Urban population share — all countries

Urban population share — Nigeria

Urban population share in Nigeria in 2025 — 63.8%. Ranked 112 in the world out of 217. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 49.5 pp.

2025 63.8% +0.8 pp vs 2024
World rank 112of 217
Period maximum 63.8%2025
Period minimum 14.2%1960

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Urban population share — Nigeria, 1960–202502040608019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 14.2%1962: 15.4%1964: 16.5%1966: 17.7%1968: 18.9%1970: 20.2%1972: 21.6%1974: 23%1976: 24.4%1978: 25.9%1980: 27.4%1982: 28.9%1984: 30.5%1986: 32.1%1988: 33.6%1990: 35.2%1992: 36.7%1994: 38.3%1996: 40%1998: 41.6%2000: 43.3%2002: 45%2004: 46.7%2006: 48.4%2008: 50.1%2010: 51.7%2012: 53.3%2014: 54.9%2016: 56.5%2018: 58.2%2020: 59.8%2022: 61.4%2024: 63%2025: 63.8%
Change over the period: +49.5 pp Annual average: 0.76 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Nigeria

Nigeria 63.8%
World 57.8%
Western Africa computed 54.2%
Urban population share — Nigeria, by year Nigeria All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 63.8 +0.8 pp
2024 63 +0.8 pp
2023 62.2 +0.8 pp
2022 61.4 +0.8 pp
2021 60.6 +0.8 pp
2020 59.8 +0.8 pp
2019 59 +0.8 pp
2018 58.2 +0.8 pp
2017 57.3 +0.8 pp
2016 56.5 +0.8 pp
2015 55.7 +0.8 pp
2014 54.9 +0.8 pp
2013 54.1 +0.8 pp
2012 53.3 +0.8 pp
2011 52.5 +0.8 pp
2010 51.7 +0.8 pp
2009 50.9 +0.8 pp
2008 50.1 +0.8 pp
2007 49.2 +0.8 pp
2006 48.4 +0.9 pp
2005 47.6 +0.9 pp
2004 46.7 +0.9 pp
2003 45.8 +0.9 pp
2002 45 +0.9 pp
2001 44.1 +0.8 pp
2000 43.3 +0.8 pp
1999 42.4 +0.8 pp
1998 41.6 +0.8 pp
1997 40.8 +0.8 pp
1996 40 +0.8 pp
1995 39.1 +0.8 pp
1994 38.3 +0.8 pp
1993 37.5 +0.8 pp
1992 36.7 +0.8 pp
1991 36 +0.8 pp
1990 35.2 +0.8 pp
1989 34.4 +0.8 pp
1988 33.6 +0.8 pp
1987 32.8 +0.8 pp
1986 32.1 +0.8 pp
1985 31.3 +0.8 pp
1984 30.5 +0.8 pp
1983 29.7 +0.8 pp
1982 28.9 +0.8 pp
1981 28.2 +0.8 pp
1980 27.4 +0.8 pp
1979 26.7 +0.8 pp
1978 25.9 +0.7 pp
1977 25.2 +0.7 pp
1976 24.4 +0.7 pp
1975 23.7 +0.7 pp
1974 23 +0.7 pp
1973 22.3 +0.7 pp
1972 21.6 +0.7 pp
1971 20.9 +0.7 pp
1970 20.2 +0.7 pp
1969 19.6 +0.6 pp
1968 18.9 +0.6 pp
1967 18.3 +0.6 pp
1966 17.7 +0.6 pp
1965 17.1 +0.6 pp
1964 16.5 +0.6 pp
1963 15.9 +0.6 pp
1962 15.4 +0.6 pp
1961 14.8 +0.6 pp
1960 14.2

About the indicator

The share of population living in urban settlements, as a percent of the total. One caveat is central: each country sets the criteria for a city itself — in some places it is a settlement of 2,000 residents or more, in others 20,000, in others administrative status. Cross-country comparisons of urbanization are therefore always approximate, while the trend within a single country is informative.

Important: Sharp jumps in individual years are usually explained not by people moving but by changes in the administrative boundaries of cities.

Source: World Population Prospects (UN), license CC BY 3.0 IGO.