Nigeria's population has risen to 182 million, with more than half of its people under 30 years of age, an official said on Thursday.

Ghaji Bello, director general of the National Population Commission, said the figure was estimated based on the 140 million recorded in a nationwide census a decade ago and an annual growth rate of 3.5 percent weighed against other variables such as rising life expectancy and a declining infant mortality rate.

Bello said 40 percent of the citizens of Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, were below 14 years, noting a rapid increase of its youths.

According to a report by the local Vanguard Newspaper, the official said there are plans to hold a census this year to validate the latest population figure.

(Xinhua News Agency November 10, 2016)