Population in Nigeria

Subject: Geography Week 5

 Class: SS1

Topic: Population in Nigeria

Specific Objectives: By the end of this lesson the students should be able to;

1. Define population
2. State the population indices
3. Explain the increase in growth of Nigeria’s population
4. Suggest ways of checking population growth rate

POPULATION OF NIGERIA

Population is the member of people living in an area at a particular time. Population changes from time to time depending of certain factors. Nigeria is the most populous country in African and the seventh largest country in the world.

Presently Nigeria has a population of about 200million persons based on the united nation estimate.

POPULATION INDICES

1. Over population: This is a situation where the number of people living in an area exceeds the resources available in that area. In other words, it is a situation whereby the population is considered too large for the available resources, for people to enjoy the highest possible standard of living.
2. Under population: This is a situation where the number of people living in an area at a particular time is less than resources in that area. It then means that, the size of the population is so small that when combined with the available resources of a country and is given the level of existing technology, it will secure minimum return per head.
3. Optimum Population: This means that the number of people living in an area is equal to the resources in that area at a particular time. In other words, it is the number of people that can be supported by the available resources in an area, so as to achieve the highest possible standard of living.
4. Population Density: This is the number of people living per unit area of land or per square kilometre of land.

Population density of a country can be expressed mathematically as follows:

Population Density =Total Population

                                           Land Area

= Total Population = Total Population X Land area

Example: What is the Population Density of Ghana with a Population of 120,000,000 and Land area of 842,670km²

               Solution                        

Total Population = 120,000,000

Land Area              = 842,670km²

Population Density = Total Population

                                                                        Land Area

                                  = 120,000,000

                                                                         842,670

                                  = 146 per/km²     

The current population of Nigeria is 200,209,652 as of Sunday, May 12, 2019, based on Nigeria Population is equivalent to 2.6% of the total world population: The Population density in Nigeria is 221 per /km². The Total land is 910,770km²

5. Migration: Migration is the movement of people from one place to another. Migration can be international (movement between different countries) or Internal (Movement within a country, often from rural to urban areas). The two types of migration are; Emigration which is a type of migration in which people leave their own countries, i.e. movement out of a country and Immigration which is a type of migration in which people go into another country, i.e. movement into another country.
6. Birth Rate: This entry gives the average annual number of births during a year per 1,000 persons in the population at midyear, also known as under birth rate. The birth Rate is usually the dominant factor in determining the rate of population growth. It depends on both the level of fertility and the age structure of the population.
7. Death rate: Death rate (or mortality rate) of a country refers to the rate at which people (both adult and children) die in a country. Generally, high death rate leads to population decrease or low population, which low death rate leads to increase in population.
8. Population quality: population quality refers to the average potential capability and potential work capacity of its members. It also refers to the number of people in a particular population that are capable of contributing to the wellbeing of the total population. Population quality is noted to be responsible for high standard of living of a population.

DISTRIBUTION OF POPULATION IN NIGERIA

In Nigeria the population is not evenly distributed accordingly. There are areas of low, moderate and high population densities.

The areas of low population density (below 100 persons per km²) include;

1. The middle belt of Nigeria e.g. Kwara, Kogi, Benue, Niger
2. The Niger Delta area e.g. parts of Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross River, Akwa Ibom State
3. The extreme north of Borno, Yobe etc.
4. The eastern border lands of Nigeria

Reason for Low Population Density

1. Relief: The presence of rugged terrain or high lands in some areas leads to low population.
2. Drainage: Area liable to flooding like the Niger-Benue trough leads to low population.
3. Unfavourable Climate: Area of low rainfall, high temperature and low humidity especially in Borno and Yobe states encourages low population.
4. Poor Soils: Poor soils that does not support serious farming activities.  
5. Absence of infrastructure: inadequate good road network, electricity etc. encourage low population in an area
6. Low Economic Activities: areas without industries and low commercial activities encourage low population.

Advantages of low population

1. Free flow of traffic
2. Low crime rate
3. Adequate planning
4. Availability of employment
5. Low pressure on infrastructural Facilities

Area of High Population Density (Above 100% /km²)

These areas include

1. South West of Nigeria : Lagos, Ibadan, Akure, Abeokuta
2. North and North central Nigeria: Kano, Sokoto, Kaduna, Jos, etc.
3. The South East: Eungu, Onitsha, Owerri, Aba etc.

Reasons for High Population Density

1. Fertile Soil
2. Favourable Climate
3. Relief: Low land areas encourage high population
4. Headquarters of Administration
5. Presence of Mineral Deposit
6. Employment Opportunity
7. Presence of Social Amenities
8. Presence of Industries

Advantages of High Population Densities

1. High population encourages large labour force
2. High population encourages defence of the country
3. High population leads to quick information dissemination
4. Large population concentration in an area leads to effective town planning
5. High population is a source of large market for the goods produced by industries.

ASSIGNMENT:

Mention any four disadvantages of high population density.