Africa’s under-15 population: 16 of every 100 people aged 0–14 across 54 African countries lived in Nigeria in 2025

Key Takeaways

  • Nigeria had 96.25 million children aged 0–14 in 2025, the largest child population in Africa.
  • 16% of Africa’s children lived in Nigeria, or roughly 1 in every 6.
  • Ethiopia and DR Congo followed with 52.54 million and 51.85 million children respectively.
  • Africa’s 10 largest child populations accounted for 60.9% of the continent’s 600.17 million children.

As of 2025, Nigeria was home to 96.25 million children aged 0–14. That means 16 of every 100 children across 54 African countries lived in Nigeria that year.

Ethiopia and DR Congo followed, with 52.54 million and 51.85 million respectively. Together, Africa's ten most populous countries for this age group, Nigeria, Ethiopia, DR Congo, Egypt, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Sudan, Angola and South Africa, accounted for 60.91% of the continent's 600.17 million children.

Source:

World Bank; UN World Population Prospects

Period:

2025
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