Air passengers in Nigeria
Nigeria: Air passengers was 5.27 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Air passengers in Nigeria, 1970–2023
Source: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 5.27 million for air passengers in 2023.
The figure is up 1.1% on the previous year and up 25.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, air passengers in Nigeria peaked at 7.79 million in 2018 and was at its lowest, 173,000, in 1970.
That places Nigeria 60th out of 183 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Air passengers in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 173,000 | — |
| 1971 | 227,100 | +31.3% |
| 1972 | 286,800 | +26.3% |
| 1973 | 314,100 | +9.5% |
| 1974 | 430,300 | +37.0% |
| 1975 | 590,400 | +37.2% |
| 1976 | 800,800 | +35.6% |
| 1977 | 1.09 million | +36.6% |
| 1978 | 1.44 million | +31.7% |
| 1979 | 1.58 million | +9.7% |
| 1980 | 1.94 million | +22.6% |
| 1981 | 2.30 million | +18.7% |
| 1982 | 2.14 million | -7.0% |
| 1983 | 2.22 million | +3.9% |
| 1984 | 1.95 million | -12.4% |
| 1985 | 2.58 million | +32.3% |
| 1986 | 2.13 million | -17.1% |
| 1987 | 1.61 million | -24.3% |
| 1988 | 995,000 | -38.4% |
| 1989 | 848,900 | -14.7% |
| 1990 | 964,800 | +13.7% |
| 1991 | 930,000 | -3.6% |
| 1992 | 646,500 | -30.5% |
| 1993 | 608,400 | -5.9% |
| 1994 | 664,800 | +9.3% |
| 1995 | 547,900 | -17.6% |
| 1996 | 221,200 | -59.6% |
| 1997 | 318,200 | +43.9% |
| 1998 | 313,400 | -1.5% |
| 1999 | 419,700 | +33.9% |
| 2000 | 507,396 | +20.9% |
| 2001 | 519,453 | +2.4% |
| 2002 | 520,278 | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 520,263 | -0.0% |
| 2004 | 540,461 | +3.9% |
| 2005 | 747,648 | +38.3% |
| 2006 | 1.31 million | +74.9% |
| 2007 | 1.36 million | +4.3% |
| 2008 | 1.46 million | +7.1% |
| 2009 | 1.37 million | -6.5% |
| 2010 | 4.20 million | +207.4% |
| 2011 | 4.79 million | +14.2% |
| 2012 | 4.72 million | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 4.21 million | -10.7% |
| 2014 | 4.46 million | +6.0% |
| 2015 | 4.61 million | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 4.11 million | -10.9% |
| 2017 | 4.79 million | +16.5% |
| 2018 | 7.79 million | +62.6% |
| 2019 | 6.54 million | -16.0% |
| 2020 | 3.44 million | -47.5% |
| 2021 | 4.49 million | +30.6% |
| 2022 | 5.21 million | +16.2% |
| 2023 | 5.27 million | +1.1% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 5.27 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 690,677, 7.6× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 5.27 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 109,542, 48.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Air passengers in Nigeria changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | +207.4% | 1.37 million | 4.20 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 693,870 | 173,000 | 1.58 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.87 million | 848,900 | 2.58 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 563,490 | 221,200 | 964,800 | 10 |
| 2000s | 885,272 | 507,396 | 1.46 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.02 million | 4.11 million | 7.79 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.60 million | 3.44 million | 5.27 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More reference data data for Nigeria
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.77 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 19.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 5.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 5.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 81.9 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 121.16 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 14.27 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is air passengers in Nigeria?
- Air passengers in Nigeria was 5.27 million in 2023, according to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest air passengers recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 7.79 million in 2018.
- What is the lowest air passengers recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 173,000 in 1970.
- How does Nigeria rank for air passengers?
- Nigeria ranks 60th out of 183 countries with data for 2023.
- Is air passengers rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Air passengers. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Domestic and international passengers of airlines registered in the country. Passengers counted each time they travel.