Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Nigeria
Nigeria: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 48.9% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Nigeria, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 48.9% for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Nigeria peaked at 48.9% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 9.7%, in 1950.
That places Nigeria 58th out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 9.7% | — |
| 1955 | 12.1% | +24.2% |
| 1960 | 15.5% | +28.7% |
| 1965 | 18.7% | +20.3% |
| 1970 | 22.4% | +19.8% |
| 1975 | 27.3% | +22.1% |
| 1980 | 30.7% | +12.1% |
| 1985 | 33.4% | +9.1% |
| 1990 | 35.8% | +7.2% |
| 1995 | 39.4% | +9.9% |
| 2000 | 41.6% | +5.7% |
| 2005 | 43.6% | +4.9% |
| 2010 | 46.4% | +6.3% |
| 2015 | 48.4% | +4.4% |
| 2020 | 48.9% | +1.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 10.9% | 9.7% | 12.1% | 2 |
| 1960s | 17.1% | 15.5% | 18.7% | 2 |
| 1970s | 24.9% | 22.4% | 27.3% | 2 |
| 1980s | 32.1% | 30.7% | 33.4% | 2 |
| 1990s | 37.6% | 35.8% | 39.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 42.6% | 41.6% | 43.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 47.4% | 46.4% | 48.4% | 2 |
| 2020s | 48.9% | 48.9% | 48.9% | 1 |
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 share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Nigeria?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Nigeria was 48.9% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 48.9% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.7% in 1950.
- How does Nigeria rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Nigeria ranks 58th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.5%. 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 major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in cities. Cities are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.