Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 3.98% in real terms in the third quarter (Q3) of 2025.
This represents an improvement over the 3.86% recorded in the corresponding period of 2024 and signalling continued economic resilience following the GDP rebasing exercise that aligned national output with 2019 price structures.
Economy Sees Broad-Based Expansion Across Major Sectors
Aggregate real GDP growth for the period was supported by stronger output in agriculture, industry and key service activities.
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Agriculture expanded by 3.79%, an improvement on the 2.55% achieved in Q3 2024.
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Industry grew by 3.77%, up from 2.78% a year earlier, reflecting improved upstream performance and higher energy output.
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Services recorded a growth rate of 4.15%, slightly below the 4.97% recorded in the same quarter of 2024 but remained the largest contributor to overall economic activity.
With a 53.02% share of real GDP, the services sector remained the dominant driver of national output.
In nominal terms, GDP stood at N113.59 trillion, an 18.12% year-on-year increase compared to the N96.16 trillion recorded in Q3 2024, driven by higher prices, increased activity levels and adjustments from the new GDP base year.
Oil Sector: Higher Output Supports Modest Recovery
Average crude oil production rose to 1.64 million barrels per day (mbpd) in Q3 2025, higher than the 1.47 mbpd produced in the same quarter of 2024, although marginally below the 1.68 mbpd recorded in Q2 2025.
Real growth in the oil sector stood at 5.84%, improving slightly from 5.66% in Q3 2024. However, the sector recorded a notable moderation when compared to the 20.46% expansion seen in the previous quarter, reflecting normalisation after a strong rebound earlier in the year.
On a quarter-on-quarter basis, the sector contracted by 5.53%, while its contribution to real GDP rose to 3.44%, up from 3.38% in Q3 2024 but lower than the 4.05% share posted in Q2 2025.
Non-Oil Sector: Sustained Growth Driven by Broad Activity
The non-oil economy expanded by 3.91% in real terms, outperforming both the 3.79% recorded in Q3 2024 and the 3.64% posted in Q2 2025.
Growth was supported by strong performance in major segments including:
These industries collectively anchored overall GDP expansion during the period.
The non-oil sector accounted for 96.56% of real GDP, maintaining its position as the backbone of the economy. Its share was slightly below the 96.62% recorded in Q3 2024 but above the 95.95% share in Q2 2025.
Outlook
The third-quarter performance reinforces Nigeria’s gradual recovery trajectory, supported by higher crude output, stronger agricultural activity and steady momentum in key service industries.
However, sustained reforms, improved investment flows and stability in crude production will remain essential to consolidating growth in the coming quarters.