Urban population in Nigeria
Nigeria: Urban population was 151.48 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population in Nigeria, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 151.48 million for urban population in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.4% on the previous year and up 42.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population in Nigeria peaked at 151.48 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 6.41 million, in 1960.
That places Nigeria 6th out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 6.41 million | — |
| 1961 | 6.80 million | +6.1% |
| 1962 | 7.21 million | +6.0% |
| 1963 | 7.64 million | +5.9% |
| 1964 | 8.08 million | +5.8% |
| 1965 | 8.55 million | +5.8% |
| 1966 | 9.04 million | +5.8% |
| 1967 | 9.56 million | +5.7% |
| 1968 | 10.10 million | +5.7% |
| 1969 | 10.68 million | +5.7% |
| 1970 | 11.30 million | +5.8% |
| 1971 | 11.95 million | +5.8% |
| 1972 | 12.64 million | +5.8% |
| 1973 | 13.38 million | +5.8% |
| 1974 | 14.17 million | +5.9% |
| 1975 | 15.03 million | +6.0% |
| 1976 | 15.94 million | +6.1% |
| 1977 | 16.92 million | +6.1% |
| 1978 | 17.96 million | +6.2% |
| 1979 | 19.06 million | +6.1% |
| 1980 | 20.22 million | +6.1% |
| 1981 | 21.43 million | +6.0% |
| 1982 | 22.69 million | +5.8% |
| 1983 | 23.91 million | +5.4% |
| 1984 | 25.17 million | +5.3% |
| 1985 | 26.55 million | +5.5% |
| 1986 | 27.97 million | +5.3% |
| 1987 | 29.42 million | +5.2% |
| 1988 | 30.94 million | +5.2% |
| 1989 | 32.52 million | +5.1% |
| 1990 | 34.17 million | +5.1% |
| 1991 | 35.87 million | +4.9% |
| 1992 | 37.62 million | +4.9% |
| 1993 | 39.46 million | +4.9% |
| 1994 | 41.37 million | +4.9% |
| 1995 | 43.37 million | +4.8% |
| 1996 | 45.45 million | +4.8% |
| 1997 | 47.60 million | +4.7% |
| 1998 | 49.86 million | +4.7% |
| 1999 | 52.22 million | +4.7% |
| 2000 | 54.70 million | +4.7% |
| 2001 | 57.30 million | +4.8% |
| 2002 | 60.03 million | +4.8% |
| 2003 | 62.89 million | +4.8% |
| 2004 | 65.87 million | +4.7% |
| 2005 | 68.98 million | +4.7% |
| 2006 | 72.19 million | +4.7% |
| 2007 | 75.46 million | +4.5% |
| 2008 | 78.88 million | +4.5% |
| 2009 | 82.43 million | +4.5% |
| 2010 | 86.12 million | +4.5% |
| 2011 | 89.96 million | +4.5% |
| 2012 | 93.92 million | +4.4% |
| 2013 | 97.97 million | +4.3% |
| 2014 | 102.10 million | +4.2% |
| 2015 | 106.27 million | +4.1% |
| 2016 | 110.51 million | +4.0% |
| 2017 | 114.84 million | +3.9% |
| 2018 | 119.18 million | +3.8% |
| 2019 | 123.52 million | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 127.90 million | +3.5% |
| 2021 | 132.36 million | +3.5% |
| 2022 | 136.95 million | +3.5% |
| 2023 | 141.69 million | +3.5% |
| 2024 | 146.53 million | +3.4% |
| 2025 | 151.48 million | +3.4% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 151.48 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.62 million, 22.9× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 151.48 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.82 million, 31.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 8.41 million | 6.41 million | 10.68 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 14.83 million | 11.30 million | 19.06 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 26.08 million | 20.22 million | 32.52 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 42.70 million | 34.17 million | 52.22 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 67.87 million | 54.70 million | 82.43 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 104.44 million | 86.12 million | 123.52 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 139.49 million | 127.90 million | 151.48 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More climate change data for Nigeria
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 608.40 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 66,810 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 24,814 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 41,996 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 93.64 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1,500 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 22,614 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 7,292 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 15,322 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 27.52 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population in Nigeria?
- Urban population in Nigeria was 151.48 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 151.48 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.41 million in 1960.
- How does Nigeria rank for urban population?
- Nigeria ranks 6th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 42.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.