Nigeria’s Population to Increase by 130 Million by 2050 — World Bank President

President of the World Bank Group, Ajay Banga, has projected that Nigeria’s population will grow by approximately 130 million by the year 2050, making it one of the most populous countries in the world.

Banga made the projection during the 2025 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, held earlier this week.

Citing data from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Banga noted that Nigeria’s current population stands at about 237.5 million, adding that the expected surge would further cement the nation’s place among global demographic giants.

“Nigeria will swell by about 130 million, firmly establishing itself as one of the most populous nations in the world,” Banga said.

The World Bank chief also highlighted rapid demographic changes across Africa, revealing that Zambia is projected to add 700,000 people annually, while Mozambique’s population could double by 2050.

“We are living through one of the great demographic shifts in human history,” he said.

Banga emphasized that by 2050, more than 85 percent of the global population will live in countries currently classified as developing economies. He warned that within the next 10 to 15 years, around 1.2 billion young people will enter the global workforce — competing for only 400 million available jobs.

“That leaves a very large gap,” he cautioned.

According to him, four young people will join the global workforce every second over the next decade.

“With their energy and ideas, they will shape the century ahead. So, in the time it takes to deliver these remarks, tens of thousands will cross that threshold — full of ambition, impatient for opportunity,” he noted.

Banga described Africa as the epicenter of the world’s fastest population growth, predicting that by 2050, one in every four people on Earth will live on the continent.

He argued that with the right investments — emphasizing opportunity over need — Africa’s population boom could drive global economic growth, but warned that failure to plan adequately could trigger instability and migration crises.

“Without deliberate action, optimism could give way to despair — driving instability, unrest, and mass migration with consequences for every region and economy,” he warned.

Concluding his remarks, Banga underscored the creation of jobs as central to sustainable economic progress.

“This is why jobs must be at the center of any development, economic, or national security strategy,” he said.

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Nigeria’s Population to Grow by 130 Million by 2050, Says World Bank Chief

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World Bank President Ajay Banga projects Nigeria’s population will rise by 130 million by 2050, calling for urgent job creation and investment to harness Africa’s demographic boom.