Population by age group in Nigeria
Nigeria: Population by age group was 33.53 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
33.53 million people
Change on year
up 0.6%
World rank
3rd
of 236 countries
All-time high
33.53 million people
in 2023
All-time low
6.26 million people
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Population by age group in Nigeria, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population by age group in Nigeria is 33.53 million people, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 5.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population by age group in Nigeria peaked at 33.53 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 6.26 million people, in 1950.
That places Nigeria 3rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population by age group in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 6.26 million people | — |
| 1951 | 6.32 million people | +1.0% |
| 1952 | 6.41 million people | +1.3% |
| 1953 | 6.53 million people | +2.0% |
| 1954 | 6.69 million people | +2.5% |
| 1955 | 6.86 million people | +2.4% |
| 1956 | 7.01 million people | +2.2% |
| 1957 | 7.17 million people | +2.3% |
| 1958 | 7.33 million people | +2.3% |
| 1959 | 7.50 million people | +2.3% |
| 1960 | 7.68 million people | +2.3% |
| 1961 | 7.86 million people | +2.4% |
| 1962 | 8.05 million people | +2.4% |
| 1963 | 8.25 million people | +2.5% |
| 1964 | 8.46 million people | +2.5% |
| 1965 | 8.68 million people | +2.6% |
| 1966 | 8.90 million people | +2.6% |
| 1967 | 9.12 million people | +2.5% |
| 1968 | 9.36 million people | +2.6% |
| 1969 | 9.61 million people | +2.7% |
| 1970 | 9.88 million people | +2.8% |
| 1971 | 10.17 million people | +2.9% |
| 1972 | 10.49 million people | +3.1% |
| 1973 | 10.83 million people | +3.3% |
| 1974 | 11.21 million people | +3.5% |
| 1975 | 11.63 million people | +3.8% |
| 1976 | 12.09 million people | +3.9% |
| 1977 | 12.57 million people | +4.0% |
| 1978 | 13.07 million people | +4.0% |
| 1979 | 13.57 million people | +3.8% |
| 1980 | 14.03 million people | +3.4% |
| 1981 | 14.46 million people | +3.1% |
| 1982 | 14.87 million people | +2.8% |
| 1983 | 15.21 million people | +2.2% |
| 1984 | 15.51 million people | +2.0% |
| 1985 | 15.83 million people | +2.1% |
| 1986 | 16.13 million people | +1.9% |
| 1987 | 16.40 million people | +1.7% |
| 1988 | 16.67 million people | +1.6% |
| 1989 | 16.97 million people | +1.8% |
| 1990 | 17.32 million people | +2.1% |
| 1991 | 17.70 million people | +2.2% |
| 1992 | 18.12 million people | +2.4% |
| 1993 | 18.57 million people | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 19.02 million people | +2.5% |
| 1995 | 19.51 million people | +2.5% |
| 1996 | 20.02 million people | +2.6% |
| 1997 | 20.54 million people | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 21.06 million people | +2.5% |
| 1999 | 21.61 million people | +2.6% |
| 2000 | 22.23 million people | +2.9% |
| 2001 | 22.92 million people | +3.1% |
| 2002 | 23.65 million people | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 24.44 million people | +3.3% |
| 2004 | 25.24 million people | +3.3% |
| 2005 | 26.01 million people | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 26.76 million people | +2.9% |
| 2007 | 27.50 million people | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 28.25 million people | +2.7% |
| 2009 | 29.01 million people | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 29.76 million people | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 30.49 million people | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 31.19 million people | +2.3% |
| 2013 | 31.81 million people | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 32.35 million people | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 32.81 million people | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 33.14 million people | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 33.33 million people | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 33.42 million people | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 33.40 million people | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 33.30 million people | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 33.25 million people | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 33.33 million people | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 33.53 million people | +0.6% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 33.53 million people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.25 million people, 26.8× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 33.53 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.19 million people, 15.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 6.81 million people | 6.26 million people | 7.50 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 8.60 million people | 7.68 million people | 9.61 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 11.55 million people | 9.88 million people | 13.57 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 15.61 million people | 14.03 million people | 16.97 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 19.35 million people | 17.32 million people | 21.61 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 25.60 million people | 22.23 million people | 29.01 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 32.17 million people | 29.76 million people | 33.42 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 33.35 million people | 33.25 million people | 33.53 million people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More population data for Nigeria
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.1509 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.0306 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.0% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 32.05 million people (2100)
- Population density 523.46 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.0% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.5063 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.22 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population by age group in Nigeria?
- Population by age group in Nigeria was 33.53 million people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population by age group recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 33.53 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest population by age group recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.26 million people in 1950.
- How does Nigeria rank for population by age group?
- Nigeria ranks 3rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population by age group rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population by age group. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total population, measured on 1 July of the year shown. This only includes people aged 0-4.