Nigeria - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Nigeria was 51.96 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 51.96 in 2020, while its lowest value was 15.41 in 1960.

Definition: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The data are collected and smoothed by United Nations Population Division.

Source: United Nations Population Division. World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.

See also:

Year Value
1960 15.41
1961 15.63
1962 15.86
1963 16.09
1964 16.32
1965 16.55
1966 16.79
1967 17.03
1968 17.27
1969 17.51
1970 17.76
1971 18.15
1972 18.55
1973 18.95
1974 19.36
1975 19.78
1976 20.21
1977 20.64
1978 21.07
1979 21.52
1980 21.97
1981 22.67
1982 23.39
1983 24.12
1984 24.87
1985 25.64
1986 26.41
1987 27.21
1988 28.02
1989 28.84
1990 29.68
1991 30.18
1992 30.68
1993 31.18
1994 31.69
1995 32.21
1996 32.73
1997 33.25
1998 33.77
1999 34.30
2000 34.84
2001 35.67
2002 36.51
2003 37.36
2004 38.21
2005 39.07
2006 39.94
2007 40.82
2008 41.70
2009 42.59
2010 43.48
2011 44.37
2012 45.25
2013 46.12
2014 46.98
2015 47.84
2016 48.68
2017 49.52
2018 50.34
2019 51.16
2020 51.96

Development Relevance: Explosive growth of cities globally signifies the demographic transition from rural to urban, and is associated with shifts from an agriculture-based economy to mass industry, technology, and service. In principle, cities offer a more favorable setting for the resolution of social and environmental problems than rural areas. Cities generate jobs and income, and deliver education, health care and other services. Cities also present opportunities for social mobilization and women's empowerment.

Limitations and Exceptions: Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverage. There is no consistent and universally accepted standard for distinguishing urban from rural areas, in part because of the wide variety of situations across countries. Most countries use an urban classification related to the size or characteristics of settlements. Some define urban areas based on the presence of certain infrastructure and services. And other countries designate urban areas based on administrative arrangements. Because of national differences in the characteristics that distinguish urban from rural areas, the distinction between urban and rural population is not amenable to a single definition that would be applicable to all countries. Estimates of the world's urban population would change significantly if China, India, and a few other populous nations were to change their definition of urban centers. Because the estimates of city and metropolitan area are based on national definitions of what constitutes a city or metropolitan area, cross-country comparisons should be made with caution.

Statistical Concept and Methodology: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The indicator is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Percentages urban are the numbers of persons residing in an area defined as ''urban'' per 100 total population. They are calculated by the Statistics Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Particular caution should be used in interpreting the figures for percentage urban for different countries. Countries differ in the way they classify population as "urban" or "rural." The population of a city or metropolitan area depends on the boundaries chosen.

Aggregation method: Weighted average

Periodicity: Annual

Classification

Topic: Environment Indicators

Sub-Topic: Density & urbanization