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Nigeria economy ranking: GDP & GDP per capita, debt

Updated on by Georank

Nigeria ranked 50/197 by economy size with a GDP of $291B and 172/197 by GDP per capita at $1,224. Nigeria has $103B in government debt, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 35.5%.

In 2025, Nigeria made up 0.25% of the world's economy, compared to 0.31% in 1960.

Nigeria GDP & GDP growth by year

GDP, current $
Real growth
1x
Year GDP GDP growth
2025 $290,794,361,542 4.01%
2024 $252,261,880,140 4.07%
2023 $487,387,801,878 3.32%
2022 $646,950,257,575 4.32%
2021 $609,147,716,965 1.11%
2020 $598,586,817,817 -6.37%
2019 $668,219,992,687 2.21%
2018 $421,739,251,509 1.92%
2017 $375,745,731,053 0.81%
2016 $404,649,125,252 -1.62%
2015 $493,026,682,801 2.65%
2014 $574,183,763,412 6.31%
2013 $520,117,180,314 6.67%
2012 $463,971,018,239 4.23%
2011 $414,466,676,831 5.31%
2010 $366,990,417,129 8.01%
2009 $295,008,835,381 8.04%
2008 $339,476,276,258 6.76%
2007 $278,260,846,800 6.59%
2006 $238,454,997,161 6.06%
2005 $175,670,569,969 6.44%
2004 $135,764,731,646 9.25%
2003 $104,738,954,264 7.35%
2002 $95,054,059,303 15.3%
2001 $73,557,840,064 5.92%
2000 $69,171,451,627 5.02%
1999 $59,145,077,039 0.58%
1998 $218,416,200,673 2.58%
1997 $200,850,397,618 2.94%
1996 $185,730,236,700 4.2%
1995 $140,919,776,986 -0.07%
1994 $80,399,613,064 -1.81%
1993 $56,721,051,402 -2.04%
1992 $52,058,181,854 4.63%
1991 $59,526,833,412 0.36%
1990 $54,035,795,388 11.8%
1989 $44,003,061,108 1.92%
1988 $49,648,470,440 7.33%
1987 $52,676,041,931 3.2%
1986 $54,805,852,581 0.06%
1985 $73,745,821,158 5.91%
1984 $73,484,359,521 -1.12%
1983 $97,094,911,792 -10.9%
1982 $142,769,363,314 -6.8%
1981 $164,475,209,516 -13.1%
1980 $64,201,788,123 4.2%
1979 $47,259,911,894 6.76%
1978 $36,527,862,209 -5.76%
1977 $36,035,407,725 6.02%
1976 $36,308,883,249 9.04%
1975 $27,778,934,625 -5.23%
1974 $24,846,641,318 11.2%
1973 $15,162,871,287 5.39%
1972 $12,274,416,018 3.36%
1971 $9,181,769,912 14.2%
1970 $12,546,094,982 25%
1969 $6,634,317,346 24.2%
1968 $5,200,997,920 -1.25%
1967 $5,203,237,919 -15.7%
1966 $6,366,917,453 -4.25%
1965 $5,874,537,650 4.88%
1964 $5,552,931,319 4.95%
1963 $5,165,590,254 8.58%
1962 $4,909,399,176 4.1%
1961 $4,467,287,893 0.19%
1960 $4,196,174,502 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/nigeria | CC BY

Nigeria GDP per capita by year

GDP per capita
GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $1,224 -
2024 $1,084 $9,087
2023 $2,139 $8,705
2022 $2,899 $8,305
2021 $2,787 $7,588
2020 $2,797 $7,415
2019 $3,190 $7,551
2018 $2,058 $7,158
2017 $1,876 $7,037
2016 $2,070 $7,072
2015 $2,586 $7,308
2014 $3,089 $7,396
2013 $2,873 $7,004
2012 $2,633 $6,671
2011 $2,418 $6,585
2010 $2,202 $6,301
2009 $1,820 $5,927
2008 $2,154 $5,607
2007 $1,816 $5,298
2006 $1,600 $4,975
2005 $1,211 $4,678
2004 $962 $4,381
2003 $763 $4,015
2002 $712 $3,770
2001 $566 $3,309
2000 $547 $3,139
1999 $481 $3,002
1998 $1,822 $3,022
1997 $1,720 $2,990
1996 $1,633 $2,931
1995 $1,272 $2,835
1994 $745 $2,853
1993 $540 $2,921
1992 $509 $2,991
1991 $597 $2,870
1990 $556 $2,840
1989 $465 -
1988 $540 -
1987 $588 -
1986 $628 -
1985 $869 -
1984 $890 -
1983 $1,207 -
1982 $1,822 -
1981 $2,162 -
1980 $870 -
1979 $661 -
1978 $527 -
1977 $536 -
1976 $556 -
1975 $438 -
1974 $403 -
1973 $252.4 -
1972 $209.5 -
1971 $160.5 -
1970 $224.5 -
1969 $121.4 -
1968 $97.3 -
1967 $99.5 -
1966 $124.4 -
1965 $117.3 -
1964 $113.3 -
1963 $107.7 -
1962 $104.5 -
1961 $97.1 -
1960 $93.1 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/nigeria | CC BY

