Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Nigeria
Nigeria: Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents was 20.4% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Nigeria, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 20.4% for share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is up 25.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Nigeria peaked at 20.4% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1950.
Nigeria ranks 69th of 180 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1960s | 3.1% | 2.8% | 3.4% | 2 |
| 1970s | 3.9% | 3.6% | 4.1% | 2 |
| 1980s | 9.7% | 9.0% | 10.4% | 2 |
| 1990s | 11.5% | 11.3% | 11.7% | 2 |
| 2000s | 14.8% | 14.7% | 14.9% | 2 |
| 2010s | 17.8% | 16.3% | 19.2% | 2 |
| 2020s | 20.4% | 20.4% | 20.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 66 Belarus 21.1% compare
- 67 Cote d'Ivoire 21.0% compare
- 68 Denmark 20.5% compare
- 70 United States 20.4% compare
- 71 Tunisia 20.2% compare
- 72 Central African Republic 20.2% compare
More reference data data for Nigeria
- Spring temperature anomalies 0.3216 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.3105 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 1.8 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.4187 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 1.76 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 860.32 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 0 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Nigeria?
- Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Nigeria was 20.4% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 20.4% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1950.
- How does Nigeria rank for share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents?
- Nigeria ranks 69th out of 180 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the total population living in cities with 1 million or more people. City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.