In a recent blog post, UN Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted the need to contemplate the rapid global transformations concerning population dynamics.
In the previous year, the global population exceeded 8 billion, witnessing India surpass China as the most populous nation. According to forecasts, countries like China, Japan, Germany, and the US could confront population declines by 2100, potentially leading to significant economic challenges.
In contrast, certain regions are on the brink of experiencing population growth in the upcoming decades, with Nigeria standing out prominently. Back in 1982, Nigeria’s population was under 80 million, placing it outside the top 10 most populous countries. However, its population has nearly tripled, reaching 225 million, securing the sixth position.
According to recent UN projections, Nigeria’s population is anticipated to almost double by 2050, reaching around 377 million. This surge would position Nigeria as a close contender with the US for the distinction of being the world’s third most populous country, surpassing Pakistan and Indonesia.
Nigeria’s remarkable growth parallels the trajectory of the African continent, as the UN estimates that five out of the eight countries contributing to half of the world’s population growth in the next 27 years are in Africa.
Tighisti Amare, Deputy Director of the Africa Programme at Chatham House in London, underscored that Africa is the world’s swiftest-growing and youngest continent, with 70% of its population being under 30.
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