Understanding the drivers of land use and land cover change (LULCC) is important for sustainable land management. However, analyses of the effects of population growth on LULCC are limited in sub-Saharan Africa. This study assessed the impacts of population increases on LULCC in Abakaliki LGA, Nigeria from 2000 to 2022. Landsat imagery was classified using maximum likelihood to document LULCC, achieving over 95% accuracy. Census data revealed rapid population growth. Near-perfect correlations and regression modeling between population shifts and classified LULC conversions provided unequivocal evidence that population growth was the dominant factor reshaping the landscape. Integrating validated remote sensing and census methodology through quantitative analyses clearly demonstrated the transformative impacts of anthropogenic demographic pressures. Findings establish an empirically rigorous baseline for ongoing assessment of population-LULCC relationships. Prospectively, this integrated framework can support forecasting and policymaking to balance development and environmental protection under continued population growth across Africa and similar regions worldwide. Continued assessments at finer temporal scales will deepen understanding of ecosystem resilience to varied growth trajectories.