Nigeria’s population is the world’s second fastest growing

Nigeria’s population is growing faster than almost every other country in the world.

In the past year alone, 4.8 million people were added, making it the second-highest increase globally, according to data from Worldometer. The only country that grew by more was India which added 12.9 million.

With 232.7 million people, Nigeria is the sixth most populated country in the world, after India, China, the U.S., Indonesia, and Pakistan. However, unlike some of these countries, Nigeria’s population is increasing at a much faster rate—2.1% per year.

Nigeria is not the only African country growing fast. 10 of the top 20 fastest-growing countries are in Africa. These include:

• Democratic Republic of Congo (3.5 million people added)
• Ethiopia (3.3 million added)
• Tanzania (1.9 million added)

Africa’s high birth rates are major reason for this rapid population growth. The top 11 countries with the highest fertility rates are all African countries, led by DR Congo, Chad, Somalia and Central African Republic. Nigeria’s birth rate ranks 16th.

A growing population can be both a blessing and a challenge. On the positive side, it means more young people who can work and grow the economy. Sectors like technology, entertainment, and agriculture could benefit from a large workforce.

However, if the government does not plan well, the growing population could lead to more unemployment, poverty, and pressure on schools, hospitals, and housing. Already, many young people struggle to find jobs, and poor infrastructure makes life harder for many Nigerians.

A Global Trend

While Africa leads in growth rate, Asia has some of the largest growing populations too. Countries like Pakistan (3.7 million new people), Indonesia (2.2 million), and Bangladesh (2 million) are also seeing big increases.

Experts say Nigeria must create more jobs, improve education, and invest in public services to manage this rapid growth.