Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Nigeria
Nigeria: Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million was 41.75 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
41.75 million
Change on year
up 3.8%
World rank
8th
of 121 countries
All-time high
41.75 million
in 2025
All-time low
2.15 million
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Nigeria, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 41.75 million for population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.8% on the previous year and up 43.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Nigeria peaked at 41.75 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 2.15 million, in 1960.
Nigeria ranks 8th of 121 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
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 in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 2.15 million | — |
| 1961 | 2.31 million | +7.5% |
| 1962 | 2.48 million | +7.6% |
| 1963 | 2.68 million | +7.7% |
| 1964 | 2.84 million | +6.1% |
| 1965 | 2.99 million | +5.2% |
| 1966 | 3.14 million | +5.3% |
| 1967 | 3.31 million | +5.3% |
| 1968 | 3.49 million | +5.3% |
| 1969 | 3.67 million | +5.4% |
| 1970 | 3.87 million | +5.4% |
| 1971 | 4.09 million | +5.5% |
| 1972 | 4.34 million | +6.3% |
| 1973 | 4.62 million | +6.3% |
| 1974 | 4.91 million | +6.3% |
| 1975 | 5.22 million | +6.4% |
| 1976 | 5.55 million | +6.4% |
| 1977 | 5.91 million | +6.4% |
| 1978 | 6.29 million | +6.5% |
| 1979 | 6.70 million | +6.5% |
| 1980 | 7.14 million | +6.5% |
| 1981 | 7.61 million | +6.6% |
| 1982 | 8.11 million | +6.6% |
| 1983 | 8.65 million | +6.6% |
| 1984 | 9.06 million | +4.8% |
| 1985 | 9.50 million | +4.8% |
| 1986 | 9.96 million | +4.9% |
| 1987 | 10.45 million | +4.9% |
| 1988 | 10.97 million | +5.0% |
| 1989 | 11.52 million | +5.0% |
| 1990 | 12.10 million | +5.0% |
| 1991 | 12.66 million | +4.7% |
| 1992 | 13.16 million | +4.0% |
| 1993 | 13.62 million | +3.5% |
| 1994 | 14.10 million | +3.5% |
| 1995 | 14.59 million | +3.5% |
| 1996 | 15.11 million | +3.5% |
| 1997 | 15.65 million | +3.6% |
| 1998 | 16.21 million | +3.6% |
| 1999 | 16.80 million | +3.6% |
| 2000 | 17.41 million | +3.7% |
| 2001 | 18.05 million | +3.7% |
| 2002 | 18.72 million | +3.7% |
| 2003 | 19.42 million | +3.7% |
| 2004 | 20.15 million | +3.8% |
| 2005 | 20.92 million | +3.8% |
| 2006 | 21.68 million | +3.7% |
| 2007 | 22.40 million | +3.3% |
| 2008 | 23.14 million | +3.3% |
| 2009 | 23.91 million | +3.3% |
| 2010 | 24.72 million | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 25.55 million | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 26.41 million | +3.4% |
| 2013 | 27.31 million | +3.4% |
| 2014 | 28.24 million | +3.4% |
| 2015 | 29.21 million | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 30.21 million | +3.4% |
| 2017 | 31.26 million | +3.5% |
| 2018 | 32.35 million | +3.5% |
| 2019 | 33.49 million | +3.5% |
| 2020 | 34.69 million | +3.6% |
| 2021 | 35.96 million | +3.7% |
| 2022 | 37.31 million | +3.7% |
| 2023 | 38.72 million | +3.8% |
| 2024 | 40.21 million | +3.8% |
| 2025 | 41.75 million | +3.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.91 million | 2.15 million | 3.67 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 5.15 million | 3.87 million | 6.70 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 9.30 million | 7.14 million | 11.52 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 14.40 million | 12.10 million | 16.80 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.58 million | 17.41 million | 23.91 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.87 million | 24.72 million | 33.49 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.11 million | 34.69 million | 41.75 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
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, 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 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 in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Nigeria?
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Nigeria was 41.75 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 41.75 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.15 million in 1960.
- How does Nigeria rank for population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million?
- Nigeria ranks 8th out of 121 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 43.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Population in urban agglomerations of more than one million is the country's population living in metropolitan areas that in 2018 had a population of more than one million people.