Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Nigeria
Nigeria: Urban and rural population projected to 2050 was 59.72 million people in 2050. ▲ Rising
Latest (2050)
59.72 million people
Change on year
down 3.2%
World rank
9th
of 238 countries
All-time high
86.20 million people
in 2023
All-time low
7.00 million people
in 1000
Years of data
133
1000–2050
Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Nigeria, 1000–2050
Source: HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 59.72 million people for urban and rural population projected to 2050 in 2050.
The figure is down 3.2% on the previous year and down 21.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Nigeria peaked at 86.20 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 7.00 million people, in 1000.
Nigeria ranks 9th of 238 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 133 years of available data.
Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 7.00 million people | — |
| 1100 | 7.50 million people | +7.1% |
| 1200 | 8.00 million people | +6.7% |
| 1300 | 9.00 million people | +12.5% |
| 1400 | 10.00 million people | +11.1% |
| 1500 | 10.99 million people | +9.9% |
| 1600 | 13.95 million people | +27.0% |
| 1700 | 17.82 million people | +27.7% |
| 1710 | 18.59 million people | +4.3% |
| 1720 | 18.71 million people | +0.6% |
| 1730 | 18.83 million people | +0.7% |
| 1740 | 18.96 million people | +0.7% |
| 1750 | 19.10 million people | +0.7% |
| 1760 | 19.24 million people | +0.7% |
| 1770 | 19.39 million people | +0.8% |
| 1780 | 19.54 million people | +0.8% |
| 1790 | 19.71 million people | +0.9% |
| 1800 | 19.89 million people | +0.9% |
| 1810 | 20.08 million people | +1.0% |
| 1820 | 20.28 million people | +1.0% |
| 1830 | 20.50 million people | +1.1% |
| 1840 | 20.74 million people | +1.2% |
| 1850 | 21.00 million people | +1.3% |
| 1860 | 21.30 million people | +1.4% |
| 1870 | 21.64 million people | +1.6% |
| 1880 | 22.02 million people | +1.8% |
| 1890 | 22.48 million people | +2.1% |
| 1900 | 23.03 million people | +2.5% |
| 1910 | 23.73 million people | +3.0% |
| 1920 | 24.66 million people | +3.9% |
| 1930 | 26.01 million people | +5.5% |
| 1940 | 28.31 million people | +8.8% |
| 1950 | 33.51 million people | +18.4% |
| 1951 | 34.05 million people | +1.6% |
| 1952 | 34.59 million people | +1.6% |
| 1953 | 35.12 million people | +1.5% |
| 1954 | 35.63 million people | +1.5% |
| 1955 | 36.14 million people | +1.4% |
| 1956 | 36.64 million people | +1.4% |
| 1957 | 37.14 million people | +1.4% |
| 1958 | 37.62 million people | +1.3% |
| 1959 | 38.12 million people | +1.3% |
| 1960 | 38.64 million people | +1.4% |
| 1961 | 39.19 million people | +1.4% |
| 1962 | 39.75 million people | +1.4% |
| 1963 | 40.34 million people | +1.5% |
| 1964 | 40.93 million people | +1.5% |
| 1965 | 41.54 million people | +1.5% |
| 1966 | 42.15 million people | +1.5% |
| 1967 | 42.73 million people | +1.4% |
| 1968 | 43.33 million people | +1.4% |
| 1969 | 43.95 million people | +1.4% |
| 1970 | 44.59 million people | +1.5% |
| 1971 | 45.26 million people | +1.5% |
| 1972 | 45.96 million people | +1.5% |
| 1973 | 46.70 million people | +1.6% |
| 1974 | 47.51 million people | +1.7% |
| 1975 | 48.38 million people | +1.8% |
| 1976 | 49.32 million people | +1.9% |
| 1977 | 50.32 million people | +2.0% |
| 1978 | 51.37 million people | +2.1% |
| 1979 | 52.44 million people | +2.1% |
| 1980 | 53.54 million people | +2.1% |
| 1981 | 54.63 million people | +2.0% |
| 1982 | 55.69 million people | +1.9% |
| 1983 | 56.53 million people | +1.5% |
| 1984 | 57.36 million people | +1.5% |
| 1985 | 58.35 million people | +1.7% |
| 1986 | 59.27 million people | +1.6% |
| 1987 | 60.17 million people | +1.5% |
| 1988 | 61.08 million people | +1.5% |
| 1989 | 62.01 million people | +1.5% |
| 1990 | 62.95 million people | +1.5% |
| 1991 | 63.85 million people | +1.4% |
| 1992 | 64.76 million people | +1.4% |
| 1993 | 65.67 million people | +1.4% |
| 1994 | 66.56 million people | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 67.45 million people | +1.3% |
| 1996 | 68.31 million people | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 69.15 million people | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 69.99 million people | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 70.83 million people | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 71.69 million people | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 72.56 million people | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 73.44 million people | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 74.31 million people | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 75.18 million people | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 76.04 million people | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 76.89 million people | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 77.80 million people | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 78.72 million people | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 79.62 million people | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 80.53 million people | +1.1% |
| 2011 | 81.42 million people | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 82.28 million people | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 83.08 million people | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 83.80 million people | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 84.41 million people | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 84.94 million people | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 85.41 million people | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 85.76 million people | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 85.97 million people | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 86.10 million people | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 86.17 million people | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 86.20 million people | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 86.20 million people | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 86.15 million people | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 86.04 million people | -0.1% |
| 2026 | 85.88 million people | -0.2% |
| 2027 | 85.66 million people | -0.3% |
| 2028 | 85.37 million people | -0.3% |
| 2029 | 85.02 million people | -0.4% |
| 2030 | 84.60 million people | -0.5% |
| 2031 | 84.10 million people | -0.6% |
