Total population in Nigeria
Nigeria: Total population was 235,088 thousands in 2025. β² Rising
Total population in Nigeria, 1970β2025
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 230 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
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 growth rate by level of development 0.023 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 32.05 million (2100)
- Population density 523.46 (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.023 (2100)
- Fertility and wanted fertility 4.38 (2024)
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum 96,387 (2024)
- Fertility vs unmet contraception 4.38 (2024)
- Fertility vs contraception 4.38 (2024)
- Natural population growth 2.12 (2023)
- Fertility rate with projections 4.48 (2023)
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 230 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 Β· JSON β 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release