Nigeria – A country that is Over-Populated
Definition for over-population
When the number of people living in an area is greater than the resources available to maintain an adequate standard of living
for the population.
Background info/relevant facts on Nigeria
Nigeria in a LEDC located on the western coast of Africa. It currently has a population of about 27.8 million people and a
population growth rate of 2.53%. It has, however, a net migration rate of -0.21 migrants/1000 people. The total fertility
rate in Nigeria is 4.5 and it has an average population density of 250 people per km2.
Causes of over-population in Nigeria
1. Low level of family planning: A low level of education regarding family planning in Nigeria is one of the main reasons for high birth rates and
over-population. People in Nigeria are often not educated about family planning as they might come from parts of Nigeria where educational facilities
might not be available or families might not be able to afford to send their children to school. Therefore, people might not understand the importance
of using contraceptives or understand the importance of having small families. Data shows that contraception use is larger in more developed areas on
the coast and the capital Lagos, where use of contraception is estimated between 40 and 50%. In most central regions, however, the use of
contraception is estimated to be <10%.
2. Early marriage: Early marriage is also very common in Nigeria. According to a UN research, 43% of women aged 20 to 24 had been married by the
age of 18. They are often forced into marriage by their parents due to cultural or economic reasons. There is also an aspect of gender inequality as girls
and women are usually those who are forced to get married at a young age. This increases birth rates drastically. In Nigeria, women who marry as
children have on average 18-33% more births over their life time compared to women marrying after the age of 18.
3. Male child preference: Many cultures in some parts of Nigeria prefer having male babies rather than female ones. Males will bring more
economic and social benefits to the family compared to females as women in some LEDCs have limited job opportunities. So, if a couple gets a female
child, they will keep having babies until they get a boy. According to a survey conducted in Nigeria, over 50% of undergraduate students stated that
they would prefer to have a male baby as their first child.
4. Internal migration: Internal migration is a key factor of overpopulation in Nigeria. This is because people move towards areas where they hope to
find better job opportunities. This causes some areas to become overpopulated. The population of the Nigerian state where Lagos is located for
example, is made up of about 40% of internal migrants. This has caused the area to become overpopulated as there is not enough availability of food,
land, schooling and healthcare facilities compared to the amount of people moving there.
Effects of over-population in Nigeria
1. Rise in unemployment rate: As the population increases and the country becomes more and more overpopulated, many people will not be able
to find a job as all spots have already been taken and could become unemployed. This will also increase poverty and starvation as people will not have
a stable income in order to provide food and basic needs to their families. Nigeria unemployment rate for 2020 was 9.71%, a 1.18% increase from
2019. The percentage further increased in 2021 by 0.07% and unemployment rate was 9.79%.
2. Environmental degradation: The environment will be degraded as more goods such as food, water and energy resources are needed for the
growing population. Deforestation might increase as wood is needed to build housing and other structures or to leave space for new crops. Oil
extraction will increase to be used for transportation and heating. As more fossil fuels are used and industrial production increases, air pollution will
also increase. More carbon dioxide will get released into the atmosphere, which causes global warming. Other dangerous pollutants such as carbon
monoxide will be released that might cause lung diseases. As the population grows, more and more waste will be produced, which might get released
into the sea causing huge degradation of marine environments. In 2019, 115,280 kt of carbon dioxide were released into the atmosphere by Nigeria,
compared to only 109,890 kt in 2018. The emissions are still going year by year.
3. Slums forming: As population increases, the lack of housing will increase. Simply, there are not enough houses to support such a high population.
Therefore, poorer people will end up living in slums. These places are extremely overcrowded and living conditions are very poor. Diseases spread
easily and basic needs such as food and water are lacking. Makoko (Nigeria’s biggest slum), which is located in Lagos, is home to around 250,000
people.
4. Overcrowded educational facilities: Schools and universities in most of Nigeria are overcrowded as there are not enough human and material
facilities to take care of the huge number of students. This makes learning ineffective as teachers can’t help specific students when struggling on a
topic due to the overcrowded classrooms. There have been cases in universities where lecture halls meant for 100 people have been filled with over
200 people.
