Total population (thousands) in Nigeria
Nigeria: Total population (thousands) was 235,088 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
235,088 thousands
Change on year
up 2.1%
World rank
6th
of 233 countries
All-time high
235,088 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
55,242 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Total population in Nigeria, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
In 2025, total population in Nigeria stood at 235,088 thousands. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.1% on the previous year and up 24.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in Nigeria peaked at 235,088 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 55,242 thousands, in 1970.
Nigeria ranks 6th of 233 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Total population (thousands) in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 55,242 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 56,546 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1972 | 57,884 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1973 | 59,320 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1974 | 60,845 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1975 | 62,514 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1976 | 64,308 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1977 | 66,208 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1978 | 68,261 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1979 | 70,392 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1980 | 72,604 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1981 | 74,925 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1982 | 77,211 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1983 | 79,546 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1984 | 81,330 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1985 | 83,722 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1986 | 86,074 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1987 | 88,398 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1988 | 90,785 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1989 | 93,255 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1990 | 95,807 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1991 | 98,435 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1992 | 101,005 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1993 | 103,740 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1994 | 106,504 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1995 | 109,367 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1996 | 112,271 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1997 | 115,238 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 118,272 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1999 | 121,421 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 124,674 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2001 | 128,091 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 131,634 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 135,310 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2004 | 139,095 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2005 | 143,019 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2006 | 147,016 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 151,139 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 155,395 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 159,795 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 164,304 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 168,981 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 173,778 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 178,624 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 183,475 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 188,318 thousands | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 193,025 thousands | +2.5% |
| 2017 | 197,862 thousands | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 202,647 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 207,230 thousands | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 211,741 thousands | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 216,252 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 220,807 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2023 | 225,495 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2024 | 230,271 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2025 | 235,088 thousands | +2.1% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 235,088 thousands is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12,314 thousands, 19.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 235,088 thousands is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14,783 thousands, 15.9× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 62,152 thousands | 55,242 thousands | 70,392 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 82,785 thousands | 72,604 thousands | 93,255 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 108,206 thousands | 95,807 thousands | 121,421 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 141,517 thousands | 124,674 thousands | 159,795 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 185,824 thousands | 164,304 thousands | 207,230 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 223,276 thousands | 211,741 thousands | 235,088 thousands | 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)
- 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 total population in Nigeria?
- Total population in Nigeria was 235,088 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 235,088 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 55,242 thousands in 1970.
- How does Nigeria rank for total population?
- Nigeria ranks 6th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total population (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release