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.

Source:

World Bank

Period:

1960 - 2023
HTML code to embed chart
Want a bespoke report?
Reach out
Tags
Related Insights

IMF projections indicate that Africa will surpass other regions in real GDP growth from 2026 to 2029.
  • Africa will consistently achieve the highest GDP growth rate, projected at 4.4% from 2026 to 2029.
  • The Asia & Pacific region remains robust, starting at 4.3% in 2025 but is expected to gradually narrow down to 4.0% by 2029.
  • The global average GDP growth will hover around 3.2% from 2025.
  • Europe exhibits the slowest growth, starting at 1.6% in 2025 and declining to 1.5% by 2029.

Iceland ranks first in the world for gender equality, with a parity score of 0.935, reflecting a strong balance between men and women.
  • With a score of 0.935, Iceland continues to set the benchmark for gender equality.
  • Namibia (0.805) and Nicaragua (0.811) are redefining expectations, proving that gender equality is not just a goal for wealthier nations but a global priority.
  • Germany (0.810), Ireland (0.802), and Lithuania (0.793) highlight Europe’s dominant role in advancing gender parity, setting examples for other regions.
  • Namibia (0.805) and South Africa (0.785) represent two of Africa’s most gender-equal societies.
  • Nigeria has a score of 0.65, making it the 125th country worldwide

Participation in the National Open Apprenticeship Scheme has dropped over 50% since 2021.
Participation in Nigeria’s National Open Apprenticeship Scheme has dropped by over 50% since 2021, with male and female enrolments declining significantly; over the years, there have been more female participants. The declining participation rates raise questions about awareness, funding, and programme efficiency. For many Nigerian youths, apprenticeship programmes are a gateway to self-reliance and stable income. The National Open Apprenticeship Scheme is a National Directorate of Employment (NDE) programme that upskills unskilled and unemployed people and equips them with relevant demand-driven skills.

IMF forecasts growth in GDP per capita for Africa and Nigeria starting in 2025
Over the years, many African countries, including Nigeria, have experienced economic turbulence caused by fluctuating global markets and domestic challenges. However, amidst these challenges, there’s hope as IMF economic forecasts point toward growth. According to the IMF, GDP per capita in Nigeria and Africa is projected to increase from 2025 after years of stagnation and decline. Nigeria’s GDP per capita fell sharply from $2,197 in 2022 to $877 in 2024. Encouragingly, growth is expected with projections of $1,047 for Nigeria by 2029, signaling a slow but steady improvement in living standards.

The Finance and Insurance sector led Nigeria's 3.2% GDP growth in the first 9 months of 2024
Nigeria’s GDP for 2024 is up by 3.2% so far, with key sectors driving the growth. In the first nine months of 2024, Finance and Insurance took the lead with a 30.3% increase, followed by Water Supply & Waste Management at 8.3%, and Mining and Quarrying with 5.7% growth. These are the sectors leading Nigeria’s real GDP growth.

IMF predicts Nigeria's growth rate will rise in 2025, while global growth stays unchanged
The Nigerian economy shows promise as the IMF projects an increase in the country's GDP growth, rising to 3.2% in 2025. This comes when projections show stagnant global growth at 3.2%, while sub-Saharan Africa outpaces other regions with an anticipated rise to 4.2% by 2025.

POPULAR TOPICS
SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
Get periodic updates about the African startup space, access to our reports, among others.
Subscribe Here
Subscription Form

A product of Techpoint Africa. All rights reserved