Abstract:

With an estimated population of 170 million people, Nigeria is the seventh most populous country in the world. The country has a very youthful age structure, with nearly three-quarters of its population under the age of 30. Even if its fertility and mortality rates decline substantially, Nigeria will still have a youthful age structure which is projected to increase by 40% by 2025. Without effective population policy to reduce the high fertility rate, Nigeria will become among the fourth or fifth most populous country in the world with a projected population of almost 400 million by 2050 (UN World Population Prospect, 2012). This demographic trend has implications on Nigeria’s economic development because the youth population are dependents who need access to education, healthcare and other social services. It would mean that rapid population growth will put substantial pressure on the country’s capacity to provide quality  social services such as new schools, more clinics, adequate sanitation, as well as food and provisions to meet basic needs. Most importantly, the economy will have to generate enough jobs to absorb the millions of young people joining the labour market every year.