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Economy of Nigeria vs Russia compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Nigeria has a GDP of $252B compared to $2.17T for Russia, ranking 54/197 and 11/197 by economy size, respectively.

Nigeria has $99.2B in government debt (39.3% of GDP), compared to $440B (20.3% of GDP) in Russia.

Nigeria vs Russia GDP by year

Nigeria
Russia
1x
Year GDP, current $
Nigeria Russia
2024 $252,261,880,141 $2,173,835,806,672
2023 $487,387,801,881 $2,071,505,725,031
2022 $646,950,257,578 $2,291,612,121,335
2021 $609,147,716,973 $1,829,186,719,575
2020 $598,586,817,819 $1,493,075,894,362
2019 $668,219,992,691 $1,693,115,002,708
2018 $421,739,251,509 $1,657,328,773,461
2017 $375,745,731,053 $1,574,199,360,089
2016 $404,649,125,252 $1,276,786,350,881
2015 $493,026,682,801 $1,363,482,182,198
2014 $574,183,763,412 $2,059,241,589,895
2013 $520,117,180,314 $2,292,470,078,346
2012 $463,971,018,239 $2,208,293,553,878
2011 $414,466,676,831 $2,045,922,753,398
2010 $366,990,417,129 $1,524,916,715,224
2009 $295,008,835,381 $1,222,645,900,056
2008 $339,476,276,258 $1,660,848,058,303
2007 $278,260,846,800 $1,299,703,478,482
2006 $238,454,997,161 $989,932,071,353
2005 $175,670,569,969 $764,015,973,481
2004 $135,764,731,646 $591,016,690,732
2003 $104,738,954,264 $430,347,420,185
2002 $95,054,059,303 $345,470,494,418
2001 $73,557,840,064 $306,602,070,621
2000 $69,171,451,627 $259,710,142,197
1999 $59,145,077,039 $195,907,128,351
1998 $218,416,200,673 $270,955,486,862
1997 $200,850,397,618 $404,928,954,192
1996 $185,730,236,700 $391,724,890,744
1995 $140,919,776,986 $395,537,185,735
1994 $80,399,613,064 $395,077,301,248
1993 $56,721,051,402 $435,083,713,851
1992 $52,058,181,854 $460,290,556,901
1991 $59,526,833,412 $517,962,962,963
1990 $54,035,795,388 $517,014,446,228
1989 $44,003,061,108 $506,631,299,735
1988 $49,648,470,440 $554,828,660,436
1987 $52,676,041,931 -
1986 $54,805,852,581 -
1985 $73,745,821,158 -
1984 $73,484,359,521 -
1983 $97,094,911,792 -
1982 $142,769,363,314 -
1981 $164,475,209,516 -
1980 $64,201,788,123 -
1979 $47,259,911,894 -
1978 $36,527,862,209 -
1977 $36,035,407,725 -
1976 $36,308,883,249 -
1975 $27,778,934,625 -
1974 $24,846,641,318 -
1973 $15,162,871,287 -
1972 $12,274,416,018 -
1971 $9,181,769,912 -
1970 $12,546,094,982 -
1969 $6,634,317,346 -
1968 $5,200,997,920 -
1967 $5,203,237,919 -
1966 $6,366,917,453 -
1965 $5,874,537,650 -
1964 $5,552,931,319 -
1963 $5,165,590,254 -
1962 $4,909,399,176 -
1961 $4,467,287,893 -
1960 $4,196,174,502 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/nigeria/russia | CC BY