Definition for over-population
When the number of people living in an area is greater than the resources available to maintain an adequate standard of living
for the population.
Background info/relevant facts on Nigeria
Nigeria in a LEDC located on the western coast of Africa. It currently has a population of about 27.8 million people and a
population growth rate of 2.53%. It has, however, a net migration rate of -0.21 migrants/1000 people. The total fertility
rate in Nigeria is 4.5 and it has an average population density of 250 people per km2.
Causes of over-population in Nigeria
1. Low level of family planning: A low level of education regarding family planning in Nigeria is one of the main reasons for high birth rates and
over-population. People in Nigeria are often not educated about family planning as they might come from parts of Nigeria where educational facilities
might not be available or families might not be able to afford to send their children to school. Therefore, people might not understand the importance
of using contraceptives or understand the importance of having small families. Data shows that contraception use is larger in more developed areas on
the coast and the capital Lagos, where use of contraception is estimated between 40 and 50%. In most central regions, however, the use of
contraception is estimated to be <10%.
2. Early marriage: Early marriage is also very common in Nigeria. According to a UN research, 43% of women aged 20 to 24 had been married by the
age of 18. They are often forced into marriage by their parents due to cultural or economic reasons. There is also an aspect of gender inequality as girls
and women are usually those who are forced to get married at a young age. This increases birth rates drastically. In Nigeria, women who marry as
children have on average 18-33% more births over their life time compared to women marrying after the age of 18.
3. Male child preference: Many cultures in some parts of Nigeria prefer having male babies rather than female ones. Males will bring more
economic and social benefits to the family compared to females as women in some LEDCs have limited job opportunities. So, if a couple gets a female
child, they will keep having babies until they get a boy. According to a survey conducted in Nigeria, over 50% of undergraduate students stated that
they would prefer to have a male baby as their first child.
4. Internal migration: Internal migration is a key factor of overpopulation in Nigeria. This is because people move towards areas where they hope to
find better job opportunities. This causes some areas to become overpopulated. The population of the Nigerian state where Lagos is located for
example, is made up of about 40% of internal migrants. This has caused the area to become overpopulated as there is not enough availability of food,
land, schooling and healthcare facilities compared to the amount of people moving there.
Effects of over-population in Nigeria
1. Rise in unemployment rate: As the population increases and the country becomes more and more overpopulated, many people will not be able
to find a job as all spots have already been taken and could become unemployed. This will also increase poverty and starvation as people will not have
a stable income in order to provide food and basic needs to their families. Nigeria unemployment rate for 2020 was 9.71%, a 1.18% increase from
2019. The percentage further increased in 2021 by 0.07% and unemployment rate was 9.79%.
2. Environmental degradation: The environment will be degraded as more goods such as food, water and energy resources are needed for the
growing population. Deforestation might increase as wood is needed to build housing and other structures or to leave space for new crops. Oil
extraction will increase to be used for transportation and heating. As more fossil fuels are used and industrial production increases, air pollution will
also increase. More carbon dioxide will get released into the atmosphere, which causes global warming. Other dangerous pollutants such as carbon
monoxide will be released that might cause lung diseases. As the population grows, more and more waste will be produced, which might get released
into the sea causing huge degradation of marine environments. In 2019, 115,280 kt of carbon dioxide were released into the atmosphere by Nigeria,
compared to only 109,890 kt in 2018. The emissions are still going year by year.
3. Slums forming: As population increases, the lack of housing will increase. Simply, there are not enough houses to support such a high population.
Therefore, poorer people will end up living in slums. These places are extremely overcrowded and living conditions are very poor. Diseases spread
easily and basic needs such as food and water are lacking. Makoko (Nigeria’s biggest slum), which is located in Lagos, is home to around 250,000
people.
4. Overcrowded educational facilities: Schools and universities in most of Nigeria are overcrowded as there are not enough human and material
facilities to take care of the huge number of students. This makes learning ineffective as teachers can’t help specific students when struggling on a
topic due to the overcrowded classrooms. There have been cases in universities where lecture halls meant for 100 people have been filled with over
200 people.
