₦airaland Forum

The ancient city of Kano is bursting at the seams, ranking among the 10 most populous cities globally with an estimated 17.5 million people, according to the World Population Review 2026 report.

It is ranked alongside Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Chengdu in China; Delhi and Mumbai in India; Kinshasa in DR Congo and Karachi, Pakistan.

Kano’s massive population growth, which is projected to hit 20 million by 2030, presents boundless opportunities, but may also have dire consequences if not effectively managed.

How well can the city’s growing numbers – largely youths – be leveraged for productivity and development, while minimising the attendant social, environmental and economic risks of a fast-rising megacity?

With insights from analysts, Weekend Trust highlights measures the government and other key stakeholders must take to turn the huge population into an advantage and the dangers their inaction may portend.

Kano’s expanding population has been driven by natural population growth, migration, commercial activities, and its strategic role as a major trading hub in northern Nigeria.

Development experts say the city’s continued growth presents significant opportunities for economic development, investment, and infrastructure expansion.

They, however, caution that rapid urbanisation increases pressure on housing, transportation, healthcare, education, water supply, and other essential public services.

As one of West Africa’s oldest commercial cities, Kano —famous for its groundnut pyramids in the past — has long served as a centre for trade, manufacturing, agriculture, and regional commerce. Its strategic location continues to attract businesses and people from across Nigeria and neighbouring countries, contributing to its expanding urban footprint and economic significance.

According to the World Population Review 2026 report, Kano city is currently the 9th most populous city globally, with an estimated 17.5 million people. This places the metropolis ahead of major cities such as Lagos, New York and Istanbul, and makes it Africa’s second largest city after Kinshasa.

However, there has been a nationwide debate over the population figure of Kano as many stakeholders contend whether the Centre of Commerce is more populated than Lagos.

The report paints a picture of shifting demographics across continents. Shanghai remains the largest city worldwide with over 24.7 million people, followed closely by Delhi, Kinshasa, Mumbai, and Beijing.

Kinshasa, with its explosive growth rate of more than five per cent annually, is the fastest‑expanding megacity on earth. But it is Kano’s inclusion in this league that has startled many observers. Once seen primarily as a regional capital, it has now joined the ranks of the world’s urban giants, underscoring Africa’s rapid urbanisation.

World Population Review notes that Kano’s growth is driven by a combination of natural increase and migration. The city’s annual growth rate of about 3.5 per cent is among the highest globally, and its population has surged past many traditional capitals of commerce and politics.

The report warns, however, that such expansion comes with enormous challenges in overstretched infrastructure, housing shortages, environmental risks, and governance pressures that could overwhelm local authorities if not managed carefully.

The data shows that Kano’s population in 1991 was 3,005,222. By 2026, the figure had climbed to 17,510,247, representing more than a five‑fold increase in just 35 years.

The report notes that Kano grew by over 536,000 people in the last year alone, an annual growth rate of 3.16 per cent. If this pace continues, the population is projected to surpass 20 million by 2030, cementing its place among the world’s megacities.

Similarly, the National Population Commission (NPC) data shows that Kano has consistently ranked among Nigeria’s most densely populated states. In 1991, the official census recorded 5,810,470 residents.

By 2006, the figure had surged to 9,401,288, representing a growth rate of nearly 62 per cent in just 15 years. Subsequent estimates by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and NPC placed the population at 13.4 million in 2016 and 15.46 million in 2022.

By early 2026, the NPC estimated 16,253,549 residents, with an annual growth rate of 3.27 per cent.

This trajectory is remarkable when compared with other Nigerian cities. Lagos, often seen as the country’s commercial capital, is estimated at 14.8 million in 2026, meaning Kano has overtaken it in numbers.

Abuja, the federal capital, remains far smaller at just over 2 million. The figures confirm that Kano is not only Nigeria’s most populous city but also one of the fastest‑growing metropolises globally.

Kano’s rise to megacity status is not accidental. Analysts say it is the product of several forces that have reshaped the city’s demographic landscape. Fertility rates in northern Nigeria remain among the highest in the world, ensuring a steady natural increase in population. But beyond births, Kano has become a magnet for migration.