GDP per capita in Nigeria vs Russia by year

Nigeria
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Russia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Nigeria Russia
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $1,084 $9,087 $15,145 $47,405
2023 $2,139 $8,705 $14,403 $44,269
2022 $2,899 $8,305 $15,888 $40,939
2021 $2,787 $7,588 $12,637 $38,638
2020 $2,797 $7,415 $10,280 $31,491
2019 $3,190 $7,551 $11,640 $30,964
2018 $2,058 $7,158 $11,399 $28,629
2017 $1,876 $7,037 $10,835 $25,778
2016 $2,070 $7,072 $8,804 $24,012
2015 $2,586 $7,308 $9,427 $23,994
2014 $3,089 $7,396 $14,277 $25,688
2013 $2,873 $7,004 $15,941 $26,020
2012 $2,633 $6,671 $15,402 $24,274
2011 $2,418 $6,585 $14,305 $22,790
2010 $2,202 $6,301 $10,675 $20,490
2009 $1,820 $5,927 $8,563 $19,390
2008 $2,154 $5,607 $11,635 $20,164
2007 $1,816 $5,298 $9,101 $16,648
2006 $1,600 $4,975 $6,920 $14,912
2005 $1,211 $4,678 $5,323 $11,822
2004 $962 $4,381 $4,102 $10,227
2003 $763 $4,015 $2,975 $9,255
2002 $712 $3,770 $2,378 $8,037
2001 $566 $3,309 $2,100 $7,361
2000 $547 $3,139 $1,772 $6,825
1999 $481 $3,002 $1,331 $5,914
1998 $1,822 $3,022 $1,835 $5,465
1997 $1,720 $2,990 $2,738 $5,700
1996 $1,633 $2,931 $2,644 $5,518
1995 $1,272 $2,835 $2,666 $5,613
1994 $745 $2,853 $2,662 $5,734
1993 $540 $2,921 $2,931 $6,420
1992 $509 $2,991 $3,099 $6,862
1991 $597 $2,870 $3,490 $7,858
1990 $556 $2,840 $3,494 $8,028
1989 $465 - $3,430 -
1988 $540 - $3,778 -
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 (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/nigeria/russia | CC BY

Nigeria's GDP per capita is $1,084, ranking 174/197, compared to $15,145 in Russia, ranking 68/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Nigeria ranks 136th at $9,087, while Russia ranks 50th at $47,405.

Economic indicators

Nigeria Russia
Gross domestic product
$252B
2024
$2.17T
2024
GDP rank
54/197
2024
11/197
2024
GDP growth
4.06%
2023-2024
4.34%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$1,084
2024
$15,145
2024
GDP per capita rank
174/197
2024
68/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$9,087
2024
$47,405
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
136/197
2024
50/197
2024
Government debt
$99.2B
2024
$440B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
39.3%
2024
20.3%
2024
Government debt per person
$426
2024
$3,067
2024
Government debt per person rank
170/185
2024
98/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,104
2026
$10,464
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$54.4B
2024
$650B
2023
Number of millionaires n/a
426,000
2025
Number of billionaires
4
2025
140
2025
Income share by richest 10%
26.3%
2022
25.1%
2023
Income share by poorest 10%
3%
2022
3.1%
2023
Government expenditure, % of GDP
12.3%
2024
36.9%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
33.2%
2023-2024
8.4%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
27%
2025
16%
2025
Unemployment rate
3.45%
2024
2.43%
2024
Population
243824469
141906741

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Nigeria
Spending

Debt
Russia
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Nigeria Russia
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 12.3% 39.3% 36.9% 20.3%
2023 10.4% 36.3% 35.7% 19.5%
2022 10.6% 29.8% 35.2% 18.5%
2021 9.09% 26.6% 34.9% 16.5%
2020 8.73% 25.7% 39.2% 19.2%
2019 8.87% 21.4% 33.8% 13.7%
2018 9.1% 20.4% 32.6% 13.6%
2017 8.51% 18% 34.8% 14.3%
2016 6.93% 17.4% 36.6% 14.8%
2015 7.85% 14.9% 35.3% 15.3%
2014 9.49% 12.9% 34.9% 15.1%
2013 10% 13% 34.7% 12.3%
2012 10.5% 12.5% 34% 11.2%
2011 12.3% 12.4% 33.3% 10.3%
2010 11.8% 6.67% 35.5% 10.1%
2009 11% 6.12% 38.6% 9.92%
2008 10.2% 5.17% 32% 7.45%
2007 12.9% 5.76% 31.9% 8.03%
2006 8.75% 6.68% 29% 9.8%
2005 12.6% 13.4% 29.5% 14.9%
2004 13% 25.2% 29.6% 20.8%
2003 16.5% 29.9% 32.6% 28.3%
2002 13.8% 30.7% 33.8% 37.6%
2001 21.9% 37.7% 31.5% 44.4%
2000 17.6% 40.9% 30.7% 55.9%
1999 14.9% 46.1% 34.3% 92.4%
1998 11.2% 15.8% 39.7% 135.2%
1997 9.68% 17.1% - 51.5%
1996 7.87% 17.9% - 51.9%
1995 8.87% 24.2% - 53.7%
1994 12.1% 39.7% - 63.5%
1993 20% 50.4% - 92.4%
1992 15.9% 49.8% - 116%
1991 13.6% 53.2% - -
1990 14.2% 50.9% - -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1992–1996, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/nigeria/russia | CC BY

