Nigeria

Nigeria commands Africa’s top demographic position with 223.8 million people—a number that makes it not only the continent’s most populous nation but also the seventh largest globally as of May 2026. Its population, growing at 2.4% annually, represents over 30% of the entire West African region and is projected to reach 250 million by 2030, according to the UN World Population Prospects. This mass exceeds the combined total of #2 DR Congo and #3 Ethiopia, underscoring its unmatched scale in Africa. With a median age of 18.1 years, Nigeria’s youthful profile drives both opportunities and challenges, such as infrastructure strain and economic potential, distinguishing it from Egypt’s older demographic structure.