Persistent insecurity in the North‑East and North‑West has forced thousands of families to flee their homes. Communities escaping insurgency in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa, or banditry in Zamfara, Katsina, and Sokoto, often find refuge in Kano.

The city offers relative stability, economic opportunities, and cultural familiarity, making it a natural destination for displaced people. This influx has swelled Kano’s numbers dramatically in recent years.

At the same time, Kano’s enduring role as a commercial hub continues to pull people in. Its sprawling markets, from Kurmi to Sabon Gari, remain centres of trade and industry. The city’s textile heritage, agro‑processing ventures, and growing service sector provide livelihoods for millions. Expansion into surrounding local governments has created a vast metropolitan area, absorbing rural communities into the city’s orbit and blurring the line between urban and rural life.

Education and healthcare facilities concentrated in Kano also attract migrants seeking services unavailable in smaller towns. Universities, hospitals, and government institutions reinforce the city’s status as a centre of opportunities.

Together, high fertility, insecurity‑driven migration, economic pull, and urban sprawl explain why Kano has grown so fast and why it now stands among the world’s largest cities.

Kano’s sudden leap into the ranks of the world’s megacities is not without consequence, Weekend Trust gathered. The city’s population boom has placed enormous strain on infrastructure that was never designed to carry such weight. Roads are choked with traffic, public transport is inadequate, and housing estates are springing up faster than they can be regulated. For many residents, the dream of urban opportunity is confronted with the daily reality of congestion, rising rents and overstretched services.

The health sector is already feeling the pressure. Hospitals and clinics are overwhelmed by the high number of patients, while schools struggle to accommodate swelling enrolments. In many neighbourhoods, classrooms are packed far beyond capacity, forcing teachers to manage dozens of pupils with limited resources. Water supply and sanitation systems are under stress, raising concerns about public health in a city where informal settlements continue to expand unchecked.

Employment is another critical challenge. While Kano’s markets and industries provide livelihoods for millions, the pace of population growth far outstrips job creation. Young people, who make up the majority of the city’s residents, often find themselves unemployed or underemployed, fuelling frustration and sometimes crime.

insidelife22:
That's good to hear.
Nigeria's problem is just greedy and wicked leders

insidelife22:
That's good to hear.
Nigeria's problem is just greedy and wicked leders

Julius1995:
Honest question here: how do we track population growth in Nigeria? Was there a time when we had a population census that was not based on the figures from the military era? If no, them there is very high probability that our official population is very wrong. How the population data of the Military Era were over-inflated is a recorded and easily accessible facts. I believe these are important considerations

AsomughaChuks02:
Did they count all 44 LGAs and called them Kano city? We know the Hausa/Fulani north are used to manipulating population figures for political advantage.

ManirBK:
https://dailytrust.com/how-kano-emerged-worlds-9th-most-populous-city/

Sleekfingers:
As far as I am concerned, Lagos is more populated than Kano....
The population of all the states in the North are lies.....

Rexnegro:
I can never believe this that Kano is ahead of Lagos in population... Fine I haven't been to Kano but I can't believe Kano is more populous than Lagos lie lie I won't believe that

ThunderFireAgba:
Churning out kids like rabbits with no counter measures and infrastructures to back up the population boom.
Looking down from an aircraft window, you will see poverty written all over the landscape.
What we celebrate in Nigeria is "Gaint of Africa in population" with no meaningful impact to the progress of the economy.
The only industry they produce are:
-Tribalistic bigots
-Religious bigots
-POS merchants &
-Online content creators.

Makamatic:
Bro this word wey you talk e pain me die . The last time I go pipeline for abule egba , I they cry because from the sky wey airplane want land for lagos , na poverty you go just they see . Brown zinc , erosion and dirty flooded environment with stagnant water .

Hotice085:
Let them be lying to themselves
Jigawa came out of Kano state and
Then after division Kano will now be more than lagos