Share of population living in rural areas in Nigeria
Nigeria: Share of population living in rural areas was 19.4% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of population living in 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
The most recent figure for share of population living in rural areas in Nigeria is 19.4%, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in rural areas in Nigeria peaked at 34.9% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 19.4%, in 2020.
Nigeria ranks 158th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in rural areas in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 34.9% | — |
| 1955 | 33.9% | -2.9% |
| 1960 | 32.8% | -3.2% |
| 1965 | 31.5% | -4.0% |
| 1970 | 30.1% | -4.4% |
| 1975 | 28.4% | -5.6% |
| 1980 | 28.1% | -1.2% |
| 1985 | 27.3% | -2.8% |
| 1990 | 26.2% | -3.7% |
| 1995 | 24.5% | -6.8% |
| 2000 | 23.0% | -6.2% |
| 2005 | 21.7% | -5.7% |
| 2010 | 20.4% | -5.8% |
| 2015 | 19.5% | -4.3% |
| 2020 | 19.4% | -0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 34.4% | 33.9% | 34.9% | 2 |
| 1960s | 32.1% | 31.5% | 32.8% | 2 |
| 1970s | 29.2% | 28.4% | 30.1% | 2 |
| 1980s | 27.7% | 27.3% | 28.1% | 2 |
| 1990s | 25.4% | 24.5% | 26.2% | 2 |
| 2000s | 22.3% | 21.7% | 23.0% | 2 |
| 2010s | 20.0% | 19.5% | 20.4% | 2 |
| 2020s | 19.4% | 19.4% | 19.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 155 Brazil 20.8% compare
- 156 Algeria 20.2% compare
- 157 San Marino 19.5% compare
- 159 Brunei Darussalam 19.2% compare
- 160 Puerto Rico 19.1% compare
- 161 Colombia 18.5% compare
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 rural areas in Nigeria?
- Share of population living in rural areas in Nigeria was 19.4% 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 rural areas recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 34.9% in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of population living in rural areas recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.4% in 2020.
- How does Nigeria rank for share of population living in rural areas?
- Nigeria ranks 158th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in rural areas rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in rural areas. Rural areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.