Nigeria: 242 million people and unstoppable population growth
Nigeria now counts 242 million inhabitants with a fertility rate of 5.2 children per woman. Oil, poverty and its colonial legacy explain the demographic boom.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Nigeria: why its population is soaring to 242 million
Nigeria is approaching 242 million inhabitants, a figure that makes it the world's seventh most populous country and that is growing at a rate of 5-6 million people a year. The engine of this demographic boom is not oil —which accounts for barely 8% of formal employment despite making up 90% of exports— but an explosive combination of high fertility and structural poverty.
The fertility rate stands at around 5.2 children per woman, while life expectancy barely reaches 55 years. The result is an extremely wide population pyramid: every year more mouths are added to the census than in the whole of Europe combined. With a GDP per capita at purchasing power parity of just $6,200 (compared with Spain's $46,000), the economy cannot keep up. 90% of the population lives off subsistence farming or street trading, and the richest 1% holds 80% of the oil wealth.
The historical pace was not always like this. During British colonial rule, indirect administration maintained a certain demographic balance through restrictions on mobility and basic health campaigns. With independence in 1960, infant mortality plummeted thanks to vaccines and antibiotics, but fertility did not fall in step. Half a century later, Nigeria is heading for 400 million by 2050, overtaking the United States.
The paradox is that while Europe promotes anti-natalist policies under the banner of climate change, Nigeria has barely any birth control plans in place. The uncomfortable debate remains open.
Nigeria is approaching 242 million inhabitants, a figure that makes it the world's seventh most populous country and that is growing at a rate of 5-6 million people a year. The engine of this demographic boom is not oil —which accounts for barely 8% of formal employment despite making up 90% of exports— but an explosive combination of high fertility and structural poverty.
The fertility rate stands at around 5.2 children per woman, while life expectancy barely reaches 55 years. The result is an extremely wide population pyramid: every year more mouths are added to the census than in the whole of Europe combined. With a GDP per capita at purchasing power parity of just $6,200 (compared with Spain's $46,000), the economy cannot keep up. 90% of the population lives off subsistence farming or street trading, and the richest 1% holds 80% of the oil wealth.
The historical pace was not always like this. During British colonial rule, indirect administration maintained a certain demographic balance through restrictions on mobility and basic health campaigns. With independence in 1960, infant mortality plummeted thanks to vaccines and antibiotics, but fertility did not fall in step. Half a century later, Nigeria is heading for 400 million by 2050, overtaking the United States.
The paradox is that while Europe promotes anti-natalist policies under the banner of climate change, Nigeria has barely any birth control plans in place. The uncomfortable debate remains open.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (13 replies).
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