Urban area over the long-term in Nigeria
Nigeria: Urban area over the long-term was 11,202 km² per grid cell in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
11,202 km² per grid cell
Change on year
up 3.6%
World rank
14th
of 202 countries
All-time high
11,202 km² per grid cell
in 2025
All-time low
0.0071 km² per grid cell
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Urban area over the long-term in Nigeria, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in km² per grid cell.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 11,202 km² per grid cell for urban area over the long-term in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.6% on the previous year and up 45.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban area over the long-term in Nigeria peaked at 11,202 km² per grid cell in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0071 km² per grid cell, in 1000.
That places Nigeria 14th out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban area over the long-term in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | km² per grid cell | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0.0071 km² per grid cell | — |
| 1100 | 0.0227 km² per grid cell | +221.4% |
| 1200 | 0.0726 km² per grid cell | +220.0% |
| 1300 | 0.2451 km² per grid cell | +237.5% |
| 1400 | 0.8169 km² per grid cell | +233.3% |
| 1500 | 2.7 km² per grid cell | +230.0% |
| 1600 | 10.29 km² per grid cell | +281.8% |
| 1700 | 39.7 km² per grid cell | +285.7% |
| 1710 | 44.25 km² per grid cell | +11.5% |
| 1720 | 47.94 km² per grid cell | +8.3% |
| 1730 | 51.93 km² per grid cell | +8.3% |
| 1740 | 56.24 km² per grid cell | +8.3% |
| 1750 | 60.9 km² per grid cell | +8.3% |
| 1760 | 65.94 km² per grid cell | +8.3% |
| 1770 | 71.39 km² per grid cell | +8.3% |
| 1780 | 77.28 km² per grid cell | +8.2% |
| 1790 | 83.64 km² per grid cell | +8.2% |
| 1800 | 90.52 km² per grid cell | +8.2% |
| 1810 | 97.94 km² per grid cell | +8.2% |
| 1820 | 105.96 km² per grid cell | +8.2% |
| 1830 | 114.62 km² per grid cell | +8.2% |
| 1840 | 123.97 km² per grid cell | +8.2% |
| 1850 | 134.05 km² per grid cell | +8.1% |
| 1860 | 152.54 km² per grid cell | +13.8% |
| 1870 | 174.32 km² per grid cell | +14.3% |
| 1880 | 201.24 km² per grid cell | +15.4% |
| 1890 | 234.38 km² per grid cell | +16.5% |
| 1900 | 269.15 km² per grid cell | +14.8% |
| 1910 | 312.45 km² per grid cell | +16.1% |
| 1920 | 341.09 km² per grid cell | +9.2% |
| 1930 | 359.04 km² per grid cell | +5.3% |
| 1940 | 359.04 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 359.04 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1951 | 359.04 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 359.04 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 359.04 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 372.08 km² per grid cell | +3.6% |
| 1955 | 393.39 km² per grid cell | +5.7% |
| 1956 | 416.27 km² per grid cell | +5.8% |
| 1957 | 440.77 km² per grid cell | +5.9% |
| 1958 | 467.21 km² per grid cell | +6.0% |
| 1959 | 495.66 km² per grid cell | +6.1% |
| 1960 | 526.48 km² per grid cell | +6.2% |
| 1961 | 559.71 km² per grid cell | +6.3% |
| 1962 | 595.71 km² per grid cell | +6.4% |
| 1963 | 634.63 km² per grid cell | +6.5% |
| 1964 | 664.99 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 1965 | 691.1 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 1966 | 719.31 km² per grid cell | +4.1% |
| 1967 | 749.84 km² per grid cell | +4.2% |
| 1968 | 782.87 km² per grid cell | +4.4% |
| 1969 | 818.62 km² per grid cell | +4.6% |
| 1970 | 857.44 km² per grid cell | +4.7% |
| 1971 | 890.82 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 1972 | 927.16 km² per grid cell | +4.1% |
| 1973 | 967.5 km² per grid cell | +4.4% |
| 1974 | 1,013 km² per grid cell | +4.7% |
| 1975 | 1,066 km² per grid cell | +5.2% |
| 1976 | 1,123 km² per grid cell | +5.3% |
| 1977 | 1,186 km² per grid cell | +5.7% |
| 1978 | 1,256 km² per grid cell | +5.9% |
| 1979 | 1,330 km² per grid cell | +5.9% |
| 1980 | 1,405 km² per grid cell | +5.7% |
| 1981 | 1,482 km² per grid cell | +5.5% |
| 1982 | 1,561 km² per grid cell | +5.3% |
| 1983 | 1,643 km² per grid cell | +5.2% |
| 1984 | 1,730 km² per grid cell | +5.3% |
| 1985 | 1,823 km² per grid cell | +5.4% |
| 1986 | 1,919 km² per grid cell | +5.2% |
| 1987 | 2,022 km² per grid cell | +5.4% |
| 1988 | 2,131 km² per grid cell | +5.4% |
| 1989 | 2,248 km² per grid cell | +5.4% |
| 1990 | 2,370 km² per grid cell | +5.4% |
| 1991 | 2,494 km² per grid cell | +5.3% |
| 1992 | 2,625 km² per grid cell | +5.2% |
| 1993 | 2,763 km² per grid cell | +5.2% |
| 1994 | 2,908 km² per grid cell | +5.3% |
| 1995 | 3,061 km² per grid cell | +5.3% |
| 1996 | 3,217 km² per grid cell | +5.1% |
| 1997 | 3,381 km² per grid cell | +5.1% |
| 1998 | 3,554 km² per grid cell | +5.1% |
| 1999 | 3,738 km² per grid cell | +5.2% |
| 2000 | 3,922 km² per grid cell | +4.9% |
| 2001 | 4,100 km² per grid cell | +4.5% |
| 2002 | 4,287 km² per grid cell | +4.5% |
| 2003 | 4,482 km² per grid cell | +4.6% |
| 2004 | 4,687 km² per grid cell | +4.6% |
| 2005 | 4,901 km² per grid cell | +4.6% |
| 2006 | 5,127 km² per grid cell | +4.6% |
| 2007 | 5,363 km² per grid cell | +4.6% |
| 2008 | 5,611 km² per grid cell | +4.6% |
| 2009 | 5,870 km² per grid cell | +4.6% |
| 2010 | 6,135 km² per grid cell | +4.5% |
| 2011 | 6,412 km² per grid cell | +4.5% |
| 2012 | 6,696 km² per grid cell | +4.4% |
| 2013 | 7,072 km² per grid cell | +5.6% |
| 2014 | 7,370 km² per grid cell | +4.2% |
| 2015 | 7,676 km² per grid cell | +4.1% |
| 2016 | 7,988 km² per grid cell | +4.1% |
| 2017 | 8,307 km² per grid cell | +4.0% |
| 2018 | 8,633 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 2019 | 8,966 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 2020 | 9,306 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 2021 | 9,672 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 2022 | 10,045 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 2023 | 10,424 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 2024 | 10,810 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 2025 | 11,202 km² per grid cell | +3.6% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 11,202 km² per grid cell is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 837.49 km² per grid cell, 13.4× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 11,202 km² per grid cell is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 733.88 km² per grid cell, 15.3× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban area over the long-term 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1700 | +285.7% | 10.29 km² per grid cell | 39.7 km² per grid cell |
| 1600 | +281.8% | 2.7 km² per grid cell | 10.29 km² per grid cell |
| 1300 | +237.5% | 0.0726 km² per grid cell | 0.2451 km² per grid cell |
| 1400 | +233.3% | 0.2451 km² per grid cell | 0.8169 km² per grid cell |
| 1500 | +230.0% | 0.8169 km² per grid cell | 2.7 km² per grid cell |
| 1100 | +221.4% | 0.0071 km² per grid cell | 0.0227 km² per grid cell |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.0071 km² per grid cell | 0.0071 km² per grid cell | 0.0071 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0227 km² per grid cell | 0.0227 km² per grid cell | 0.0227 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.0726 km² per grid cell | 0.0726 km² per grid cell | 0.0726 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.2451 km² per grid cell | 0.2451 km² per grid cell | 0.2451 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.8169 km² per grid cell | 0.8169 km² per grid cell | 0.8169 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1500s | 2.7 km² per grid cell | 2.7 km² per grid cell | 2.7 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1600s | 10.29 km² per grid cell | 10.29 km² per grid cell | 10.29 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1700s | 39.7 km² per grid cell | 39.7 km² per grid cell | 39.7 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1710s | 44.25 km² per grid cell | 44.25 km² per grid cell | 44.25 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1720s | 47.94 km² per grid cell | 47.94 km² per grid cell | 47.94 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1730s | 51.93 km² per grid cell | 51.93 km² per grid cell | 51.93 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1740s | 56.24 km² per grid cell | 56.24 km² per grid cell | 56.24 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1750s | 60.9 km² per grid cell | 60.9 km² per grid cell | 60.9 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1760s | 65.94 km² per grid cell | 65.94 km² per grid cell | 65.94 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1770s | 71.39 km² per grid cell | 71.39 km² per grid cell | 71.39 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1780s | 77.28 km² per grid cell | 77.28 km² per grid cell | 77.28 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1790s | 83.64 km² per grid cell | 83.64 km² per grid cell | 83.64 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1800s | 90.52 km² per grid cell | 90.52 km² per grid cell | 90.52 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1810s | 97.94 km² per grid cell | 97.94 km² per grid cell | 97.94 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1820s | 105.96 km² per grid cell | 105.96 km² per grid cell | 105.96 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1830s | 114.62 km² per grid cell | 114.62 km² per grid cell | 114.62 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1840s | 123.97 km² per grid cell | 123.97 km² per grid cell | 123.97 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1850s | 134.05 km² per grid cell | 134.05 km² per grid cell | 134.05 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1860s | 152.54 km² per grid cell | 152.54 km² per grid cell | 152.54 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1870s | 174.32 km² per grid cell | 174.32 km² per grid cell | 174.32 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1880s | 201.24 km² per grid cell | 201.24 km² per grid cell | 201.24 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1890s | 234.38 km² per grid cell | 234.38 km² per grid cell | 234.38 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1900s | 269.15 km² per grid cell | 269.15 km² per grid cell | 269.15 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1910s | 312.45 km² per grid cell | 312.45 km² per grid cell | 312.45 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1920s | 341.09 km² per grid cell | 341.09 km² per grid cell | 341.09 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1930s | 359.04 km² per grid cell | 359.04 km² per grid cell | 359.04 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1940s | 359.04 km² per grid cell | 359.04 km² per grid cell | 359.04 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1950s | 402.15 km² per grid cell | 359.04 km² per grid cell | 495.66 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1960s | 674.33 km² per grid cell | 526.48 km² per grid cell | 818.62 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1970s | 1,062 km² per grid cell | 857.44 km² per grid cell | 1,330 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1980s | 1,796 km² per grid cell | 1,405 km² per grid cell | 2,248 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1990s | 3,011 km² per grid cell | 2,370 km² per grid cell | 3,738 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2000s | 4,835 km² per grid cell | 3,922 km² per grid cell | 5,870 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2010s | 7,525 km² per grid cell | 6,135 km² per grid cell | 8,966 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2020s | 10,243 km² per grid cell | 9,306 km² per grid cell | 11,202 km² per grid cell | 6 |
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 urban area over the long-term in Nigeria?
- Urban area over the long-term in Nigeria was 11,202 km² per grid cell in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban area over the long-term recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 11,202 km² per grid cell in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban area over the long-term recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0071 km² per grid cell in 1000.
- How does Nigeria rank for urban area over the long-term?
- Nigeria ranks 14th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban area over the long-term rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 45.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban area over the long-term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total built-up area of a country over time.