Nigeria’s population now 198 million, says NPC chairman

Nigeria’s population now 198 million, says NPC chairman

The Chairman, National Population Commission, Mr. Eze Duruiheoma, has said the estimated population of the country is 198 million. The News Agency of Nigeria reported that Duruiheoma said this in New York while delivering Nigeria’s statement on sustainable cities, human mobility and international migration at the 51st session of the commission on population and development. Nigeria currently ranks as the 7th most populous nation in the world.

As of 2016, the World Bank said Nigeria had an estimated 186 million people living in it. Duruiheoma said urban population was growing at an average annual rate of about 6.5 per cent, adding that teenagers, women of child-bearing age and the working age population, were more engaged in urbanisation. “Nigeria remains the most populous in Africa, the seventh globally with an estimated population of over 198 million,” Duruiheoma said.

He added, “The recent World Population Prospects predicts that by 2050, Nigeria will become the third most populated country in the world. Over the last 50 years, 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.