Nigeria's population surpasses 198 mln

ABUJA, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Africa's most populous country Nigeria said its population has risen to over 198 million with an urban population growing at an average annual rate of about 6.5 percent.

A statement by the National Population Commission (NPC) on Wednesday said the category of the population mostly engaged in urbanization and migration were adolescents, women of childbearing age and the working age population.

A recent World Population Prospects predicted that by 2050, Nigeria will become the third most populated country in the world, the statement noted.

By that time, 70 percent of Nigeria's population will be residing in cities, according to the global survey's prediction.

The NPC said Nigeria's population had grown substantially from 17.3 percent in 1967 to 49.4 percent in 2017.

The National Bureau of Statistics said Nigerian cities currently host widespread poverty, under-employment, and unemployment at an average of 18.4 percent.

Nigeria is currently the seventh most populous country in the world.

The west African country has scheduled a national population census this year to ascertain its current population. Enditem