In 2024, Nigeria's government spending was $31.1B, accounting for 12.3% of its GDP, while Russia spent $802B, or 36.9% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 39.3% in Nigeria and 20.3% in Russia, ranking 135/185 and 175/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Nigeria

Russia
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Nigeria Russia
2024 -1.57% -1.6%
2023 -3.12% -2.22%
2022 -4% -1.34%
2021 -3.97% 0.78%
2020 -4.03% -3.99%
2019 -3.31% 1.93%
2018 -3.06% 2.92%
2017 -3.85% -1.47%
2016 -3.3% -3.67%
2015 -2.7% -3.39%
2014 -1.72% -1.07%
2013 -1.89% -1.16%
2012 -0.09% 0.38%
2011 0.31% 1.43%
2010 -2.96% -3.19%
2009 -3.78% -5.89%
2008 4.05% 4.55%
2007 -0.79% 5.59%
2006 6.22% 7.8%
2005 3.49% 7.6%
2004 3.9% 4.57%
2003 -1.56% 1.35%
2002 0.95% 0.67%
2001 -2.29% 2.99%
2000 2.89% 3.11%
1999 -1.39% -3.59%
1998 -3.47% -7.42%
1997 1.14% -
1996 3.37% -
1995 2.52% -
1994 -2.96% -
1993 -6.07% -
1992 0.94% -
1991 -1.18% -
1990 -0.48% -
1989 - -
1988 - -
1987 - -
1986 - -
1985 - -
1984 - -
1983 - -
1982 - -
1981 - -
1980 - -
1979 - -
1978 - -
1977 - -
1976 - -
1975 - -
1974 - -
1973 - -
1972 - -
1971 - -
1970 - -
1969 - -
1968 - -
1967 - -
1966 - -
1965 - -
1964 - -
1963 - -
1962 - -
1961 - -
1960 - -
1959 - -
1958 - -
1957 - -
1956 - -
1955 - -
1954 - -
1953 - -
1952 - -
1951 - -
1950 - -
1949 - -
1948 - -
1947 - -
1946 - -
1945 - -
1944 - -
1943 - -
1942 - -
1941 - -
1940 - 0.15%
1939 - 0.12%
1938 - 0.16%
1937 - 0.12%
1936 - 0.1%
1935 - 0.07%
1934 - 0.25%
1933 - 0.58%
1932 - 0.06%
1931 - -1.12%
1930 - -1.62%
1929 - -0.4%
1928 - -0.4%
1927 - -
1926 - -
1925 - -
1924 - -
1923 - -
1922 - -
1921 - -
1920 - -
1919 - -
1918 - -
1917 - -
1916 - -
1915 - -
1914 - -
1913 - -
1912 - 0.69%
1911 - 1.26%
1910 - 1.52%
1909 - -0.15%
1908 - -0.83%
1907 - -0.86%
1906 - -3.19%
1905 - -7.72%
1904 - -5.13%
1903 - 1.04%
1902 - -1.57%
1901 - 0.14%
1900 - -0.36%
1899 - 0.66%
1898 - 0.03%
1897 - 0.34%
1896 - 1.3%
1895 - 0.7%
1894 - 1.43%
1893 - 0.63%
1892 - -1.16%
1891 - -0.97%
1890 - 0.01%
1889 - 1.34%
1888 - 0.88%
1887 - 0.14%
1886 - -0.84%
1885 - -0.75%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1885–1940, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/nigeria/russia | CC BY

In 2024, Nigeria's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $3.95B, equivalent to 1.57% of GDP. This compares to Russia's deficit of $34.9B, or 1.6% of GDP.

