Population aged 15-24 years (thousands) in Nigeria
Nigeria: Population aged 15-24 years (thousands) was 48,808 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
48,808 thousands
Change on year
up 3.7%
World rank
4th
of 233 countries
All-time high
48,808 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
10,053 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Population aged 15-24 years in Nigeria, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
In 2025, population aged 15-24 years in Nigeria stood at 48,808 thousands. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
The figure is up 3.7% on the previous year and up 37.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population aged 15-24 years in Nigeria peaked at 48,808 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 10,053 thousands, in 1970.
Nigeria ranks 4th of 233 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Population aged 15-24 years (thousands) in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 10,053 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 10,228 thousands | +1.7% |
| 1972 | 10,410 thousands | +1.8% |
| 1973 | 10,636 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1974 | 10,916 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1975 | 11,230 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1976 | 11,544 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1977 | 11,867 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1978 | 12,224 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1979 | 12,582 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1980 | 12,959 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1981 | 13,362 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1982 | 13,747 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1983 | 14,145 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1984 | 14,444 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1985 | 14,890 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1986 | 15,344 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1987 | 15,825 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1988 | 16,349 thousands | +3.3% |
| 1989 | 16,925 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1990 | 17,555 thousands | +3.7% |
| 1991 | 18,250 thousands | +4.0% |
| 1992 | 18,947 thousands | +3.8% |
| 1993 | 19,714 thousands | +4.1% |
| 1994 | 20,502 thousands | +4.0% |
| 1995 | 21,304 thousands | +3.9% |
| 1996 | 22,083 thousands | +3.7% |
| 1997 | 22,848 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1998 | 23,606 thousands | +3.3% |
| 1999 | 24,370 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2000 | 25,056 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 25,680 thousands | +2.5% |
| 2002 | 26,259 thousands | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 26,803 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2004 | 27,322 thousands | +1.9% |
| 2005 | 27,878 thousands | +2.0% |
| 2006 | 28,427 thousands | +2.0% |
| 2007 | 28,998 thousands | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 29,600 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 30,230 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 30,928 thousands | +2.3% |
| 2011 | 31,729 thousands | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 32,594 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2013 | 33,503 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 34,428 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2015 | 35,399 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 36,455 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 37,651 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2018 | 38,899 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2019 | 40,148 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 41,430 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2021 | 42,776 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2022 | 44,144 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2023 | 45,568 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2024 | 47,050 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2025 | 48,808 thousands | +3.7% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 48,808 thousands is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2,267 thousands, 21.5× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 48,808 thousands is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3,007 thousands, 16.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 11,169 thousands | 10,053 thousands | 12,582 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 14,799 thousands | 12,959 thousands | 16,925 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 20,918 thousands | 17,555 thousands | 24,370 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 27,625 thousands | 25,056 thousands | 30,230 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 35,174 thousands | 30,928 thousands | 40,148 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 44,963 thousands | 41,430 thousands | 48,808 thousands | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More population data for Nigeria
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.0306 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -3.23 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.0306 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.1509 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 377,460 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.22 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.5063 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.0% (2100)
- Population density 523.46 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 32.05 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population aged 15-24 years in Nigeria?
- Population aged 15-24 years in Nigeria was 48,808 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population aged 15-24 years recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 48,808 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest population aged 15-24 years recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 10,053 thousands in 1970.
- How does Nigeria rank for population aged 15-24 years?
- Nigeria ranks 4th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population aged 15-24 years rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 37.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population aged 15-24 years (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release