| 2032 | 83.53 million people | -0.7% |
| 2033 | 82.89 million people | -0.8% |
| 2034 | 82.18 million people | -0.9% |
| 2035 | 81.38 million people | -1.0% |
| 2036 | 80.51 million people | -1.1% |
| 2037 | 79.55 million people | -1.2% |
| 2038 | 78.51 million people | -1.3% |
| 2039 | 77.40 million people | -1.4% |
| 2040 | 76.19 million people | -1.6% |
| 2041 | 74.91 million people | -1.7% |
| 2042 | 73.54 million people | -1.8% |
| 2043 | 72.09 million people | -2.0% |
| 2044 | 70.56 million people | -2.1% |
| 2045 | 68.94 million people | -2.3% |
| 2046 | 67.25 million people | -2.5% |
| 2047 | 65.48 million people | -2.6% |
| 2048 | 63.63 million people | -2.8% |
| 2049 | 61.71 million people | -3.0% |
| 2050 | 59.72 million people | -3.2% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 59.72 million people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.39 million people, 11.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 59.72 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 10.62 million people, 5.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Nigeria changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1700 | +27.7% | 13.95 million people | 17.82 million people |
| 1600 | +27.0% | 10.99 million people | 13.95 million people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 7.00 million people | 7.00 million people | 7.00 million people | 1 |
| 1100s | 7.50 million people | 7.50 million people | 7.50 million people | 1 |
| 1200s | 8.00 million people | 8.00 million people | 8.00 million people | 1 |
| 1300s | 9.00 million people | 9.00 million people | 9.00 million people | 1 |
| 1400s | 10.00 million people | 10.00 million people | 10.00 million people | 1 |
| 1500s | 10.99 million people | 10.99 million people | 10.99 million people | 1 |
| 1600s | 13.95 million people | 13.95 million people | 13.95 million people | 1 |
| 1700s | 17.82 million people | 17.82 million people | 17.82 million people | 1 |
| 1710s | 18.59 million people | 18.59 million people | 18.59 million people | 1 |
| 1720s | 18.71 million people | 18.71 million people | 18.71 million people | 1 |
| 1730s | 18.83 million people | 18.83 million people | 18.83 million people | 1 |
| 1740s | 18.96 million people | 18.96 million people | 18.96 million people | 1 |
| 1750s | 19.10 million people | 19.10 million people | 19.10 million people | 1 |
| 1760s | 19.24 million people | 19.24 million people | 19.24 million people | 1 |
| 1770s | 19.39 million people | 19.39 million people | 19.39 million people | 1 |
| 1780s | 19.54 million people | 19.54 million people | 19.54 million people | 1 |
| 1790s | 19.71 million people | 19.71 million people | 19.71 million people | 1 |
| 1800s | 19.89 million people | 19.89 million people | 19.89 million people | 1 |
| 1810s | 20.08 million people | 20.08 million people | 20.08 million people | 1 |
| 1820s | 20.28 million people | 20.28 million people | 20.28 million people | 1 |
| 1830s | 20.50 million people | 20.50 million people | 20.50 million people | 1 |
| 1840s | 20.74 million people | 20.74 million people | 20.74 million people | 1 |
| 1850s | 21.00 million people | 21.00 million people | 21.00 million people | 1 |
| 1860s | 21.30 million people | 21.30 million people | 21.30 million people | 1 |
| 1870s | 21.64 million people | 21.64 million people | 21.64 million people | 1 |
| 1880s | 22.02 million people | 22.02 million people | 22.02 million people | 1 |
| 1890s | 22.48 million people | 22.48 million people | 22.48 million people | 1 |
| 1900s | 23.03 million people | 23.03 million people | 23.03 million people | 1 |
| 1910s | 23.73 million people | 23.73 million people | 23.73 million people | 1 |
| 1920s | 24.66 million people | 24.66 million people | 24.66 million people | 1 |
| 1930s | 26.01 million people | 26.01 million people | 26.01 million people | 1 |
| 1940s | 28.31 million people | 28.31 million people | 28.31 million people | 1 |
| 1950s | 35.86 million people | 33.51 million people | 38.12 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 41.25 million people | 38.64 million people | 43.95 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 48.19 million people | 44.59 million people | 52.44 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 57.86 million people | 53.54 million people | 62.01 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 66.95 million people | 62.95 million people | 70.83 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 75.63 million people | 71.69 million people | 79.62 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 83.76 million people | 80.53 million people | 85.97 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 85.88 million people | 85.02 million people | 86.20 million people | 10 |
| 2030s | 81.46 million people | 77.40 million people | 84.60 million people | 10 |
| 2040s | 69.43 million people | 61.71 million people | 76.19 million people | 10 |
| 2050s | 59.72 million people | 59.72 million people | 59.72 million people | 1 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More population data for Nigeria
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.1509 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.0306 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.0% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 32.05 million people (2100)
- Population density 523.46 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.0% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.5063 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.22 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Nigeria?
- Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Nigeria was 59.72 million people in 2050, according to HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population projected to 2050 recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 86.20 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population projected to 2050 recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.00 million people in 1000.
- How does Nigeria rank for urban and rural population projected to 2050?
- Nigeria ranks 9th out of 238 countries with data for 2050.
- Is urban and rural population projected to 2050 rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population projected to 2050. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 133 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of people living in rural areas, combining UN estimates and projections with modeled historical data.