Urban population, per square kilometre in Nigeria

Nigeria: Urban population, per square kilometre was 155.57 units per square kilometre in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
155.57 units per square kilometre
Change on year
up 3.5%
World rank
48th
of 216 countries
All-time high
155.57 units per square kilometre
in 2023
All-time low
7.47 units per square kilometre
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023

Urban population, per square kilometre in Nigeria, 1961–2023

050100150196119922023

Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in units per square kilometre.

Analysis

The most recent figure for urban population, per square kilometre in Nigeria is 155.57 units per square kilometre, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.

The figure is up 3.5% on the previous year and up 44.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, urban population, per square kilometre in Nigeria peaked at 155.57 units per square kilometre in 2023 and was at its lowest, 7.47 units per square kilometre, in 1961.

That places Nigeria 48th out of 216 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Urban population, per square kilometre in Nigeria, year by year

Annual values for Urban population, per square kilometre in Nigeria, 1961 to 2023.
Year units per square kilometre Change
1961 7.47 units per square kilometre
1962 7.92 units per square kilometre +6.0%
1963 8.38 units per square kilometre +5.9%
1964 8.87 units per square kilometre +5.8%
1965 9.39 units per square kilometre +5.8%
1966 9.93 units per square kilometre +5.8%
1967 10.5 units per square kilometre +5.7%
1968 11.09 units per square kilometre +5.7%
1969 11.73 units per square kilometre +5.7%
1970 12.41 units per square kilometre +5.8%
1971 13.12 units per square kilometre +5.8%
1972 13.88 units per square kilometre +5.8%
1973 14.69 units per square kilometre +5.8%
1974 15.56 units per square kilometre +5.9%
1975 16.5 units per square kilometre +6.0%
1976 17.5 units per square kilometre +6.1%
1977 18.57 units per square kilometre +6.1%
1978 19.72 units per square kilometre +6.2%
1979 20.93 units per square kilometre +6.1%
1980 22.2 units per square kilometre +6.1%
1981 23.53 units per square kilometre +6.0%
1982 24.91 units per square kilometre +5.8%
1983 26.25 units per square kilometre +5.4%
1984 27.63 units per square kilometre +5.3%
1985 29.15 units per square kilometre +5.5%
1986 30.71 units per square kilometre +5.3%
1987 32.3 units per square kilometre +5.2%
1988 33.97 units per square kilometre +5.2%
1989 35.71 units per square kilometre +5.1%
1990 37.52 units per square kilometre +5.1%
1991 39.38 units per square kilometre +4.9%
1992 41.3 units per square kilometre +4.9%
1993 43.32 units per square kilometre +4.9%
1994 45.43 units per square kilometre +4.9%
1995 47.62 units per square kilometre +4.8%
1996 49.9 units per square kilometre +4.8%
1997 52.27 units per square kilometre +4.7%
1998 54.74 units per square kilometre +4.7%
1999 57.33 units per square kilometre +4.7%
2000 60.06 units per square kilometre +4.7%
2001 62.92 units per square kilometre +4.8%
2002 65.92 units per square kilometre +4.8%
2003 69.05 units per square kilometre +4.8%
2004 72.33 units per square kilometre +4.7%
2005 75.74 units per square kilometre +4.7%
2006 79.26 units per square kilometre +4.7%
2007 82.86 units per square kilometre +4.5%
2008 86.6 units per square kilometre +4.5%
2009 90.5 units per square kilometre +4.5%
2010 94.55 units per square kilometre +4.5%
2011 98.77 units per square kilometre +4.5%
2012 103.12 units per square kilometre +4.4%
2013 107.57 units per square kilometre +4.3%
2014 112.1 units per square kilometre +4.2%
2015 116.68 units per square kilometre +4.1%
2016 121.33 units per square kilometre +4.0%
2017 126.09 units per square kilometre +3.9%
2018 130.86 units per square kilometre +3.8%
2019 135.62 units per square kilometre +3.6%
2020 140.43 units per square kilometre +3.5%
2021 145.33 units per square kilometre +3.5%
2022 150.37 units per square kilometre +3.5%
2023 155.57 units per square kilometre +3.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 9.48 units per square kilometre 7.47 units per square kilometre 11.73 units per square kilometre 9
1970s 16.29 units per square kilometre 12.41 units per square kilometre 20.93 units per square kilometre 10
1980s 28.64 units per square kilometre 22.2 units per square kilometre 35.71 units per square kilometre 10
1990s 46.88 units per square kilometre 37.52 units per square kilometre 57.33 units per square kilometre 10
2000s 74.52 units per square kilometre 60.06 units per square kilometre 90.5 units per square kilometre 10
2010s 114.67 units per square kilometre 94.55 units per square kilometre 135.62 units per square kilometre 10
2020s 147.92 units per square kilometre 140.43 units per square kilometre 155.57 units per square kilometre 4

Countries ranked near Nigeria

  1. 45 Marshall Islands 169.03 units per square kilometre compare
  2. 46 Sao Tome and Principe 164.99 units per square kilometre compare
  3. 47 Rwanda 163.22 units per square kilometre compare
  4. 49 Jamaica 153.27 units per square kilometre compare
  5. 50 Andorra 152.8 units per square kilometre compare
  6. 51 Comoros 151.48 units per square kilometre compare

See the full ranking of 264 places →

More climate change data for Nigeria

All data for Nigeria →

Frequently asked questions

What is urban population, per square kilometre in Nigeria?
Urban population, per square kilometre in Nigeria was 155.57 units per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest urban population, per square kilometre recorded in Nigeria?
The highest recorded value was 155.57 units per square kilometre in 2023.
What is the lowest urban population, per square kilometre recorded in Nigeria?
The lowest recorded value was 7.47 units per square kilometre in 1961.
How does Nigeria rank for urban population, per square kilometre?
Nigeria ranks 48th out of 216 countries with data for 2023.
Is urban population, per square kilometre rising or falling in Nigeria?
Over the last ten years it is up 44.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Nigeria data come from?
The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Urban population, per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Urban population, per square kilometre in Nigeria. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/urban-population-per-square-kilometre/nigeria/

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How this figure is calculated

Urban population divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.

Urban population ÷ Land area (sq. km)

Computed from

Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.

About this data

Indicator
Urban population, per square kilometre
Unit
units per square kilometre
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
264 places, 15,342 data points, 1961–2023
Last refreshed

Urban population divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.