Nigeria has a GDP per capita of $1,224, ranking 172/197, a GDP per capita based on purchasing power parity (PPP) of $9,087, ranking 136/197, and a median annual after tax income of $768, ranking 195/197.

Nigeria GDP rankings by year

GDP
GDP per capita
GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Rank
GDP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 48 159 -
2024 54 170 125
2023 33 150 130
2022 23 139 130
2021 24 135 129
2020 23 136 127
2019 21 134 128
2018 30 146 128
2017 32 149 130
2016 28 144 128
2015 24 136 127
2014 22 133 125
2013 25 134 126
2012 28 136 126
2011 30 136 126
2010 31 136 124
2009 33 136 126
2008 31 129 129
2007 32 131 128
2006 31 129 126
2005 37 132 125
2004 38 141 123
2003 40 144 123
2002 41 144 123
2001 45 147 129
2000 46 150 126
1999 47 151 127
1998 23 99 122
1997 25 99 121
1996 26 99 117
1995 31 110 117
1994 36 122 113
1993 42 138 112
1992 44 140 110
1991 37 138 113
1990 39 142 110
1989 39 131 -
1988 39 128 -
1987 34 121 -
1986 33 111 -
1985 23 92 -
1984 24 94 -
1983 20 84 -
1982 16 69 -
1981 15 63 -
1980 27 94 -
1979 30 103 -
1978 30 106 -
1977 29 100 -
1976 26 88 -
1975 29 100 -
1974 30 100 -
1973 30 110 -
1972 28 112 -
1971 33 118 -
1970 25 99 -
1969 36 104 -
1968 41 108 -
1967 39 105 -
1966 32 97 -
1965 32 97 -
1964 31 95 -
1963 32 94 -
1962 32 95 -
1961 33 92 -
1960 33 91 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/nigeria | CC BY

Compared with 2000, in 2025 Nigeria is ranked 48th out of 179 by GDP (down from 46th), 159th by GDP per capita (down from 150th), and 125th by GDP per capita PPP (up from 126th).

Economic indicators

Nigeria Rank
Gross domestic product
$291B
2025
50/197
GDP growth
4.01%
2024-2025
73/194
GDP per capita
$1,224
2025
172/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$9,087
2024
136/197
Government debt
$103B
2025
57/185
Debt-to-GDP ratio
35.5%
2025
143/185
Government debt per person
$434
2025
170/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$768
2026
195/197
Listed domestic companies
165
2025
38/103
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$86.9B
2025
46/100
Number of billionaires
4
2026
51/74
Billionaire frequency
1 in 28,605,938
2026
72/74
Income share by richest 10%
26.3%
2022
96/169
Income share by poorest 10%
3%
2022
62/169
Government expenditure, % of GDP
11.7%
2025
192/195
Consumer prices inflation
23%
2024-2025
11/195
Central bank interest rate
26.5%
2026
5/106
Unemployment rate
3.45%
2024
141/196
Population
245016045
6/197

