Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Nigeria
Nigeria: Share of urban population who live in the largest city was 7.0% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Nigeria, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of urban population who live in the largest city in Nigeria is 7.0%, measured in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 8.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of urban population who live in the largest city in Nigeria peaked at 8.2% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 2.7%, in 1950.
Nigeria ranks 172nd of 179 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 2.9% | 2.7% | 3.2% | 2 |
| 1960s | 4.5% | 4.1% | 4.9% | 2 |
| 1970s | 5.4% | 5.1% | 5.8% | 2 |
| 1980s | 6.9% | 6.4% | 7.3% | 2 |
| 1990s | 8.1% | 8.0% | 8.2% | 2 |
| 2000s | 8.0% | 7.9% | 8.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 7.4% | 7.2% | 7.6% | 2 |
| 2020s | 7.0% | 7.0% | 7.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More population data for Nigeria
- 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)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 4.38 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 96,387 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 4.38 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 4.38 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 2.1% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 4.48 live births per woman (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of urban population who live in the largest city in Nigeria?
- Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Nigeria was 7.0% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 8.2% in 1995.
- What is the lowest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.7% in 1950.
- How does Nigeria rank for share of urban population who live in the largest city?
- Nigeria ranks 172nd out of 179 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of urban population who live in the largest city rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of urban population who live in the largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the urban population living in the country's largest city (by population). City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.