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Population density: Germany vs Nigeria compared

Updated on by Georank team

Germany has a population density of 612 people per square mile compared to 690 people in Nigeria. Germany has 46,087 sq ft of land per person vs 42,734 sq ft in Nigeria. Germany and Nigeria rank 50th and 41st by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Germany has 1.03% of the world's population and 0.23% of all countries' land area, compared to 2.86% of the population and 0.61% of the land area for Nigeria, making the population density in Germany 11.2% lower than in Nigeria.

Population density by year

Germany
Nigeria

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Germany Nigeria
2026 612 690
2025 617 676
2024 619 662
2023 617 648
2022 617 635
2021 617 621
2020 616 609
2019 616 596
2018 615 583
2017 613 569
2016 610 556
2015 606 542
2014 601 529
2013 599 515
2012 598 501
2011 596 487
2010 608 474
2009 608 461
2008 610 448
2007 611 436
2006 612 424
2005 612 412
2004 613 401
2003 613 390
2002 612 380
2001 611 369
2000 610 359
1999 609 350
1998 609 341
1997 609 332
1996 608 323
1995 606 315
1994 604 307
1993 602 298.9
1992 598 291.1
1991 594 283.6
1990 589 276.2
1989 584 268.8
1988 580 261.7
1987 577 254.8
1986 577 248.1
1985 576 241.4
1984 578 234.7
1983 580 228.7
1982 581 222.9
1981 582 216.3
1980 581 209.8
1979 580 203.3
1978 579 197.1
1977 580 191.2
1976 581 185.6
1975 584 180.3
1974 586 175.4
1973 586 170.9
1972 584 166.6
1971 581 162.7
1970 580 158.9
1969 578 155.4
1968 573 151.9
1967 571 148.7
1966 568 145.6
1965 564 142.4
1964 559 139.4
1963 554 136.4
1962 549 133.6
1961 544 130.8

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/population-density/germany/nigeria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Germany increased by 0.04%, compared to a 62.7% growth in Nigeria.

In 2006, Germany ranked 37th by population density and is 50th now. Nigeria was 53rd in 2006 and ranks 41st out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Germany
Nigeria
1x
Year Urban population
Germany Nigeria
2024 82% 63%
2023 81.9% 62.2%
2022 81.8% 61.4%
2021 81.6% 60.6%
2020 81.5% 59.8%
2019 81.3% 59%
2018 81.1% 58.2%
2017 81% 57.3%
2016 80.8% 56.5%
2015 80.7% 55.7%
2014 80.6% 54.9%
2013 80.5% 54.1%
2012 80.4% 53.3%
2011 80.3% 52.5%
2010 80.3% 51.7%
2009 80.3% 50.9%
2008 80.2% 50.1%
2007 80.2% 49.2%
2006 80.2% 48.4%
2005 80.2% 47.6%
2004 80.2% 46.7%
2003 80.1% 45.8%
2002 80.1% 45%
2001 80.1% 44.1%
2000 80.1% 43.3%
1999 80.1% 42.4%
1998 80.1% 41.6%
1997 80.1% 40.8%
1996 80.1% 40%
1995 80% 39.1%
1994 80% 38.3%
1993 80% 37.5%
1992 80% 36.7%
1991 80% 36%
1990 80% 35.2%
1989 80% 34.4%
1988 80% 33.6%
1987 80% 32.8%
1986 80% 32.1%
1985 80% 31.3%
1984 80% 30.5%
1983 80% 29.7%
1982 79.9% 28.9%
1981 79.9% 28.2%
1980 79.9% 27.4%
1979 79.9% 26.7%
1978 79.9% 25.9%
1977 79.9% 25.2%
1976 79.8% 24.4%
1975 79.8% 23.7%
1974 79.8% 23%
1973 79.8% 22.3%
1972 79.7% 21.6%
1971 79.7% 20.9%
1970 79.7% 20.2%
1969 79.6% 19.6%
1968 79.4% 18.9%
1967 79.1% 18.3%
1966 78.7% 17.7%
1965 78.3% 17.1%
1964 77.7% 16.5%
1963 77.2% 15.9%
1962 76.7% 15.4%
1961 76.2% 14.8%
1960 75.7% 14.2%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/germany/nigeria | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 80.2% to 82% in Germany and from 46.7% to 63% in Nigeria.

Densely populated cities

Germany
City Population
Berlin 3.78M
Hamburg 1.91M
Munich 1.51M
Cologne 1.09M
Frankfurt 776K
Stuttgart 633K
Dusseldorf 631K
Leipzig 620K
Dortmund 595K
Essen 587K
Nigeria
City Population
Lagos 15.1M
Kano 4.35M
Port Harcourt 3.32M
Ibadan 2.55M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Maiduguri 1.2M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population density in other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population-density/germany/nigeria | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2006–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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