Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in Nigeria
Nigeria: Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) was 36.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
36.2%
Change on year
down 2.2%
World rank
107th
of 218 countries
All-time high
85.8%
in 1960
All-time low
36.2%
in 2025
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Rural population in Nigeria, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
In 2025, rural population in Nigeria stood at 36.2%. That is the lowest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is down 2.2% on the previous year and down 18.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Nigeria peaked at 85.8% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 36.2%, in 2025.
Nigeria ranks 107th of 218 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 66 years of available data.
Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 85.8% | — |
| 1961 | 85.2% | -0.7% |
| 1962 | 84.6% | -0.7% |
| 1963 | 84.1% | -0.7% |
| 1964 | 83.5% | -0.7% |
| 1965 | 82.9% | -0.7% |
| 1966 | 82.3% | -0.7% |
| 1967 | 81.7% | -0.7% |
| 1968 | 81.1% | -0.8% |
| 1969 | 80.4% | -0.8% |
| 1970 | 79.8% | -0.8% |
| 1971 | 79.1% | -0.8% |
| 1972 | 78.4% | -0.9% |
| 1973 | 77.7% | -0.9% |
| 1974 | 77.0% | -0.9% |
| 1975 | 76.3% | -0.9% |
| 1976 | 75.6% | -1.0% |
| 1977 | 74.8% | -1.0% |
| 1978 | 74.1% | -1.0% |
| 1979 | 73.3% | -1.0% |
| 1980 | 72.6% | -1.0% |
| 1981 | 71.8% | -1.1% |
| 1982 | 71.1% | -1.1% |
| 1983 | 70.3% | -1.1% |
| 1984 | 69.5% | -1.1% |
| 1985 | 68.7% | -1.1% |
| 1986 | 67.9% | -1.1% |
| 1987 | 67.2% | -1.2% |
| 1988 | 66.4% | -1.2% |
| 1989 | 65.6% | -1.2% |
| 1990 | 64.8% | -1.2% |
| 1991 | 64.0% | -1.2% |
| 1992 | 63.3% | -1.2% |
| 1993 | 62.5% | -1.2% |
| 1994 | 61.7% | -1.3% |
| 1995 | 60.9% | -1.3% |
| 1996 | 60.0% | -1.3% |
| 1997 | 59.2% | -1.4% |
| 1998 | 58.4% | -1.4% |
| 1999 | 57.6% | -1.4% |
| 2000 | 56.7% | -1.5% |
| 2001 | 55.9% | -1.5% |
| 2002 | 55.0% | -1.5% |
| 2003 | 54.2% | -1.6% |
| 2004 | 53.3% | -1.6% |
| 2005 | 52.4% | -1.6% |
| 2006 | 51.6% | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 50.8% | -1.6% |
| 2008 | 49.9% | -1.6% |
| 2009 | 49.1% | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 48.3% | -1.7% |
| 2011 | 47.5% | -1.7% |
| 2012 | 46.7% | -1.7% |
| 2013 | 45.9% | -1.7% |
| 2014 | 45.1% | -1.8% |
| 2015 | 44.3% | -1.8% |
| 2016 | 43.5% | -1.8% |
| 2017 | 42.7% | -1.9% |
| 2018 | 41.8% | -1.9% |
| 2019 | 41.0% | -1.9% |
| 2020 | 40.2% | -2.0% |
| 2021 | 39.4% | -2.0% |
| 2022 | 38.6% | -2.0% |
| 2023 | 37.8% | -2.1% |
| 2024 | 37.0% | -2.1% |
| 2025 | 36.2% | -2.2% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 36.2% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 49.1%, 74% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 36.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 55.1%, 66% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 83.2% | 80.4% | 85.8% | 10 |
| 1970s | 76.6% | 73.3% | 79.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 69.1% | 65.6% | 72.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 61.2% | 57.6% | 64.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 52.9% | 49.1% | 56.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 44.7% | 41.0% | 48.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.2% | 36.2% | 40.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More agriculture & rural data for Nigeria
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.9222 % change on previous year (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0002 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per capita 0.1938 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.5433 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0002 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 0.2993 hectares per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 2.38 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2298 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 281.32 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.1218 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Nigeria?
- Rural population in Nigeria was 36.2% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 85.8% in 1960.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.2% in 2025.
- How does Nigeria rank for rural population?
- Nigeria ranks 107th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Rural population (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.