Lagos Flag

Lagos

Country:
Nigeria
Continent:
Africa

Lagos's 2025 population is now estimated at 17,156,400. In 1950, the population of Lagos was 325,218. Lagos has grown by 620,400 in the last year, which represents a 3.75% annual change. These population estimates and projections come from the latest revision of the UN World Urbanization Prospects . These estimates represent the Urban agglomeration of Lagos, which typically includes Lagos's population in addition to adjacent suburban areas.

17.2M
Total Population
620.4K 3.75%
Growth
No
Capital of Nigeria?

Lagos Population

Lagos Overview

Lagos is a port city and the most populous city in Nigeria. The metropolitan area originated on islands, including Lagos Island, that were protected from the Atlantic Ocean by sand spits. The city has expanded onto the mainland west of the lagoon, however, with Ikeja, the capital of Lagos, and Agege over 25 miles northwest of Lagos Island. Lagos has a population estimated at 21 million in 2016, which makes it the largest city in Africa.

The Lagos State Government estimates the population of Lagos at 17.5 million, although this number has been disputed by the Nigerian Government and found to be unreliable by the National Population Commission of Nigeria, which put the population at over 21 million in 2016. Lagos surpassed Cairo in size in 2012 to become the largest city of Africa. The population was estimated at just 11.2 million in 2011 by the United Nations.

City Size and Population Density

The city of Lagos covers an immense area, coming in with a total of 1,171.28 square kilometers (452.23 square miles). With the population continuing to grow, and currently exceeding at least 17 million residents, the population density is around 6,871 residents per square kilometer (17,800 per square mile).

Lagos Demographics

Lagos was originally inhabited by the Awori group of the Yoruba people. Today, it has a very diverse population due to heavy migration from other parts of Nigeria and surrounding countries. The Yoruba are the dominant ethnic group. There are more than 250 ethnic groups represented in Lagos, however, including the Hausa, Igbo, and Fulani. Small minorities of American, British, East Indian, Chinese, white Zimbabwean, Greek, Syrian, Lebanese and Japanese are also present in the city. In the mid-19th century, many ex-slaves of Afro-Brazilian and Afro-Cuban descent and emigrants from Sierra Leone created communities in Lagos, along with ex-slaves from the Americas. They became missionaries and merchants in the city.

While there are many millionaires in Lagos, about 66% of the population lives in slums. The city has been dubbed the “mega-city of slums,” with millions living in and around the lagoons with no access to roads, clean water, electricity or waste disposal. The World Bank has identified 9 of the largest slums of the city for upgrading with a $200 million loan from the United States, which would benefit about one million people. One large slum is Makoko, which has no security and rampant crime.

Lagos Population Growth

Lagos has enjoyed tremendous growth, reaching 21 million from just 1.4 million as recently as 1970. The city now generates 25% of Nigeria’s total gross domestic product, and it has many millionaires. It is also the 8th fastest growing city in Africa. Unlike the rest of Nigeria, Lagos is an excellent example of what is possible when the government offers energy and other initiatives to its residents.

Oddly enough, in 1999 the United Nations predicted that the city’s metropolitan area, which had only about 290,000 inhabitants in 1950, would exceed 20 million by 2010 and thus become one of the ten most populated cities in the world. It is certainly close - between the predictions and current estimates - and we will continue to watch as the growth unfolds in this city.

Lagos is also a window to the future. In about 25 years, at the rate Nigeria is currently growing, it will have a population of 300 million, or the same as the present-day United States, all living in an area the size of Nevada, New Mexico, and Arizona. With the population doubling over the last 15 years, living standards across Nigeria remain poor. Today, 25% of Africans are Nigerian.

By 2050, Lagos’ population is expected to double once more, which will make it the 3rd largest city in the world but with less infrastructure than any other large cities of the world.

