Nigeria has become the leading consumer of soft drinks in Sub-Saharan Africa, recording a staggering 53 billion litres of soft drinks consumed in 2024.
This according to a report by the German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association (VDMA).
Speaking ahead of drinktec 2025 during a press briefing in Lagos, the VDMA revealed that Nigeria’s beverage market outpaces those of regional peers like Ghana and South Africa, despite economic challenges including inflation and a weakening naira.
The surge in consumption is attributed to the country’s rapidly growing population, increasing urbanisation, and an expanding middle class, all of which continue to fuel demand in the non-alcoholic beverage sector.
Leading the pack is the bottled water category, with 48.7 billion litres sold in 2024. That figure is expected to grow by 27% over the next four years, reaching an estimated 62 billion litres by 2028.
Industry stakeholders say the data underlines Nigeria’s robust market potential, even as manufacturers navigate rising production costs and a volatile economic climate.
