Nigeria Population Pyramid (2026)
Nigeria has a population of 242,431,831 in 2026, according to the UN World Population Prospects 2024 (projection for 1 July). That is the 6th-largest population in the world and 2.92% of the global total of 8.30 billion. Children under 15 make up 40.0% of the population and people aged 65 and over 3.1%, with 102.5 males for every 100 females.
Nigeria Demographics
Nigeria has 242.4 million people in 2026, up 333.7% from 55.9 million in 1970.
Births outnumber deaths by 4,930,969 (UN projection for 2026).
Median age 18.3 — the 19th-lowest of 194 countries.
Under-15 share 40.0% — the 21st-highest of 194 countries.
Largest generation: Gen Z — 31.9% (77,444,296)
All generations in Nigeria →
Population pyramid, 1950 to 2026
Watch how Nigeria's population structure evolved from 1950 to 2026
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Sex Ratio & Gender Distribution
Nigeria has 102.5 males per 100 females (sex ratio)
Men outnumber women by 2,984,783 (1.2% of the population).
Male Statistics
- Population:122,708,307
- Percentage:50.6%
Female Statistics
- Population:119,723,524
- Percentage:49.4%
- Ratio Format:1:0.976
Sex Ratio Analysis
The sex ratio of Nigeria indicates more males than females.
Birth Statistics & Natality Data
Estimated births today
Simulated from the UN WPP 2024 projection of 7,711,752 births in 2026.
Current Birth Metrics (2026)
Temporal Distribution
Averages from the UN annual births, 2026 projection
Historical Birth Rate Trends, 1950 to 2026
Birth Statistics, 2021 to 2026
| Year | Births | Birth Rate (per 1,000) | TFR (children/woman) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,330,875 | 33.5 | 4.64 | estimate |
| 2022 | 7,406,815 | 33.2 | 4.55 | estimate |
| 2023 | 7,509,758 | 33.0 | 4.48 | estimate |
| 2024 | 7,560,407 | 32.5 | 4.38 | projection |
| 2025 | 7,640,590 | 32.2 | 4.30 | projection |
| 2026 | 7,711,752 | 31.8 | 4.21 | projection |
Historical Analysis
Global Context (2026)
Source: UN WPP 2024: births, birth rate and fertility for 2024 and later are medium-variant projections; 1950–2023 are estimates. The live counter is a uniform simulation of the 2026 projection (7,711,752 births), not a real-time feed.
Median Age Analysis
Nigeria's median age is 18.3 years
Half the population is younger than 18.3 years, half is older — indicating a very young society
Complete Age Distribution & Youth Demographics
| Age Group | Population | % | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 34,641,867 | 14.3% | Youth |
| 5-9 | 31,740,912 | 13.1% | Youth |
| 10-14 | 30,627,527 | 12.6% | Youth |
| 15-19 | 27,598,659 | 11.4% | Young Adult |
| 20-24 | 23,734,729 | 9.8% | Young Adult |
| 25-29 | 18,882,966 | 7.8% | Working Age |
| 30-34 | 15,513,404 | 6.4% | Working Age |
| 35-39 | 13,112,974 | 5.4% | Working Age |
| 40-44 | 11,450,374 | 4.7% | Working Age |
| 45-49 | 9,740,955 | 4.0% | Working Age |
| 50-54 | 7,637,494 | 3.2% | Working Age |
| 55-59 | 5,811,779 | 2.4% | Working Age |
| 60-64 | 4,442,312 | 1.8% | Working Age |
| 65-69 | 3,251,984 | 1.3% | Senior |
| 70-74 | 2,163,616 | 0.9% | Senior |
| 75-79 | 1,241,201 | 0.5% | Senior |
| 80-84 | 600,893 | 0.2% | Senior |
| 85-89 | 195,924 | 0.1% | Senior |
| 90-94 | 38,157 | 0.0% | Senior |
| 95-99 | 3,898 | 0.0% | Senior |
| 100+ | 208 | 0.0% | Senior |
Demographic Transition Model (DTM) Stage
Stage 2 (high birth rate, falling death rate): 31.8 births and 11.5 deaths per 1,000, a natural increase of about 2.0% a year (births minus deaths, before migration). Read more about Stage 2 of the Demographic Transition Model.
Fertility Rate & Birth Statistics
Nigeria Total Fertility Rate: 4.21 children per woman
Above the replacement level of 2.1
Fertility Rate Trends
Historical data (solid line) and future projections (dashed line)
Historical Fertility Trends
| Year | Total Fertility Rate | Birth Rate | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4.64 | 33.5 | |
| 2022 | 4.55 | 33.2 | ↓0.09 |
| 2023 | 4.48 | 33.0 | ↓0.07 |
| 2024 | 4.38 | 32.5 | ↓0.10 |
| 2025 | 4.30 | 32.2 | ↓0.08 |
| 2026 | 4.21 | 31.8 | ↓0.09 |
Global Context
- • World Average: 2.23 children per woman
- • Comparison: Above global average
- • UN projection for 2030: 3.82
Nigeria's total fertility rate is 4.21 children per woman in 2026 (high fertility), above the replacement level of 2.1. Nigeria ranks 15 of 194 for fertility rate (1 = highest), in the highest third of countries. The fertility rate has changed by −34.4% since 1950.
Historical Demographic Changes
Between 1950 and 2026, Nigeria's population has increased by 550.2%.
