Since the onset of the Industrial Revolution, productivity levels have rapidly advanced, enabling the extraction of more resources and energy from the natural world. As a result, the Earth’s population has experienced exponential growth, currently surpassing 7.7 billion people, and at the current rate, it is expected to exceed 8 billion soon. Among the continents, Africa has the highest natural population growth rate, currently standing at approximately 2.3%, significantly higher than Asia’s natural population growth rate.
There are three African countries with populations exceeding 100 million: Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Egypt (some data suggests Egypt’s population is just over 99 million). Among these, Nigeria has the largest population, currently around 190 million people, ranking seventh in the world. Nigeria covers an area of approximately 924,000 square kilometers, with a population density of around 205 people per square kilometer, higher than China’s population density (144 people per square kilometer). Nigeria is thus a densely populated country.
Why does Nigeria have such a large population? There are two main reasons. Firstly, it benefits from favorable natural conditions. Nigeria is situated on the north shore of the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa, in a tropical region with abundant warmth throughout the year. The climate transitions from coastal tropical rainforest to tropical savanna, and there is generally plentiful rainfall, creating suitable conditions for agricultural production. Geographically, Nigeria consists mainly of flat plateaus, plains, and low hills, with a small range of elevation, providing over 68 million hectares of arable land, accounting for 73.6% of the total land area. These favorable climate and topographical conditions contribute to Nigeria’s large “population capacity” and strong environmental carrying capacity.
Secondly, Nigeria has enjoyed political stability. Despite being colonized by the British in 1914, Nigeria maintained overall stability. In 1960, Nigeria declared independence and became a member of the Commonwealth. While internal racial and religious conflicts exist, the socio-economic development has steadily progressed. Nigeria is considered one of the most stable countries in Africa and is the continent’s largest economy. These factors collectively ensure that Nigeria can sustain a larger population.