Agricultural population in Nigeria
Nigeria: Agricultural population was 38.98 million FAO, number in 2012. ▼ Falling
Agricultural population in Nigeria, 1980–2012
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site. Measured in FAO, number.
Analysis
In 2012, agricultural population in Nigeria stood at 38.98 million FAO, number. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.6% on the previous year and down 4.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural population in Nigeria peaked at 41.96 million FAO, number in 1992 and was at its lowest, 38.98 million FAO, number, in 2012.
Nigeria ranks 3rd of 53 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 33 years of available data.
Agricultural population in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | FAO, number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 40.66 million FAO, number | — |
| 1981 | 40.88 million FAO, number | +0.5% |
| 1982 | 41.08 million FAO, number | +0.5% |
| 1983 | 41.22 million FAO, number | +0.3% |
| 1984 | 41.36 million FAO, number | +0.4% |
| 1985 | 41.50 million FAO, number | +0.3% |
| 1986 | 41.64 million FAO, number | +0.3% |
| 1987 | 41.75 million FAO, number | +0.3% |
| 1988 | 41.84 million FAO, number | +0.2% |
| 1989 | 41.91 million FAO, number | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 41.92 million FAO, number | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 41.96 million FAO, number | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 41.96 million FAO, number | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 41.93 million FAO, number | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 41.87 million FAO, number | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 41.79 million FAO, number | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 41.69 million FAO, number | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 41.56 million FAO, number | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 41.43 million FAO, number | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 41.27 million FAO, number | -0.4% |
| 2000 | 41.13 million FAO, number | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 40.98 million FAO, number | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 40.84 million FAO, number | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 40.70 million FAO, number | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 40.54 million FAO, number | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 40.36 million FAO, number | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 40.18 million FAO, number | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 40.00 million FAO, number | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 39.81 million FAO, number | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 39.61 million FAO, number | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 39.41 million FAO, number | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 39.20 million FAO, number | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 38.98 million FAO, number | -0.6% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 38.98 million FAO, number is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 7.27 million FAO, number, 5.4× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 38.98 million FAO, number is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7.16 million FAO, number, 5.4× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 41.38 million FAO, number | 40.66 million FAO, number | 41.91 million FAO, number | 10 |
| 1990s | 41.74 million FAO, number | 41.27 million FAO, number | 41.96 million FAO, number | 10 |
| 2000s | 40.41 million FAO, number | 39.61 million FAO, number | 41.13 million FAO, number | 10 |
| 2010s | 39.19 million FAO, number | 38.98 million FAO, number | 39.41 million FAO, number | 3 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More environment data for Nigeria
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -5.73 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -5.07 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.281 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.15 °C (2025)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 3.78 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate 0.4617 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is agricultural population in Nigeria?
- Agricultural population in Nigeria was 38.98 million FAO, number in 2012, according to Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site.
- What is the highest agricultural population recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 41.96 million FAO, number in 1992.
- What is the lowest agricultural population recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.98 million FAO, number in 2012.
- How does Nigeria rank for agricultural population?
- Nigeria ranks 3rd out of 53 countries with data for 2012.
- Is agricultural population rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site, published as part of Agricultural population (FAO, number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The Agricultural Population is defined as all persons depending for their livelihood on agriculture, hunting, fishing or forestry. This estimate comprises all persons actively engaged in agriculture and their non-working dependants. The Agricultural Population series are estimated by FAO based on the total population series obtained from UN Population Division ("World population prospects: The 2008 Revision") and the ratios of labour force in total population and agricultural labour force in total labour force from ILO: ("Economically active population, 1950-2010: The 4th Revision", ILO, Geneva, 1996). Direct information on agricultural population derived from national population censuses or surveys is scarce.