The median age is almost unchanged: 18.1 in 1950, 18.3 in 2026.
Understanding Nigeria's Demographics
Nigeria has an expansive population pyramid — a broad base of children that narrows steadily toward older ages.
Children under 15 make up 40.0% of the population and people aged 65 and over 3.1%.
The largest five-year age band is 0–4, at 14.3% of the population.
Demographic Analysis: Nigeria's Population Structure
Demographic Dividend Window
The working-age share is still rising, from 52.9% in 2016 to 56.9% in 2026 (dependency ratio 75.8).
Fertility Transition Stage
Nigeria is in a period of high fertility, with a total fertility rate of 4.21 children per woman (2026, UN WPP 2024).
Population Aging Speed
Nigeria's median age changed by +1.6 years from 2016 to 2026, slower than the world average (+2.6 years).
Key Demographics
| Total Population | 242,431,831 |
| Male Population | 122,708,307(50.6%) |
| Female Population | 119,723,524(49.4%) |
| Median Age | 18.3 years |
| Sex Ratio | 102.5 males per 100 females |
| Youth (0-14) | 97,010,306(40.0%) |
| Working Age (15-64) | 137,925,644(56.9%) |
| Elderly (65+) | 7,495,881(3.1%) |
| Total Dependency Ratio | 75.8 |
| Youth Dependency Ratio | 70.3 |
| Old Age Dependency Ratio | 5.4 |
| Pyramid Type | Expansive |
Dependency Ratios: Number of dependents per 100 working-age individuals.
Demographic Data Visualizations
Total population, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Median age, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Youth, working-age and elderly shares, 1950 vs 2026 (UN WPP 2024).
Age distribution in 2026: youth, working-age and elderly shares (UN WPP 2024; projection).
Life Expectancy in Nigeria
How long the average person in Nigeria is expected to live · sourced from UN WPP 2024
Historical Trend, 1950 → 2026 (plus UN projection to 2100)
Solid: actual · Dashed: medium-variant projectionFuture Demographic Trends
Nigeria is projected to grow to 359.2 million people by 2050 (+48.2% from 2026).
The median age rises from 18.3 in 2026 to 23.9 by 2050.
Major Events That Shaped Nigeria's Demographics
Understanding the historical events and policy decisions that created Nigeria's current population structure.
Oil Boom and Urbanization
1970s-1980sPetroleum revenues drove rapid economic growth and urban expansion.
Demographic Impact
During the oil boom the population climbed from 55.9 million in 1970 to 73.8 million in 1980, the annual growth rate reached 3.1% by 1980, total fertility was 6.85 children per woman, and life expectancy at birth rose from 40.0 to 46.0 years.
Structural Adjustment and Economic Crisis
1980s-1990sOil price collapse and economic reforms created widespread hardship.
Demographic Impact
Total fertility was 6.46 children per woman in 1990, and the median age was 16.2 years.
Democratic Transition and Development Focus
1999-presentReturn to civilian rule brought renewed development efforts and international aid.
Demographic Impact
Population grew from 123.0 million in 1999 to 214.0 million by 2020, total fertility fell from 6.08 to 4.70 children per woman, and Nigeria is projected to be the world's 5th most populous country by 2050.
Nigeria's Demographic Evolution by Decade
The population increased by 32.0%, growing from 55.9 million in 1970 to 73.8 million by 1980
The median age decreased by 1.2 years, indicating a younger demographic profile during this period
The youth population share expanded by 2.3 percentage points.
Key Demographic Highlights
- • Population changed from 55.9M to 73.8M
- • Growth rate of 32% over the decade
- • Median age shifted from 17.9 to 16.7 years (−1.2y)
- • 65+ share changed by −0.1 points; under-15 share by +2.3 points
How Does Nigeria Compare to Its Neighbors?
Nigeria has a younger population than Ghana. Nigeria has an older population than Cameroon, Niger, Chad.
Nigeria
Cameroon
Niger
Chad
Ghana
Frequently Asked Questions About Nigeria
How does Nigeria rank globally by population?
Nigeria ranks 6th in the world by population with 242.4 million people as of 2026, representing 2.92% of the global total of 8.30 billion.
What does Nigeria's age structure reveal about its development?
Nigeria's age structure — 40.0% under 15, 56.9% working-age (15–64) and 3.1% aged 65+ — is that of a country in Stage 2 of the demographic transition, with an expansive population pyramid. The median age is 18.3 years.
What is the dependency ratio in Nigeria?
Nigeria has 75.8 people under 15 or aged 65+ per 100 people aged 15–64 in 2026.
Is Nigeria experiencing a demographic dividend?
Nigeria is opening its demographic-dividend window. The working-age share is still rising, from 52.9% in 2016 to 56.9% in 2026 (dependency ratio 75.8). The demographic dividend occurs when falling fertility creates a bulge in the working-age population while dependency ratios stay manageable.
What are the gender dynamics in Nigeria's population?
Nigeria has more males than females, with 102.5 males per 100 females.
Compare with Other Countries
Data Sources & Methodology
All population data is sourced from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. The data represents UN medium-variant projections.
Cite this page: Population Pyramids. (2026). Nigeria Population Pyramid and Demographic Analysis. Retrieved from https://www.populationpyramids.org/nigeria
View UN World Population Prospects Data →