The President of the World Bank Group, Ajay Banga, has projected that Nigeria’s population will grow by about 130 million people by the year 2050.
Banga made the projection during the 2025 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, held this week.
According to estimates by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Nigeria’s current population stands at approximately 237.5 million.
Speaking at the forum, Banga noted that the country is on track to become one of the most populous nations in the world within the next 25 years.
“Nigeria’s population will swell by about 130 million, firmly establishing it among the world’s most populous countries,” he stated.
The World Bank chief also highlighted demographic trends in other African countries, noting that Zambia is expected to add about 700,000 people annually, while Mozambique’s population is projected to double by 2050.
“We are living through one of the greatest demographic shifts in human history,” Banga added.
“By 2050, more than 85 percent of the world’s population will reside in countries we currently describe as developing.”
Banga’s remarks underscore the growing importance of population management and economic planning across developing nations, particularly in Africa, where rapid population growth continues to shape social and economic priorities.
