Nigeria Population Pyramid 2021

Nigeria
2021
Population: 218,529,286

Year

-5 -1   2021  +1 +5

Country

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
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Nigeria in 2021

In 2021, Nigeria had a total population of 218,529,287 people. That is 27.5% more than in 2011, when the population stood at 171,379,598.

Half of the population was younger than 18.5 years; 42.4% were children under 15 and 3.0% were 65 or older. The pyramid is expansive: its wide base of young cohorts reflects high fertility and a rapidly growing population.

Share of the population by age group, 1950–2100

Data source: United Nations World Population Prospects, 2024 revision (medium variant) — last updated July 2024.

Population
218,529,287
Median age
18.5
0-14 %
42.4%
65+ %
3.0%
Child dependency
77.6
Old-age dependency
5.5
Region
Pyramid shape
Population 2050
359,185,556
Population 2100
476,747,781
Births per woman
Total fertility rate, 1960–2023
1234567
1960Replacement level (2.1)2023 · 4.48

In 2023 women in Nigeria had on average 4.48 children, above the replacement level of 2.1.

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators, latest available year.

Life expectancy at birth
Years, 1960–2023
Total Women Men
30405060
19602023 · 54.5

A child born there in 2023 could expect to live 54.5 years on average (54.7 years for girls, 54.2 for boys).

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators, latest available year.

People supported per 100 workers
Dependency ratios, 1950–2100
Children Older adults
22456890
19502100
Where immigrants come from (2024)

1,262,314 immigrants live in Nigeria, 0.5% of the population.

Benin404,468
Ghana255,531
Mali184,965
Togo169,717
Niger129,540
Where emigrants live (2024)

2,094,162 people born in Nigeria live in other countries.

United States of America565,053
United Kingdom324,007
Niger199,722
Cameroon188,266
Italy112,792
Explore
Immigration statistics Origin of migrant stocks map

Source: United Nations International Migrant Stock 2024.

Country Population Median age Relative size
Nigeria 218,529,287 18.5
Ghana 32,518,665 21.7
Côte d'Ivoire 29,639,737 19.0
Niger 24,502,140 16.0
Mali 22,388,631 16.3
What was the population of Nigeria in 2021?
Nigeria had a population of 218,529,287 in 2021.
Is the population of Nigeria increasing or decreasing?
Nigeria's population grew 27.5% over the previous ten years, and is projected to reach 359,185,556 by 2050.
How old is the population of Nigeria?
Nigeria's median age is 18.5 years.
What share of Nigeria's population is over 65 or under 15?
3.0% of Nigeria's population is 65 or older, and 42.4% is under 15.
What shape is Nigeria's population pyramid, and what does it mean?
Nigeria's pyramid is expansive — broad at the bottom, the signature of high birth rates and a growing population.

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