Share urban and rural population in Nigeria
Nigeria: Share urban and rural population was 63.78 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
63.78
Change on year
up 1.3%
World rank
126th
of 236 countries
All-time high
63.78
in 2025
All-time low
10.12
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Share urban and rural population in Nigeria, 1950–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, share urban and rural population in Nigeria stood at 63.78. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
The figure is up 1.3% on the previous year and up 14.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share urban and rural population in Nigeria peaked at 63.78 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 10.12, in 1950.
Nigeria ranks 126th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.
Share urban and rural population in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 10.12 | — |
| 1951 | 10.38 | +2.5% |
| 1952 | 10.65 | +2.6% |
| 1953 | 10.96 | +2.9% |
| 1954 | 11.32 | +3.3% |
| 1955 | 11.73 | +3.6% |
| 1956 | 12.17 | +3.8% |
| 1957 | 12.65 | +3.9% |
| 1958 | 13.16 | +4.0% |
| 1959 | 13.69 | +4.0% |
| 1960 | 14.23 | +4.0% |
| 1961 | 14.79 | +3.9% |
| 1962 | 15.35 | +3.8% |
| 1963 | 15.92 | +3.7% |
| 1964 | 16.48 | +3.6% |
| 1965 | 17.07 | +3.5% |
| 1966 | 17.66 | +3.5% |
| 1967 | 18.28 | +3.5% |
| 1968 | 18.91 | +3.4% |
| 1969 | 19.56 | +3.4% |
| 1970 | 20.22 | +3.4% |
| 1971 | 20.89 | +3.3% |
| 1972 | 21.57 | +3.3% |
| 1973 | 22.27 | +3.2% |
| 1974 | 22.98 | +3.2% |
| 1975 | 23.7 | +3.1% |
| 1976 | 24.42 | +3.1% |
| 1977 | 25.16 | +3.0% |
| 1978 | 25.9 | +3.0% |
| 1979 | 26.66 | +2.9% |
| 1980 | 27.41 | +2.8% |
| 1981 | 28.18 | +2.8% |
| 1982 | 28.95 | +2.7% |
| 1983 | 29.72 | +2.7% |
| 1984 | 30.5 | +2.6% |
| 1985 | 31.28 | +2.6% |
| 1986 | 32.06 | +2.5% |
| 1987 | 32.84 | +2.4% |
| 1988 | 33.62 | +2.4% |
| 1989 | 34.41 | +2.3% |
| 1990 | 35.19 | +2.3% |
| 1991 | 35.97 | +2.2% |
| 1992 | 36.75 | +2.2% |
| 1993 | 37.53 | +2.1% |
| 1994 | 38.33 | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 39.14 | +2.1% |
| 1996 | 39.95 | +2.1% |
| 1997 | 40.77 | +2.1% |
| 1998 | 41.6 | +2.0% |
| 1999 | 42.44 | +2.0% |
| 2000 | 43.28 | +2.0% |
| 2001 | 44.13 | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 44.98 | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 45.84 | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 46.7 | +1.9% |
| 2005 | 47.57 | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 48.42 | +1.8% |
| 2007 | 49.24 | +1.7% |
| 2008 | 50.05 | +1.7% |
| 2009 | 50.86 | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 51.68 | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 52.49 | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 53.3 | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 54.11 | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 54.92 | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 55.73 | +1.5% |
| 2016 | 56.54 | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 57.35 | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 58.16 | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 58.96 | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 59.77 | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 60.57 | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 61.37 | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 62.17 | +1.3% |
| 2024 | 62.98 | +1.3% |
| 2025 | 63.78 | +1.3% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 63.78 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 50.87, 1.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 63.78 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 44.89, 1.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 11.68 | 10.12 | 13.69 | 10 |
| 1960s | 16.83 | 14.23 | 19.56 | 10 |
| 1970s | 23.38 | 20.22 | 26.66 | 10 |
| 1980s | 30.9 | 27.41 | 34.41 | 10 |
| 1990s | 38.77 | 35.19 | 42.44 | 10 |
| 2000s | 47.11 | 43.28 | 50.86 | 10 |
| 2010s | 55.32 | 51.68 | 58.96 | 10 |
| 2020s | 61.77 | 59.77 | 63.78 | 6 |
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)
- Population growth rate 0.023 (2100)
- Population density 523.46 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 32.05 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share urban and rural population in Nigeria?
- Share urban and rural population in Nigeria was 63.78 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share urban and rural population recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 63.78 in 2025.
- What is the lowest share urban and rural population recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.12 in 1950.
- How does Nigeria rank for share urban and rural population?
- Nigeria ranks 126th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share urban and rural population rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Share urban and rural population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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