Other Cities in Nigeria

City
2025 Pop. ↓
Growth
Kano4,645,320
Abuja4,209,940
Ibadan4,144,130
Port Harcourt3,793,780
Benin City2,044,650
Onitsha1,767,110
Uyo1,457,020
Nnewi1,361,840
Aba1,274,780
Kaduna1,259,940
Ilorin1,099,960
Warri1,076,120
Owerri1,063,680
Jos1,035,090
Umuahia990,439
Lokoja931,092
Enugu906,658
Maiduguri898,535
Zaria809,652
Akure803,062
Sokoto761,331
Bauchi723,806
Abakaliki723,065
Calabar712,904
Gombe619,995
Abeokuta607,580
Ado-Ekiti577,950
Potiskum565,496
Katsina564,796
Okene546,482
Ebute Ikorodu535,619
Minna532,497
Ondo509,723
Oyo505,697
Makurdi489,839
Saki471,650
Ikot Ekpene467,604
Birnin Kebbi445,671
Ijebu-Ode408,731
Lafia402,860
Ikeja313,196
Efon-Alaaye279,319
Ilesa277,904
Owo276,574
Iwo250,443
Jimeta248,148
Atani230,000
Gusau226,857
Mubi225,705
Ikire222,160
Shagamu214,558
Ugep200,276
Ise-Ekiti190,063
Ila Orangun179,192
Bida171,656
Awka167,738
Ijero-Ekiti167,632
Inisa164,161
Suleja162,135
Sapele161,686
Osogbo156,694
Kisi155,510
Gbongan139,485
Ejigbo138,357
Funtua136,811
Igboho136,764
Buguma135,404
Ikirun134,240
Okrika133,271
Amaigbo127,300
Gashua125,817
Modakeke119,529
Bama118,121
Ilobu118,089
Jalingo117,757
Okigwe115,499
Offa113,830
Esuk Oron112,033
Nsukka111,017
Nguru111,014
Hadejia110,753
Ijebu-Igbo109,261
Uromi108,608
Pindiga106,322
Azare105,687
Nkpor103,733
Ikere-Ekiti103,054
Lafiagi102,779
Kontagora98,754
Kuje97,367
Yola96,006
Biu95,005
Olupona95,002
Lere93,290
Wukari92,933
Igbo-Ora92,719
Emure-Ekiti90,645
Isieke89,990
Ifo88,272
Igede-Ekiti87,282
Effium86,945
Idanre86,468
Keffi85,911
Makoko85,840
Epe84,711
Gamboru84,672
Ogaminana84,373
Ihiala83,265
Ipoti82,113
Lalupon81,130
Ughelli79,986
Bende79,618
Oke Mesi79,563
Kafanchan79,522
Ikom79,103
Agulu79,021
Daura78,277
Numan77,617
Kagoro77,008
Ode75,463
Igbo-Ukwu75,224
Aramoko-Ekiti74,491
Igbara-Odo74,121
Ozubulu73,812
Aku73,742
Oyan73,622
Jega73,495
Asaba73,374
Ohafia-Ifigh73,355
Afikpo71,866
Apomu71,656
Fiditi71,461
Orita Eruwa71,027
Eha Amufu70,779
Malumfashi70,709
Kaura Namoda69,725
Enugu-Ukwu68,785
Idah68,703
Obonoma68,584
Agbor67,610
Ezza-Ohu67,414
Uga64,179
Nkwerre62,973
Auchi62,907
Ekpoma59,618
Ijebu-Jesa51,730
Kabba49,869
Ilaro46,999
Damaturu46,000
Argungu45,584
Gumel42,742
Geidam41,367
Talata Mafara39,045
Gummi38,744
Otan Ayegbaju37,783
Ogoja37,466
Katsina-Ala36,722
Itu36,358
Kumo35,712
Oke Ila35,000
Pankshin31,516
Nasarawa30,949
Kachia30,893
Dikwa29,026
Moriki28,735
Patigi28,285
Wamba27,137
Baro26,821
Okuta26,589
Birnin Kudu26,565
Badagry26,383
Ogwashi-Uku26,137
Eket25,569
Kamba25,568
Daura25,289
Takum24,822
Igbeti24,690
Zungeru24,447
Zuru24,338
Yenagoa24,335
Tegina24,037
Awgu23,175
Wudil23,066
Nafada22,920
Ibi22,757
Sofo-Birnin-Gwari22,380
Dutsen Wai22,062
Kaiama21,897
Ubiaja21,782
Otukpa21,686
Oguta21,639
Damboa21,571
Jebba21,488
Garko21,141
Mokwa21,128
Gaya20,959
Tambuwal20,932
Elele20,620
Monguno20,297
Kwale20,226
Gembu19,881
Obudu19,668
Gombi19,616
Magumeri19,363
Degema Hulk19,223
Enugu-Ezike18,989
Kari18,812
Darazo18,415
Rano17,972
Kiyawa17,704
Deba17,671
Igbor17,666
Babana17,617
Egbe17,612
Gwadabawa17,486
Beli17,467
Illela17,461
Dutse17,129
Dukku16,961
Bonny16,868
Bode Saadu16,619
Rijau16,613
Kumagunnam16,557
Lapai16,442
Burutu16,410
Gwarzo16,303
Kukawa16,077
Akwanga15,985
Billiri15,976
Iperu15,935
Gwaram15,806
Soba15,715
Marte15,707
Ibeto15,565
Bukuru15,540
Anchau15,538
Ado Odo15,442
Ganye15,178
Gwoza15,176
Ajaokuta15,144
Doma15,097
Isanlu-Itedoijowa15,087
Udi14,998
Icheu14,704
Igarra14,647
Ankpa14,630
Lere14,620
Omu-Aran14,477
Ringim14,463
Yashikera14,454
Jibia14,424
Kajuru14,389
Gassol14,326
Shani14,305
Ugbokpo14,218
Dapchi14,077
Ngala14,031
Misau13,957
Gandi13,940
Ago Are13,919
Ore13,905
Uruobo-Okija13,898
Damasak13,874
Gamawa13,549
Sauri13,445
Konduga13,400
Dindima13,356
Ikang13,305
Yelwa13,234
Langtang13,172
Kazaure13,169
Wurno13,087
Kujama12,967
Okeho12,964
Madagali12,919
Obubra12,885
Ahoada12,848
Boju12,814
Agenebode12,730
Ajasse Ipo12,718
Runka12,665
Lau12,657
Kafin Hausa12,609
Bakori12,604
Dutsin-Ma12,595
Abak12,562
Dakingari12,558
Bokkos12,538
Gorgoram12,470
Zango12,371
Dange12,369
Kaltungo12,357
Amper12,212
Miringa12,117
Zalanga12,070
Vom12,000
Obiaruku11,936
Madala11,771
Toungo11,759
Agaie11,742
Machina11,707
Mutum Biyu11,702
Kangiwa11,701
Bori11,693
Burumburum11,689
Goniri11,673
Bara11,673
Uba11,648
Anka11,641
Omoku11,625
Kafarati11,535
Bin Yauri11,501
Maru11,496
Gagarawa11,450
Gujba11,359
Opi11,237
Mallammaduri11,156
Twon-Brass11,122
Dekina11,067
Bebeji10,987
Arochukwu10,776
Takai10,748
Panyam10,715
Koton-Karfe10,709
Katagum10,602
Zaki Biam10,470
Goronyo10,460
Etinan10,318
Aliade10,292
Wawa10,200
Gabarin10,160
Gwandu10,018
Madara10,015
Maiyama10,014

Sources

  1. World Population Prospects (2024 Revision) - United Nations population estimates and projections.

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