Population by income level in Nigeria
Nigeria: Population by income level was 237.53 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
237.53 million
Change on year
up 2.1%
World rank
6th
of 215 countries
All-time high
237.53 million
in 2025
All-time low
45.05 million
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population by income level in Nigeria, 1960–2025
Source: United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 237.53 million for population by income level in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.1% on the previous year and up 24.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population by income level in Nigeria peaked at 237.53 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 45.05 million, in 1960.
Nigeria ranks 6th of 215 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Population by income level in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 45.05 million | — |
| 1961 | 45.99 million | +2.1% |
| 1962 | 46.97 million | +2.1% |
| 1963 | 47.97 million | +2.1% |
| 1964 | 49.01 million | +2.2% |
| 1965 | 50.09 million | +2.2% |
| 1966 | 51.19 million | +2.2% |
| 1967 | 52.29 million | +2.2% |
| 1968 | 53.43 million | +2.2% |
| 1969 | 54.63 million | +2.2% |
| 1970 | 55.89 million | +2.3% |
| 1971 | 57.21 million | +2.4% |
| 1972 | 58.60 million | +2.4% |
| 1973 | 60.08 million | +2.5% |
| 1974 | 61.68 million | +2.7% |
| 1975 | 63.41 million | +2.8% |
| 1976 | 65.26 million | +2.9% |
| 1977 | 67.23 million | +3.0% |
| 1978 | 69.33 million | +3.1% |
| 1979 | 71.50 million | +3.1% |
| 1980 | 73.76 million | +3.2% |
| 1981 | 76.07 million | +3.1% |
| 1982 | 78.38 million | +3.0% |
| 1983 | 80.44 million | +2.6% |
| 1984 | 82.53 million | +2.6% |
| 1985 | 84.90 million | +2.9% |
| 1986 | 87.24 million | +2.8% |
| 1987 | 89.59 million | +2.7% |
| 1988 | 92.02 million | +2.7% |
| 1989 | 94.53 million | +2.7% |
| 1990 | 97.12 million | +2.7% |
| 1991 | 99.72 million | +2.7% |
| 1992 | 102.37 million | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 105.12 million | +2.7% |
| 1994 | 107.94 million | +2.7% |
| 1995 | 110.82 million | +2.7% |
| 1996 | 113.75 million | +2.6% |
| 1997 | 116.75 million | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 119.85 million | +2.6% |
| 1999 | 123.05 million | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 126.38 million | +2.7% |
| 2001 | 129.86 million | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 133.47 million | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 137.20 million | +2.8% |
| 2004 | 141.06 million | +2.8% |
| 2005 | 145.02 million | +2.8% |
| 2006 | 149.08 million | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 153.27 million | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 157.59 million | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 162.05 million | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 166.64 million | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 171.38 million | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 176.20 million | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 181.05 million | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 185.90 million | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 190.67 million | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 195.44 million | +2.5% |
| 2017 | 200.25 million | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 204.94 million | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 209.49 million | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 214.00 million | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 218.53 million | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 223.15 million | +2.1% |
| 2023 | 227.88 million | +2.1% |
| 2024 | 232.68 million | +2.1% |
| 2025 | 237.53 million | +2.1% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 237.53 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12.35 million, 19.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 237.53 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.96 million, 15.9× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 49.66 million | 45.05 million | 54.63 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 63.02 million | 55.89 million | 71.50 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 83.95 million | 73.76 million | 94.53 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 109.65 million | 97.12 million | 123.05 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 143.50 million | 126.38 million | 162.05 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 188.20 million | 166.64 million | 209.49 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 225.63 million | 214.00 million | 237.53 million | 6 |
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 income level in Nigeria?
- Population by income level in Nigeria was 237.53 million in 2025, according to United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population by income level recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 237.53 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population by income level recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 45.05 million in 1960.
- How does Nigeria rank for population by income level?
- Nigeria ranks 6th out of 215 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population by income level rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population by income level. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total population, differentiated by World Bank income level.