Nigeria’s Official Population is 140 million

After so many years of using estimates in planning, Nigeria (which is Africa’s most populous country, and 9th most populous in the world) now has an official figure for its population. The recent number released today is almost double the figure released in 1991, when the last population census was held.
According to a report by AP:

Nigeria’s population has nearly doubled to an estimated 140 million people since the last count in 1991, according to census figures released Friday.

Population growth in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, is currently running at 3.2 percent, said Samu’ila Danko Makama, chairman of the National Population Commission.

It is unfortunate that

Previous results have been mired in controversy and allegations of fraud, but March’s census left out questions on religion and ethnicity.

The government was concerned that such information would trigger ethnic riots.

Though the fine details of the population census held in March 2006 is yet to be released, the National Population Commission (NPC) said there were more men this time.

Total: 140m
Men: 71.7m
Women: 68.3m

It’s all well and good…

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Oluniyi D. Ajao
Oluniyi D. Ajao is an Internet Entrepreneur and Tech Enthusiast based in South Africa. Follow him on twitter @niyyie for more tech updates.

10 Comments

  1. I am sure Nigeria’s population is actually more than 140 million ‘cos some Nigerians were not counted during the counting excercise

  2. I am sure Nigeria’s population is actually more than 140 million ‘cos some Nigerians were not counted during the counting excercise

    Well, I dont expect every Nigerian to have been counted, due to difficulties with logistics but if a substantial number of people were not counted, then thats a serious issue. Do you have any evidence to show that many were not counted? 🙄

  3. Dear Sir/Ma,

    Can you keep help me with the website address that I will get a comprehensive breakdown of 2006 Nigeria census figure for each state

  4. I study Demography from OAU, IFE. Actually those who knows how to carry out the research were not used. And again the population figure has been merged with politics(since 1953).

  5. Beside the break down of men and women can there be further break downs into classes such as working class population,over age and under age.this well help in tackling of core issues in the country

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