The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs has disclosed that Nigeria’s population now stands at 216 million in 2022, accounting for 2.7 per cent of the global population.
According to its latest World Population Prospects 2022 released on Tuesday to mark World Population Day, the global population has reached an estimated 8 billion.
The report noted that more than half of the projected population was concentrated in just eight countries: the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and the United Republic of Tanzania.
It added that India would surpass China as the world’s most populous country in 2023.
The report reads in part, “More than half of the projected increase in the global population up to 2050 will be concentrated in eight countries: the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and the United Republic of Tanzania.
“Countries of sub-Saharan Africa are expected to contribute more than half of the increase anticipated through 2050.”
In his response, the Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, Dr Muda Yusuf, noted that a high population without corresponding economic growth might lead to more unemployment and poverty.
He further noted that the increase in unemployment and poverty would further trigger social issues, such as high crime and insecurity.
He said, “The risk around high population growth is that if the country’s economy is not growing at a corresponding level, we may have more unemployment. If we continue to have more unemployment, it can create serious social problems like high crime and insecurity.
“There is also the risk of poverty. If the population is growing and the economy is not growing, there is a high tendency that the level of poverty may increase. And if we have increasing poverty, it will be a major problem for the country.”
