According to Nigeria’s National Population Commission (NPC), the country’s current population stands at 198 million people with urban population growing at an average annual growth rate of about 6.5 percent.
This puts Nigeria as the most populous country in Africa and the seventh globally. The recent World Population Prospects report predicts that by 2050, Nigeria will become the third most populated country in the world.
“Over the last 50 years, the Nigeria’s urban population has grown at an average annual growth rate of more than 6.5 per cent without commensurate increase in social amenities and infrastructure. It grew substantially from 17.3 per cent in 1967 to 49.4 per cent of the country’s total population in 2017. In addition, the 2014 World Urbanisation Prospects report, predicts that by 2050, most Nigerians – 70 per cent – will be residing in cities.” NPC notes.
