Nigeria’s population now 242.4 million, remains Africa’s most populous [Full List]

What the report says

Vanguard reported that Nigeria’s population is now estimated at 242.4 million, keeping the country in the position of Africa’s most populous nation. The report said the figure is a projection rather than the result of a fresh headcount, noting that Nigeria’s most recent national census was held in 2006, when the official population was put at 140.4 million.

The publicly available snippet from Vanguard does not state which agency or dataset produced the new estimate, nor does it provide the methodology behind the projection. It also indicates that the article included a “full list,” but the available text does not show the other countries or comparative figures. For that reason, the central verifiable development is the reported estimate and its context against Nigeria’s last official census.

Population numbers carry major policy weight in Nigeria. They influence planning for schools, hospitals, housing, infrastructure, security, elections and revenue sharing among federal, state and local authorities. Because the country has not completed a national census since 2006, government agencies, international organizations and researchers often rely on projections to assess demographic trends.

The report also underscores a long-running data challenge for Africa’s largest country by population. Without a recent census, estimates can guide debate and planning, but they do not replace a nationally conducted and officially accepted enumeration. A new census would be significant because it could update the baseline used for development planning and public resource allocation.