Annual growth of GDP per capita in Nigeria
Nigeria: Annual growth of GDP per capita was 1.9% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Annual growth of GDP per capita in Nigeria, 1961–2025
Source: National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual growth of gdp per capita in Nigeria is 1.9%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 1.8% on the previous year and up 2,205.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual growth of gdp per capita in Nigeria peaked at 22.2% in 1970 and was at its lowest, -17.5%, in 1967.
Nigeria ranks 121st of 212 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual growth of GDP per capita in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | -1.8% | — |
| 1962 | 1.9% | -205.1% |
| 1963 | 6.3% | +224.6% |
| 1964 | 2.7% | -56.7% |
| 1965 | 2.6% | -3.4% |
| 1966 | -6.3% | -339.6% |
| 1967 | -17.5% | +177.7% |
| 1968 | -3.4% | -80.9% |
| 1969 | 21.5% | -740.0% |
| 1970 | 22.2% | +3.3% |
| 1971 | 11.6% | -47.7% |
| 1972 | 0.9% | -92.1% |
| 1973 | 2.8% | +204.7% |
| 1974 | 8.3% | +196.2% |
| 1975 | -7.8% | -194.4% |
| 1976 | 6.0% | -176.2% |
| 1977 | 2.9% | -51.2% |
| 1978 | -8.6% | -396.1% |
| 1979 | 3.5% | -140.9% |
| 1980 | 1.0% | -71.5% |
| 1981 | -15.8% | -1670.9% |
| 1982 | -9.6% | -39.4% |
| 1983 | -13.2% | +38.3% |
| 1984 | -3.6% | -72.6% |
| 1985 | 3.0% | -181.7% |
| 1986 | -2.6% | -188.7% |
| 1987 | 0.5% | -118.6% |
| 1988 | 4.5% | +825.2% |
| 1989 | -0.8% | -117.5% |
| 1990 | 8.8% | -1216.6% |
| 1991 | -2.3% | -125.7% |
| 1992 | 1.9% | -185.1% |
| 1993 | -4.6% | -339.4% |
| 1994 | -4.4% | -4.8% |
| 1995 | -2.7% | -38.9% |
| 1996 | 1.5% | -156.4% |
| 1997 | 0.3% | -80.6% |
| 1998 | -0.1% | -122.2% |
| 1999 | -2.0% | +3034.1% |
| 2000 | 2.2% | -210.4% |
| 2001 | 3.1% | +37.2% |
| 2002 | 12.2% | +296.5% |
| 2003 | 4.4% | -63.7% |
| 2004 | 6.3% | +41.5% |
| 2005 | 3.5% | -43.6% |
| 2006 | 3.2% | -10.2% |
| 2007 | 3.7% | +16.0% |
| 2008 | 3.8% | +4.2% |
| 2009 | 5.1% | +32.2% |
| 2010 | 5.0% | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 2.4% | -52.3% |
| 2012 | 1.4% | -42.5% |
| 2013 | 3.8% | +176.8% |
| 2014 | 3.5% | -7.3% |
| 2015 | 0.1% | -97.7% |
| 2016 | -4.0% | -5002.4% |
| 2017 | -1.6% | -59.8% |
| 2018 | -0.4% | -74.8% |
| 2019 | -0.0% | -97.5% |
| 2020 | -8.3% | +83284.2% |
| 2021 | -1.0% | -88.2% |
| 2022 | 2.2% | -318.4% |
| 2023 | 1.2% | -45.8% |
| 2024 | 1.9% | +64.5% |
| 2025 | 1.9% | -1.8% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 1.9% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2.7%, 70% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 1.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.5%, 77% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual growth of GDP per capita in Nigeria changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -83284.2% | -0.0% | -8.3% |
| 2016 | -5002.4% | 0.1% | -4.0% |
| 1999 | -3034.1% | -0.1% | -2.0% |
| 1981 | -1670.9% | 1.0% | -15.8% |
| 1990 | +1216.6% | -0.8% | 8.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.7% | -17.5% | 21.5% | 9 |
| 1970s | 4.2% | -8.6% | 22.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | -3.7% | -15.8% | 4.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | -0.3% | -4.6% | 8.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.8% | 2.2% | 12.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.0% | -4.0% | 5.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.4% | -8.3% | 2.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More economy & growth data for Nigeria
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.04 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.32 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 1.19 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0041 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 5 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 4.01 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 148.16 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0138 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 16.86 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 13.91 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual growth of gdp per capita in Nigeria?
- Annual growth of gdp per capita in Nigeria was 1.9% in 2025, according to National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual growth of gdp per capita recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 22.2% in 1970.
- What is the lowest annual growth of gdp per capita recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was -17.5% in 1967.
- How does Nigeria rank for annual growth of gdp per capita?
- Nigeria ranks 121st out of 212 countries with data for 2025.
- Is annual growth of gdp per capita rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2,205.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual growth of GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This data is adjusted for inflation.