Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, has claimed that Nigeria recorded four million more births than the entire European Union in the past year, highlighting the country’s rapidly growing population.
Musk made the statement on his X account on Saturday, citing figures generated by his artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok.
“Nigeria alone had 4 million more births than the entire EU last year,” Musk wrote.
According to data shared by Grok, Nigeria recorded an estimated 7.8 million births in 2025, compared with approximately 3.5 million births across the European Union, leaving Nigeria with about four million more births than the 27-member bloc.
The figures underscore Nigeria’s significantly higher birth rate despite its ongoing economic challenges.
In February 2026, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) announced that about 14 million Nigerian children had their births officially registered over the previous two years, describing it as a major milestone in expanding legal identity coverage across the country.
As Africa’s most populous nation, Nigeria continues to experience rapid population growth, increasing pressure on infrastructure, healthcare, education and other essential public services.
At the same time, economic conditions remain difficult. According to World Bank data, Nigeria’s poverty rate stood at 63 per cent in 2025, with many households grappling with rising inflation and the high cost of living.
Meanwhile, the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, recently stated at the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit that, for the first time, Nigeria’s economy was growing faster than its estimated population of 250 million, signalling a shift in the country’s economic trajectory despite persistent development challenges.