Government spending, deficit, and debt by year

Spending
Debt
Deficit/surplus
1x
Year % of GDP
Government spending Government debt Government deficit/surplus
2025 11.7% 35.5% -1.76%
2024 12% 39.3% -1.27%
2023 10.4% 36.3% -3.12%
2022 10.6% 29.8% -4%
2021 9.09% 26.6% -3.97%
2020 8.73% 25.7% -4.03%
2019 8.87% 21.4% -3.31%
2018 9.1% 20.4% -3.06%
2017 8.51% 18% -3.85%
2016 6.93% 17.4% -3.3%
2015 7.85% 14.9% -2.7%
2014 9.49% 15.8% -1.72%
2013 10% 13% -1.89%
2012 10.5% 12.5% -0.09%
2011 12.3% 12.4% 0.31%
2010 11.8% 6.67% -2.96%
2009 11% 6.12% -3.78%
2008 10.2% 5.17% 4.05%
2007 12.9% 5.76% -0.79%
2006 8.75% 6.68% 6.22%
2005 12.6% 13.4% 3.49%
2004 13% 25.2% 3.9%
2003 16.5% 29.9% -1.56%
2002 13.8% 30.7% 0.95%
2001 21.9% 37.7% -2.29%
2000 17.6% 40.9% 2.89%
1999 14.9% 46.1% -1.39%
1998 11.2% 15.8% -3.47%
1997 9.68% 17.1% 1.14%
1996 7.87% 17.9% 3.37%
1995 8.87% 24.2% 2.52%
1994 12.1% 39.7% -2.96%
1993 20% 50.4% -6.07%
1992 15.9% 49.8% 0.94%
1991 13.6% 53.2% -1.18%
1990 14.2% 50.9% -0.48%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/nigeria | CC BY

This chart shows Nigeria's government spending, budget balance, and debt over time, each expressed as a share of GDP.

Over the past 36 years, Nigeria recorded a fiscal deficit in 25 of them, with an average annual deficit equal to 0.98% of GDP. In 2025, government spending reached $34.1B (11.7% of GDP), with a deficit of 1.76%.

The national debt reached $103B, ranking 57th out of 185 countries by total size, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 35.5%, ranking 143rd.

Inflation rate by year

1x
Year Inflation
2025 23%
2024 33.2%
2023 24.7%
2022 18.8%
2021 17%
2020 13.2%
2019 11.4%
2018 12.1%
2017 16.5%
2016 15.7%
2015 9.01%
2014 8.05%
2013 8.5%
2012 12.2%
2011 10.8%
2010 13.7%
2009 12.5%
2008 11.6%
2007 5.39%
2006 8.23%
2005 17.9%
2004 15%
2003 14%
2002 12.9%
2001 18.9%
2000 6.93%
1999 6.62%
1998 10%
1997 8.53%
1996 29.3%
1995 72.8%
1994 57%
1993 57.2%
1992 44.6%
1991 13%
1990 7.36%
1989 50.5%
1988 54.5%
1987 11.3%
1986 5.72%
1985 7.44%
1984 17.8%
1983 23.2%
1982 7.7%
1981 20.8%
1980 9.97%
1979 11.7%
1978 21.7%
1977 15.1%
1976 24.3%
1975 34%
1974 12.7%
1973 5.4%
1972 3.46%
1971 16%
1970 13.8%
1969 10.2%
1968 -0.48%
1967 -3.73%
1966 9.69%
1965 4.1%
1964 0.86%
1963 -2.69%
1962 5.27%
1961 6.28%
1960 5.44%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/nigeria | CC BY

Over the past 20 years, Nigeria has had an average annual inflation rate of 14.3%. In 2025, inflation was 23%. The bar chart above shows consumer price inflation by year.

Balance of trade

Nigeria Rank
Current account balance
$14B
2025
21/190
Current account balance, % of GDP
+4.83%
2025
33/190
Goods imports
$43B
2025
61/189
Goods exports
$57.5B
2025
50/189
Service imports
$19.6B
2025
52/189
Service exports
$5.06B
2025
94/189
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
16.9%
1960
171/182
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
9.24%
1960
184/193

Nigeria top 10 trading partners

Nigeria's biggest trading partner accounting for 12.5% of all exports and imports is China, with a trade balance between the two of -$7.75B: Nigeria exports $2.08B worth of goods and services to China and imports $9.83B.

Below is the list of the top 10 trade partners of Nigeria.

Rank Country Trade value Share of total trade Export to Import from Top export to Top import from
1 China $11.9B 12.5% $2.08B $9.83B Raw materials & minerals Machinery & equipment
2 India $8.31B 8.73% $4.02B $4.29B Raw materials & minerals Raw materials & minerals
3 United States $6.69B 7.03% $3.86B $2.83B Raw materials & minerals Machinery & equipment
4 Spain $6.67B 7% $5.65B $1.02B Raw materials & minerals Raw materials & minerals
5 Netherlands $6.42B 6.74% $4.81B $1.6B Raw materials & minerals Raw materials & minerals
6 France $5.98B 6.29% $4.83B $1.15B Raw materials & minerals Raw materials & minerals
7 Belgium $5.1B 5.36% $239M $4.86B Processed food, beverages & tobacco Raw materials & minerals
8 Italy $3.43B 3.6% $2.77B $656M Raw materials & minerals Machinery & equipment
9 Indonesia $3.35B 3.52% $3.02B $327M Raw materials & minerals Processed food, beverages & tobacco
10 Canada $3.16B 3.32% $2.94B $219M Raw materials & minerals Raw agricultural goods

