Population and Culture of Lagos

Lagos has a very diverse and fast-growing population, resulting from heavy and ongoing migration to the city from all parts of Nigeria as well as neighboring countries.

In 1992 Lagos had an estimated population of about 1,347,000. The population of its metropolitan area was about 10.1 million in 2003.

The United Nations predicts that the city’s metropolitan area, which had only about 290,000 inhabitants in 1950, will exceed 20 million by 2010, making Lagos one of the world’s five largest cities.

The Yoruba, an African people inhabiting southwest Nigeria, constitute the city’s principal ethnic group. English is the most commonly used language, but Yoruba and other Nigerian languages are also spoken.

Lagos is an important center of Nigerian intellectual and cultural life.

The University of Lagos (1962), Yaba College of Technology (1948), Lagos State University (1983), and Lagos State Polytechnic (1977) are located in the city, as are several major research institutes.

Lagos is also the site of the National Library of Nigeria (1964) and the National Museum (1957), which has collections in archaeology, ethnography, and traditional art.

The National Theater (1976) stages plays, dance performances, and music concerts, and also houses collections of contemporary Nigerian art.