2.87% of the world, which amounts to 235 million people, reside in Nigeria as of January 2025

Key takeaways:

  • India is now the world’s most populous country, surpassing China with 17.78% of the global population.
  • China closely follows with 17.30%, showing that even though its population growth is slowing, it remains one of the most dominant globally.
  • The United States (4.23%) remains the most populous Western country, reinforcing its continued economic and political significance.
  • Nigeria leads Africa with 2.87% of the global population, showing that Africa's rising demographic weight will be a major factor in future economic and workforce trends.
  • Ethiopia (1.63%) is another African country on the rise, showing how Africa’s demographic shift is accelerating beyond just Nigeria.
  • Russia (1.76%) is the only European country on the list, underscoring Europe’s declining share in global population dynamics compared to the rapid growth of Asian and African nations.

India and China remain the world's most populous territories, together accounting for over 35% of the global population. This means that more than one in every three people on Earth lives in these two nations alone. India now surpasses China, taking the lead as the most populous country with 17.78% of the world’s population, while China follows closely with 17.30%.
Meanwhile, Nigeria stands as Africa’s most populous nation, with 2.87% of the world's people, which is 235 million individuals. As Africa's economies rise, Nigeria’s vast human capital makes it a key player in global trade, technology, and economic transformation.

Source:

Digital 2025 Global Overview Report

Period:

2025
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Generation Alpha has now surpassed all other generations, making up 24.4% of the global population
  • Generation Alpha is the largest generation, making up 24.4% of the global population.
  • Gen Z and Millennials still hold strong influence, comprising 22.9% and 21.2% of the global population.
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  • The Silent Generation is now just 2% of the population, highlighting the demographic shift away from the older generations.
  • Generation X, at 16.7%, remains a crucial but often overlooked group, balancing leadership roles in business and governance while supporting both older and younger generations.
  • The rise of Generation Alpha signals the dawn of an even more digital-native world, shaping the future of education, marketing, and work environments.
  • With Millennials, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha making up nearly 70% of the population, the global workforce, economy, and social dynamics will see rapid transformation in the coming years.
Southern Africa contributes only 4.8% to Africa's 1.5 billion population
  • Eastern Africa is the most populous region, making up 33.09% of Africa’s total population, with over 507 million people.
  • Together, Eastern and Western Africa house over 63% of Africa’s total population, indicating where much of the continent’s human capital and economic activity will be concentrated.
  • Northern Africa has 274.1 million people (17.89%), while Central Africa has 216.3 million (14.11%), placing them in the mid-range of Africa’s population distribution.
  • Southern Africa is by far the least populous region, contributing just 4.8% (73.6 million people) to Africa’s 1.5 billion total.
  • The population contrast across regions highlights key differences in urbanisation, economic opportunities, and development needs.
  • Understanding Africa’s population distribution is crucial for businesses, policymakers, and investors, as future economic growth, consumer markets, and labour forces will be heavily influenced by these demographic trends.
Approximately 6 out of every 10 people in the world reside in Asia
  • Asia remains the world's population giant, housing nearly 59% of the global population.
  • Africa’s population boom is accelerating, contributing 18.7% of the world’s people.
  • Europe is shrinking in global demographic weight, making up only 9.09% of the world’s people.
  • Oceania remains sparsely populated, with just 0.57% of the global population.
  • Demographic trends will shape economic power, as nations with younger populations could become economic engines if properly harnessed.
  • Urbanisation and resource allocation will become critical, especially in Asia and Africa, where rising populations will put pressure on housing, food, and infrastructure.
Nearly half of the global population (47.5%) is aged between 20 and 54
  • Nearly half of the global population is aged between 20 and 54, making this group the primary driver of economic activities worldwide.
  • Individuals under 19 years old make up 32.9% of the total global population, highlighting the need for sustained investments in education and child welfare.
  • Over 19% of the population is aged 55 and above, emphasising the need for healthcare, retirement planning, and age-friendly policies.
  • With 2.10 billion people, the 35-54 group represents the backbone of global leadership, corporate decision-making, and financial stability.
Ethiopia leads with 36 million agricultural workers, despite Nigeria having the largest population
  • East Africa: Ethiopia leads with 36.2 million agricultural workers (27.3% of its 132.5 million population). Agriculture is vital to its economy. Tanzania follows with 19.2 million workers (approximately 28.8% of 66.6 million). Uganda has 23.4% of its 50 million population in agriculture, and Kenya employs 7.6 million workers (approximately 13.7% of 55.3 million), despite land degradation affecting 80% of its land.
  • West Africa: Nigeria has 26.8 million agricultural workers, but with a population of 232 million, it heavily depends on food imports as only 11.5% of its population work in the agriculture section. Ghana employs 5.5 million agricultural workers (16% of 34.4 million) and has strong potential for agricultural export growth, especially cocoa.
  • Central Africa: DR Congo has 18.6 million agricultural workers out of a population of 109.2 million.
  • Southern Africa: Mozambique has 9.9 million agricultural workers 29% of 34.6 million, while Madagascar employs 10.5 million (33% of 31.9 million). Agriculture is key to Madagascar’s economy but hindered by land issues, with women producing 80% of crops.
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Nigeria's population soars, but GDP has faced significant fluctuations from 1960 to 2023
Nigeria’s population growth has outpaced its economic performance. From 1960 to 2023, the population increased from 44.9 million to an estimated 223.8 million, putting immense pressure on resources. The country's GDP peaked at $574.2 billion in 2014 but dropped to $362.8 billion in 2023.
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