Nigeria Population Clock
Nigeria has an estimated population of about 237.5 million, which makes it the 6th most populous of the 115 countries tracked here.
Its population is growing rapidly, at 2.06% a year.
The capital is Abuja.
The counter below is a live estimate interpolated from the World Bank's latest annual figures — not a real-time measurement. It links to its source, base year and method via the ⓘ next to it.
Statistics
Population trend
Population 2016–2025 (World Bank)
How Nigeria's population is changing
Nigeria records about 21,131 births and 7,570 deaths a day. That is a natural increase of roughly 13,561 people per day, or about 4.95 million a year before migration is counted.
Net migration runs at about 15,258 over the reported period, with more people leaving than arriving. That is small next to its natural change.
If the current rate held indefinitely, Nigeria would take roughly 34 years to double in size — a projection of today's rate, not a forecast.
Over the 9 years from 2016 to 2025, the population rose from 195.4 million to 237.5 million — a gain of 42.1 million, or 21.5%.
Where people live in Nigeria
With about 250 people per square kilometre, Nigeria is densely populated, roughly 4.0× the world average of 62. That ranks 21st of the 115 countries here. Its closest comparisons on density are Uganda and Germany.
Nigeria covers about 910,770 km² of land, which is what turns a population of 237.5 million into that density figure.
About 63.8% of people live in urban areas, making Nigeria majority urban, above the world average of 57.8%. That works out to roughly 151.5 million town and city dwellers and 86.0 million living rurally.
Age, fertility and life expectancy in Nigeria
Nigeria has a very young population: about 40.5% are under 15 and 3.1% are 65 or older. Children outnumber over-65s by roughly 13.2 to one.
The total fertility rate is about 4.38 births per woman, above the ~2.1 replacement level, which is what sustains growth from births alone. The world figure is about 2.19.
Life expectancy at birth is about 54.6 years, roughly 18.8 years below the global average of 73.5.
Nigeria at a glance
| Indicator | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 237.5 million | 2025 |
| World rank by population | #6 | 2025 |
| Annual growth rate | 2.06% | 2025 |
| Population density | 250 /km² | 2023 |
| Land area | 910,770 km² | 2023 |
| Urban population | 63.8% | 2025 |
| Life expectancy at birth | 54.6 years | 2024 |
| Fertility rate | 4.38 births per woman | 2024 |
| Population under 15 | 40.5% | 2025 |
| Population 65 and over | 3.1% | 2025 |
| Net migration | -15,258 | 2025 |
| Births per day | 21,131 | 2025 |
| Deaths per day | 7,570 | 2025 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Nigeria?
Is Nigeria's population growing or shrinking?
How densely populated is Nigeria?
Where do these Nigeria figures come from?
Current local time in Nigeria
Methodology & sources
Data: World Bank (CC BY 4.0), base year 2025. The live counter animates the latest annual growth rate per second; it is an estimate, not a real-time measurement. No figures are invented — every number traces back to the World Bank indicators listed above.
Source: World Bank