Population density in Nigeria
Nigeria: Population density was 250.21 people per sq. km of land area in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
250.21 people per sq. km of land area
Change on year
up 2.1%
World rank
52nd
of 215 countries
All-time high
250.21 people per sq. km of land area
in 2023
All-time low
50.49 people per sq. km of land area
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Population density in Nigeria, 1961–2023
Source: FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in people per sq. km of land area.
Analysis
In 2023, population density in Nigeria stood at 250.21 people per sq. km of land area. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.1% on the previous year and up 25.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population density in Nigeria peaked at 250.21 people per sq. km of land area in 2023 and was at its lowest, 50.49 people per sq. km of land area, in 1961.
Nigeria ranks 52nd of 215 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 63 years of available data.
Population density in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | people per sq. km of land area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 50.49 people per sq. km of land area | — |
| 1962 | 51.57 people per sq. km of land area | +2.1% |
| 1963 | 52.67 people per sq. km of land area | +2.1% |
| 1964 | 53.81 people per sq. km of land area | +2.2% |
| 1965 | 54.99 people per sq. km of land area | +2.2% |
| 1966 | 56.2 people per sq. km of land area | +2.2% |
| 1967 | 57.42 people per sq. km of land area | +2.2% |
| 1968 | 58.67 people per sq. km of land area | +2.2% |
| 1969 | 59.98 people per sq. km of land area | +2.2% |
| 1970 | 61.37 people per sq. km of land area | +2.3% |
| 1971 | 62.82 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 1972 | 64.34 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 1973 | 65.97 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
| 1974 | 67.72 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1975 | 69.62 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 1976 | 71.65 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1977 | 73.82 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1978 | 76.12 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 1979 | 78.5 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 1980 | 80.99 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 1981 | 83.52 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 1982 | 86.06 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1983 | 88.32 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 1984 | 90.61 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 1985 | 93.22 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1986 | 95.78 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 1987 | 98.37 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1988 | 101.03 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1989 | 103.79 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1990 | 106.64 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1991 | 109.49 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1992 | 112.4 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 115.42 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1994 | 118.51 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1995 | 121.68 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1996 | 124.9 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 1997 | 128.19 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 131.59 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 1999 | 135.1 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 138.76 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2001 | 142.59 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 146.55 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 150.65 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2004 | 154.88 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2005 | 159.22 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2006 | 163.68 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 168.28 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 173.03 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 177.93 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 182.97 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 188.17 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 193.46 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 198.79 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 204.11 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 209.35 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 214.59 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
| 2017 | 219.87 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 225.02 people per sq. km of land area | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 230.01 people per sq. km of land area | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 234.96 people per sq. km of land area | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 239.94 people per sq. km of land area | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 245.01 people per sq. km of land area | +2.1% |
| 2023 | 250.21 people per sq. km of land area | +2.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 55.09 people per sq. km of land area | 50.49 people per sq. km of land area | 59.98 people per sq. km of land area | 9 |
| 1970s | 69.19 people per sq. km of land area | 61.37 people per sq. km of land area | 78.5 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 1980s | 92.17 people per sq. km of land area | 80.99 people per sq. km of land area | 103.79 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 1990s | 120.39 people per sq. km of land area | 106.64 people per sq. km of land area | 135.1 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2000s | 157.56 people per sq. km of land area | 138.76 people per sq. km of land area | 177.93 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2010s | 206.63 people per sq. km of land area | 182.97 people per sq. km of land area | 230.01 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2020s | 242.53 people per sq. km of land area | 234.96 people per sq. km of land area | 250.21 people per sq. km of land area | 4 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 49 British Virgin Islands 259.9 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 50 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 259.8 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 51 Luxembourg 258.86 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 53 Liechtenstein 249.04 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 54 Uganda 242.65 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 55 Sao Tome and Principe 240.49 people per sq. km of land area compare
More urban development data for Nigeria
- Population in the largest city 11.3% (2025)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 65.74 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.1758 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 41.75 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 3.85 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 42.52 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in largest city 17.16 million (2025)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 3.1 Tonnes (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 645.9 Hectares (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population density in Nigeria?
- Population density in Nigeria was 250.21 people per sq. km of land area in 2023, according to FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest population density recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 250.21 people per sq. km of land area in 2023.
- What is the lowest population density recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 50.49 people per sq. km of land area in 1961.
- How does Nigeria rank for population density?
- Nigeria ranks 52nd out of 215 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population density rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as part of Population density (people per sq. km of land area). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes.