Nigeria has maintained its status as Africa’s most populous country, with an estimated population of 242.4 million in 2026.
Worldometer population estimates reviewed on Wednesday place Nigeria ahead of Ethiopia and Egypt, which occupy the second and third positions respectively among the continent’s most populous countries.
Africa continues to record the fastest population growth globally, with the continent’s population projected to surpass 2.5 billion by 2050. Analysts attribute the trend to high fertility rates, a predominantly youthful population and improved healthcare outcomes.
Nigeria’s latest population estimate is based on projections, as the country’s last national population census was conducted in 2006, when its population was officially recorded at 140.4 million.
Data from the World Bank indicates that Nigeria’s population expanded at an estimated annual rate of 2.1 per cent in 2025, sustaining its steady demographic growth.
