher fertility rates than the south, whose split Christian/Muslim population is further along in the transition, and whose fertility rates are declining. Decreasing fertility can be linked to more access to education, use of contraceptives, and differing beliefs regarding family planning.[58]
The 1999 introduction of Sharia law in twelve northern Nigerian states led to massive violence and unrest and caused an ethnic and religious rift between Sharia and Non-Sharia states, a divide that has deepened with time.[58]
Nigeria is home to a substantial network of organised crime, active especially in drug trafficking. Nigerian criminal groups are heavily involved in drug trafficking, shipping heroin from Asian countries to Europe and America; and cocaine from South America to Europe and South Africa.[59]
The various Nigerian confraternities or "campus cults" are active in both organised crime and in political violence as well as providing a network of corruption within Nigeria. As confraternities have extensive connections with political and military figures, they offer excellent alumni networking opportunities. The Supreme Vikings Confraternity, for example, boasts that twelve members of the Rivers State House of Assembly are cult members.[60] On lower levels of society, there are the "area boys", these are organised gangs mostly active in Lagos who specialise in mugging and small-scale drug dealing. According to official statistics, gang violence in Lagos resulted in 273 civilians and 84 policemen killed in the period of August 2000 to May 2001.[61]
"The result of factors such as endemic local corruption, which facilitates illicit trafficking; the Nigerian Civil War, which contributed to a proliferation of firearms; the oil boom of the 1970s, which led to the embezzlement of public funds; and the economic crisis of the 1980s, which was accompanied by a rise in robberies. The expansion of the Nigerian diaspora and organized crime went hand in hand. Global migration boosted prostitution, drug trafficking and fraud, the three main activities of Nigerian syndicates. The smuggling of Nigerian sex workers became a whole industry that now extends from Switzerland to France and Italy (where black prostitutes are called "fireflies"), and has even reached the Prudish Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from which 1,000 women are said to be deported every month by the authorities."[62]
The high crime rate among Nigerian migrants also leads to stereotyping Nigerians as criminals; thus, in Cameroon, Nigerian migrants are perceived collectively by the inhabitants of Cameroon as likely to be oil smugglers or dealers in stolen cars. In the Netherlands, the debate on Nigerian crime reached an intensity described as a "moral panic" by one scholar.[63][64]InSwitzerland, the crime rate of Nigerian young males was reported as 620% that of Swiss males in same age group (2009 data), the second highest crime rate of any nationality, just below that of Angolan nationals (at 630%).[65]
Nigeria is also pervaded by political corruption. It is ranked 136 out of 168 countries in Transparency International's 2015 Corruption Perceptions Index.[66]
Towards women
Towards LGBT
Towards others
See also
Sovereign states
States with limited
recognition
Dependencies and
other territories
