Onitsha, Nigeria Metro Area Population 1950-2024

Chart and table of population level and growth rate for the Onitsha, Nigeria metro area from 1950 to 2024. United Nations population projections are also included through the year 2035.
  • The current metro area population of Onitsha in 2024 is 1,695,000, a 4.44% increase from 2023.
  • The metro area population of Onitsha in 2023 was 1,623,000, a 4.51% increase from 2022.
  • The metro area population of Onitsha in 2022 was 1,553,000, a 4.72% increase from 2021.
  • The metro area population of Onitsha in 2021 was 1,483,000, a 4.81% increase from 2020.
Data Source: United Nations - World Population Prospects

MLA Citation:
Other Cities in Nigeria
City Name Population
Lagos 16,536,000
Kano 4,491,000
Abuja 4,026,000
Ibadan 4,004,000
Port Harcourt 3,637,000
Benin City 1,973,000
Onitsha 1,695,000
Uyo 1,393,000
Nnewi 1,301,000
Aba 1,230,000
Kaduna 1,221,000
Ikorodu 1,145,000
Ilorin 1,064,000
Warri 1,031,000
Owerri 1,023,000
Jos 1,001,000
Umuahia 947,000
Lokoja 886,000
Enugu 876,000
Maiduguri 870,000
Oshogbo 796,000
Zaria 786,000
Akure 773,000
Sokoto 734,000
Bauchi 697,000
Abakaliki 693,000
Calabar 685,000
Ogbomosho 656,000
Gombe 596,000
Abeokuta 589,000
Ado-Ekiti 557,000
Katsina 544,000
Potiskum 539,000
Gwagwalada 537,000
Okene 528,000
Okpogho 528,000
Minna 513,000
Igbidu 510,000
Gboko 506,000
Ondo 492,000
Oyo 488,000
Makurdi 472,000
Saki 452,000
Ikot Ekpene 450,000
Effon Alaiye 440,000
Birnin Kebbi 429,000
Ife 423,000
Ilesha 416,000
Ijebu-Ode 394,000
Lafia 388,000
Onitsha - Historical Population Data
Year Population Growth Rate
2024 1,695,000 4.44%
2023 1,623,000 4.51%
2022 1,553,000 4.72%
2021 1,483,000 4.81%
2020 1,415,000 4.89%
2019 1,349,000 4.98%
2018 1,285,000 5.07%
2017 1,223,000 4.98%
2016 1,165,000 5.05%
2015 1,109,000 4.92%
2014 1,057,000 5.07%
2013 1,006,000 5.01%
2012 958,000 5.04%
2011 912,000 4.95%
2010 869,000 4.95%
2009 828,000 5.08%
2008 788,000 5.07%
2007 750,000 4.90%
2006 715,000 4.99%
2005 681,000 5.09%
2004 648,000 5.02%
2003 617,000 4.93%
2002 588,000 5.00%
2001 560,000 5.07%
2000 533,000 4.92%
1999 508,000 5.18%
1998 483,000 5.00%
1997 460,000 5.02%
1996 438,000 4.78%
1995 418,000 5.03%
1994 398,000 5.01%
1993 379,000 4.99%
1992 361,000 4.34%
1991 346,000 2.67%
1990 337,000 2.74%
1989 328,000 2.82%
1988 319,000 2.57%
1987 311,000 2.98%
1986 302,000 2.72%
1985 294,000 2.80%
1984 286,000 2.51%
1983 279,000 2.95%
1982 271,000 2.65%
1981 264,000 2.72%
1980 257,000 2.80%
1979 250,000 2.88%
1978 243,000 2.53%
1977 237,000 3.04%
1976 230,000 2.68%
1975 224,000 2.75%
1974 218,000 2.83%
1973 212,000 2.91%
1972 206,000 2.49%
1971 201,000 3.08%
1970 195,000 2.63%
1969 190,000 2.70%
1968 185,000 2.78%
1967 180,000 2.86%
1966 175,000 2.34%
1965 171,000 3.01%
1964 166,000 4.40%
1963 159,000 7.43%
1962 148,000 7.25%
1961 138,000 6.98%
1960 129,000 6.61%
1959 121,000 8.04%
1958 112,000 6.67%
1957 105,000 7.14%
1956 98,000 7.69%
1955 91,000 7.06%
1954 85,000 7.59%
1953 79,000 3.95%
1952 76,000 1.33%
1951 75,000 1.35%
1950 74,000 0.00%