Top 10 exports

Nigeria Rank
Raw materials & minerals $48.8B 26/193
Transport & tourism services $2.5B 96/191
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $2.15B 63/192
Business & finance services $1.39B 77/189
Raw agricultural goods $1.11B 70/193
Machinery & equipment $742M 87/193
Metals $579M 86/192
Government & miscellaneous services $498M 36/187
IT & IP services $184M 93/185
Precious metals & jewellery $151M 102/190

Top 10 imports

Nigeria Rank
Raw materials & minerals $17.2B 38/193
Transport & tourism services $10.9B 50/191
Machinery & equipment $10.2B 67/193
Business & finance services $5.35B 49/189
Chemicals & pharma $4.49B 69/193
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $2.13B 73/193
Raw agricultural goods $1.65B 63/193
Metals $1.51B 82/193
Miscellaneous $1.48B 34/193
Animal & marine products $1.11B 60/193

Economic freedom indices

Nigeria Rank
Economic freedom 54.8 132/197
Property rights 29.7 142/182
Government integrity 23.5 150/182
Judicial effectiveness 34.4 114/182
Tax burden 84.6 58/182
Government spending 96.3 4/180
Fiscal health 83.5 66/181
Business freedom 50.3 138/182
Labor freedom 75.4 5/182
Monetary freedom 56.1 162/180
Trade freedom 64.4 133/181
Investment freedom 30 153/181
Financial freedom 30 143/181

Economic freedom by year

1x
Year Index
Economic freedom Judicial effectiveness Tax burden Government spending Fiscal health
2026 54.8 34.4 84.6 96.3 83.5
2025 53.4 34.1 85.1 94.5 55.4
2024 53.1 34.5 84.8 94.7 44.2
2023 53.9 22.5 84.9 95.2 50
2022 54.4 33.8 84.8 95.3 58.1
2021 58.7 38.7 84.9 95.3 59.9
2020 57.2 32.2 85.1 96.2 64.1
2019 57.3 34.3 85 96.5 68.2
2018 58.5 39.6 84.4 96.3 80.9
2017 57.1 33.2 85.2 95.2 87.2
2016 57.5 - 85.1 94.6 -
2015 55.6 - 85.2 76.1 -
2014 54.3 - 85 74.5 -
2013 55.1 - 82.6 74.6 -
2012 56.3 - 84.3 72.3 -
2011 56.7 - 84.4 73 -
2010 56.8 - 84.4 64.7 -
2009 55.1 - 84.4 64.3 -
2008 55.1 - 84.4 68.1 -
2007 55.6 - 84.2 66.9 -
2006 48.7 - 84.1 56.9 -
2005 48.4 - 84 48.6 -
2004 49.2 - 82.1 68.9 -
2003 49.5 - 84.2 75.8 -
2002 50.9 - 84.2 74.8 -
2001 49.6 - 84.4 74.8 -
2000 53.1 - 84.4 71.2 -
1999 55.7 - 84.5 78.3 -
1998 52.3 - 84.5 71.7 -
1997 52.8 - 81.3 47.3 -
1996 47.4 - 78.6 0 -
1995 47.3 - 75.4 0 -

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/nigeria | CC BY

Nigeria is ranked 118/174 for economic freedom with a score of 54.8, compared to 142/162 and a score of 48.7 in 2006.

Other economic metrics

Nigeria Rank
Services, % of GDP
58.2%
2025
88/191
Industry, % of GDP
16.4%
2025
154/194
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
23%
2025
29/193
GNI, Atlas method
$324B
2025
46/194
GNI per capita, PPP
$9,230
2025
135/191
Total reserves including gold
$46B
2025
52/177
Net foreign direct investment
-$2.82B
2025
149/189
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$1.61B
2024
82/193
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$408M
2024
61/193
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
5.46%
2024
47/121
Poverty at national poverty lines
56.2%
2023
13/176

Compare Nigeria vs other countries

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/nigeria | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. TradeMap (2024, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.

The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.