Empirical Study of the Effects of Population Growth on Standard of Living in Nigeria from 1980 To 2025

Abstract

Rapid population growth can have serious consequences for the well-being of all of humanity if development entails the improvement in people’s levels of living -their incomes, health, education, and general well-being. This study investigates the effect of population on the standard of living in Nigeria from 1980 to 2025. The study specifically: examine the effects of population growth rate on standard of living in Nigeria; identify the impact of fertility rate on standard of living in Nigeria; and determine the relationship between net migration and standard of living in Nigeria. The unit root tests employed Phillips-Perron Test and revealed that all variables under study were stable at level and first difference leading to the use of ARDL as the model for estimation. The results of the study showed that both in the short run and long run there exists positive relationship between population growth rate (PGR) and current gross national income per capita (GNIPC) - proxy for standard of living in Nigeria; there exists negative and significant relationship between fertility rate (FR) and current gross national income per capita (GNIPC) - proxy for standard of living in Nigeria; and there exists negative and significant relationship between net migration (NEM) and current gross national income per capita (GNIPC) - proxy for standard of living in Nigeria. The study therefore recommends that government should focus on building capacity of the productive population among the youth for a continuous improve in standard of living in Nigeria; that government should create more awareness on family planning so as to moderate numbers of child birth per woman; that government should discourage net migration so as to reduce the brain drains in Nigeria.