Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square in Nigeria
Nigeria: Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square was 42.52 units per square kilometre in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square in Nigeria, 1961–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in units per square kilometre.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square in Nigeria is 42.52 units per square kilometre, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.8% on the previous year and up 41.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square in Nigeria peaked at 42.52 units per square kilometre in 2023 and was at its lowest, 2.53 units per square kilometre, in 1961.
Nigeria ranks 25th of 121 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | units per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 2.53 units per square kilometre | — |
| 1962 | 2.73 units per square kilometre | +7.6% |
| 1963 | 2.94 units per square kilometre | +7.7% |
| 1964 | 3.12 units per square kilometre | +6.1% |
| 1965 | 3.28 units per square kilometre | +5.2% |
| 1966 | 3.45 units per square kilometre | +5.3% |
| 1967 | 3.64 units per square kilometre | +5.3% |
| 1968 | 3.83 units per square kilometre | +5.3% |
| 1969 | 4.03 units per square kilometre | +5.4% |
| 1970 | 4.25 units per square kilometre | +5.4% |
| 1971 | 4.49 units per square kilometre | +5.5% |
| 1972 | 4.77 units per square kilometre | +6.3% |
| 1973 | 5.07 units per square kilometre | +6.3% |
| 1974 | 5.39 units per square kilometre | +6.3% |
| 1975 | 5.73 units per square kilometre | +6.4% |
| 1976 | 6.1 units per square kilometre | +6.4% |
| 1977 | 6.49 units per square kilometre | +6.4% |
| 1978 | 6.91 units per square kilometre | +6.5% |
| 1979 | 7.36 units per square kilometre | +6.5% |
| 1980 | 7.84 units per square kilometre | +6.5% |
| 1981 | 8.35 units per square kilometre | +6.6% |
| 1982 | 8.9 units per square kilometre | +6.6% |
| 1983 | 9.49 units per square kilometre | +6.6% |
| 1984 | 9.95 units per square kilometre | +4.8% |
| 1985 | 10.43 units per square kilometre | +4.8% |
| 1986 | 10.94 units per square kilometre | +4.9% |
| 1987 | 11.48 units per square kilometre | +4.9% |
| 1988 | 12.05 units per square kilometre | +5.0% |
| 1989 | 12.65 units per square kilometre | +5.0% |
| 1990 | 13.28 units per square kilometre | +5.0% |
| 1991 | 13.9 units per square kilometre | +4.7% |
| 1992 | 14.45 units per square kilometre | +4.0% |
| 1993 | 14.96 units per square kilometre | +3.5% |
| 1994 | 15.48 units per square kilometre | +3.5% |
| 1995 | 16.02 units per square kilometre | +3.5% |
| 1996 | 16.59 units per square kilometre | +3.5% |
| 1997 | 17.18 units per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 1998 | 17.8 units per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 1999 | 18.44 units per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 2000 | 19.12 units per square kilometre | +3.7% |
| 2001 | 19.82 units per square kilometre | +3.7% |
| 2002 | 20.55 units per square kilometre | +3.7% |
| 2003 | 21.32 units per square kilometre | +3.7% |
| 2004 | 22.13 units per square kilometre | +3.8% |
| 2005 | 22.96 units per square kilometre | +3.8% |
| 2006 | 23.81 units per square kilometre | +3.7% |
| 2007 | 24.59 units per square kilometre | +3.3% |
| 2008 | 25.41 units per square kilometre | +3.3% |
| 2009 | 26.26 units per square kilometre | +3.3% |
| 2010 | 27.14 units per square kilometre | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 28.05 units per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 29 units per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 2013 | 29.98 units per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 2014 | 31.01 units per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 2015 | 32.07 units per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 33.17 units per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 2017 | 34.32 units per square kilometre | +3.5% |
| 2018 | 35.52 units per square kilometre | +3.5% |
| 2019 | 36.77 units per square kilometre | +3.5% |
| 2020 | 38.09 units per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 2021 | 39.49 units per square kilometre | +3.7% |
| 2022 | 40.96 units per square kilometre | +3.7% |
| 2023 | 42.52 units per square kilometre | +3.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.28 units per square kilometre | 2.53 units per square kilometre | 4.03 units per square kilometre | 9 |
| 1970s | 5.66 units per square kilometre | 4.25 units per square kilometre | 7.36 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1980s | 10.21 units per square kilometre | 7.84 units per square kilometre | 12.65 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1990s | 15.81 units per square kilometre | 13.28 units per square kilometre | 18.44 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2000s | 22.6 units per square kilometre | 19.12 units per square kilometre | 26.26 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 31.7 units per square kilometre | 27.14 units per square kilometre | 36.77 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 40.26 units per square kilometre | 38.09 units per square kilometre | 42.52 units per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 22 Portugal 47.22 units per square kilometre compare
- 23 China 47 units per square kilometre compare
- 24 Türkiye 42.64 units per square kilometre compare
- 26 Armenia 38.82 units per square kilometre compare
- 27 Italy 38.72 units per square kilometre compare
- 28 Togo 36.43 units per square kilometre compare
More urban development data for Nigeria
- Population in the largest city 11.3% (2025)
- Population density 250.21 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 65.74 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 41.75 million (2025)
- 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, 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 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 in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square in Nigeria?
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square in Nigeria was 42.52 units per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 42.52 units per square kilometre in 2023.
- What is the lowest population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.53 units per square kilometre in 1961.
- How does Nigeria rank for population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square?
- Nigeria ranks 25th out of 121 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 41.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN)
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.