Over the past 27 years, Nigeria recorded a fiscal deficit in 20 of those years, while Russia ran a deficit in 13 years. On average, Nigeria posted an annual deficit equal to 1.15% of GDP, compared to surplus of 0.21% of GDP for Russia.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Nigeria

Russia
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Nigeria Russia
2024 33.2% 8.4%
2023 24.7% 5.9%
2022 18.8% 13.7%
2021 17% 6.7%
2020 13.2% 3.4%
2019 11.4% 4.5%
2018 12.1% 2.9%
2017 16.5% 3.7%
2016 15.7% 7%
2015 9.01% 15.5%
2014 8.05% 7.8%
2013 8.5% 6.8%
2012 12.2% 5.1%
2011 10.8% 8.4%
2010 13.7% 6.8%
2009 12.5% 11.6%
2008 11.6% 14.1%
2007 5.39% 9%
2006 8.23% 9.7%
2005 17.9% 12.7%
2004 15% 10.9%
2003 14% 13.7%
2002 12.9% 15.8%
2001 18.9% 21.5%
2000 6.93% 20.8%
1999 6.62% 85.7%
1998 10% 27.7%
1997 8.53% 14.8%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/nigeria/russia | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, Nigeria has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 13.3%, compared with 13.4% in Russia. In 2024, inflation was 33.2% in Nigeria and 8.4% in Russia.

Top exports between countries

Nigeria
Export category Export value
Raw agricultural goods $8.49M
Machinery & equipment $777K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $324K
Animal & marine products $266K
Raw materials & minerals $87K
Precious metals & jewellery $26K
Russia
Export category Export value
Raw materials & minerals $552M
Raw agricultural goods $260M
Chemicals & pharma $28.7M
Animal & marine products $19.5M
Metals $12.4M
Wood & paper products $11.2M
Machinery & equipment $1.76M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $1.61M
Business & finance services $1.53M
IT & IP services $597K

Balance of trade

Nigeria Russia
Current account balance
$17.2B
2024
$63.4B
2024
Current account balance ranking
20/190
2024
12/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+6.82%
2024
+2.91%
2024
Goods imports
$39.8B
2024
$302B
2024
Goods exports
$53B
2024
$434B
2024
Service imports
$17.9B
2024
$81.5B
2024
Service exports
$4.57B
2024
$43.1B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
16.9%
1960
17.6%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
9.24%
1960
21.9%
2024

Economic freedom indices

The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.

Nigeria Russia
Economic freedom 54.8 50.3
Economic freedom ranking 132/197 161/197
Property rights 29.7 18.6
Government integrity 23.5 22.8
Judicial effectiveness 34.4 22.8
Tax burden 84.6 81.9
Government spending 96.3 61.3
Fiscal health 83.5 94.4
Business freedom 50.3 51.4
Labor freedom 75.4 59.1
Monetary freedom 56.1 61.8
Trade freedom 64.4 69.4
Investment freedom 30 30
Financial freedom 30 30

Economic freedom comparison by year

Nigeria
Russia
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Nigeria Russia
2026 54.8 50.3
2025 53.4 51.6
2024 53.1 52
2023 53.9 53.8
2022 54.4 56.1
2021 58.7 61.5
2020 57.2 61
2019 57.3 58.9
2018 58.5 58.2
2017 57.1 57.1
2016 57.5 50.6
2015 55.6 52.1
2014 54.3 51.9
2013 55.1 51.1
2012 56.3 50.5
2011 56.7 50.5
2010 56.8 50.3
2009 55.1 50.8
2008 55.1 49.8
2007 55.6 52.2
2006 48.7 52.4
2005 48.4 51.3
2004 49.2 52.8
2003 49.5 50.8
2002 50.9 48.7
2001 49.6 49.8
2000 53.1 51.8
1999 55.7 54.5
1998 52.3 52.8
1997 52.8 48.6
1996 47.4 51.6
1995 47.3 51.1

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

GeoRank.org/economy/nigeria/russia | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Nigeria is 54.8, ranking 132/197, compared to 50.3 for Russia, ranking 161/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Nigeria Russia
Services, % of GDP
53.7%
2024
57.5%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
18.2%
2024
30.7%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
25.9%
2024
2.74%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$396B
2024
$2.24T
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$8,850
2024
$46,780
2024
Total reserves including gold
$38.6B
2024
$597B
2023
Total reserves ranking
51/177
2024
6/177
2023
Net foreign direct investment
-$672M
2024
$9.37B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$1.08B
2024
-$9.35B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$408M
2024
-$170M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
5.48%
2024
2.65%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
56.2%
2023
12.1%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP n/a
26.3%
2024

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/nigeria/russia | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  4. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1885–1996, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. TradeMap (2020–2023, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)

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.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.