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Population in Burkina Faso compared to Nigeria: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Burkina Faso was 23,548,781 in 2024 vs 232,679,478 people in Nigeria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Burkina Faso's population is 24,756,783 people compared to 243,824,469 in Nigeria.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 9.85 times bigger than Burkina Faso's.
  • Burkina Faso is ranked the 59th most populous country in the world, while Nigeria is the 6th.
  • The countries together account for 3.24% of the world: 0.3% for Burkina Faso vs 2.94% for Nigeria.
  • For the last 10 years, Burkina Faso has had an average growth rate of +2.63% per year vs +2.31% in Nigeria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Burkina Faso has increased from 14.4M people to 24.8M (72.2% growth), while Nigeria has grown from 149M to 244M (63.6% growth).

Burkina Faso vs Nigeria: population by year and forecast

Burkina Faso
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Burkina Faso Nigeria
2100 50,408,328 481,678,166
2099 50,383,919 481,494,914
2098 50,352,973 481,219,866
2097 50,313,705 480,876,108
2096 50,266,628 480,460,381
2095 50,218,948 479,976,454
2094 50,162,122 479,432,855
2093 50,097,256 478,807,152
2092 50,020,865 478,097,591
2091 49,941,829 477,274,569
2090 49,849,369 476,367,086
2089 49,746,842 475,363,859
2088 49,633,009 474,268,867
2087 49,506,797 473,072,894
2086 49,374,214 471,769,229
2085 49,231,459 470,365,292
2084 49,078,733 468,843,169
2083 48,912,839 467,224,322
2082 48,738,088 465,509,151
2081 48,550,361 463,679,779
2080 48,350,756 461,741,930
2079 48,139,621 459,680,797
2078 47,915,623 457,513,367
2077 47,674,670 455,254,796
2076 47,421,548 452,885,729
2075 47,161,253 450,402,898
2074 46,887,164 447,825,224
2073 46,596,755 445,152,156
2072 46,296,320 442,375,349
2071 45,987,906 439,499,004
2070 45,669,374 436,539,777
2069 45,339,502 433,472,204
2068 45,000,338 430,320,190
2067 44,651,960 427,066,199
2066 44,295,017 423,736,078
2065 43,931,890 420,318,527
2064 43,554,812 416,811,285
2063 43,171,791 413,231,409
2062 42,781,734 409,583,480
2061 42,378,127 405,859,509
2060 41,969,941 402,073,494
2059 41,556,223 398,228,736
2058 41,132,214 394,315,883
2057 40,699,958 390,341,867
2056 40,263,674 386,298,064
2055 39,819,396 382,193,151
2054 39,368,928 378,030,342
2053 38,908,013 373,799,276
2052 38,440,539 369,501,634
2051 37,966,813 365,149,555
2050 37,484,179 360,734,783
2049 36,994,052 356,271,401
2048 36,499,739 351,752,501
2047 35,993,831 347,169,674
2046 35,483,039 342,532,578
2045 34,962,697 337,834,528
2044 34,435,436 333,076,416
2043 33,904,610 328,256,555
2042 33,368,223 323,388,886
2041 32,828,377 318,469,120
2040 32,285,754 313,492,800
2039 31,738,667 308,474,350
2038 31,188,815 303,423,786
2037 30,636,433 298,351,344
2036 30,081,085 293,250,795
2035 29,523,750 288,138,368
2034 28,963,008 283,018,151
2033 28,405,067 277,897,810
2032 27,853,260 272,769,123
2031 27,304,165 267,666,779
2030 26,759,978 262,583,487
2029 26,220,635 257,504,936
2028 25,682,620 252,465,743
2027 25,146,586 247,457,208
2026 24,612,250 242,477,499
2025 24,080,445 237,546,527
2024 23,548,781 232,679,478
2023 23,025,776 227,882,945
2022 22,509,038 223,150,896
2021 21,995,243 218,529,286
2020 21,478,690 213,996,181
2019 20,961,952 209,485,641
2018 20,438,288 204,938,755
2017 19,894,407 200,254,579
2016 19,334,856 195,443,700
2015 18,777,487 190,671,878
2014 18,229,461 185,896,915
2013 17,695,409 181,049,443
2012 17,172,287 176,200,625
2011 16,661,908 171,379,598
2010 16,176,498 166,642,886
2009 15,710,066 162,049,464
2008 15,258,093 157,595,014
2007 14,816,307 153,267,261
2006 14,373,707 149,077,334
2005 13,932,123 145,017,253
2004 13,500,533 141,057,045
2003 13,082,532 137,202,644
2002 12,680,897 133,471,989
2001 12,295,001 129,862,595
2000 11,925,546 126,382,494
1999 11,574,928 123,047,320
1998 11,240,664 119,846,254
1997 10,934,223 116,754,792
1996 10,655,942 113,754,779
1995 10,386,722 110,819,428
1994 10,123,798 107,935,714
1993 9,871,713 105,122,069
1992 9,629,275 102,372,770
1991 9,394,632 99,720,162
1990 9,159,356 97,120,925
1989 8,921,175 94,531,014
1988 8,687,435 92,020,090
1987 8,457,109 89,591,716
1986 8,228,847 87,235,953
1985 7,999,935 84,897,973
1984 7,772,256 82,526,443
1983 7,551,129 80,438,260
1982 7,340,197 78,378,701
1981 7,140,271 76,068,103
1980 6,947,900 73,764,641
1979 6,763,903 71,498,242
1978 6,590,984 69,326,532
1977 6,428,734 67,234,590
1976 6,280,635 65,258,009
1975 6,147,569 63,410,815
1974 6,024,904 61,679,144
1973 5,911,927 60,082,139
1972 5,807,234 58,601,748
1971 5,707,999 57,214,684
1970 5,610,304 55,893,838
1969 5,513,177 54,631,914
1968 5,418,644 53,432,783
1967 5,326,348 52,293,065
1966 5,237,933 51,188,234
1965 5,152,833 50,086,764
1964 5,071,034 49,012,016
1963 4,993,623 47,973,575
1962 4,919,672 46,965,292
1961 4,848,224 45,989,310
1960 4,778,621 45,053,782

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/burkina-faso/nigeria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Burkina Faso increased by 4,961,149 people (a 34.5% growth), while Nigeria gained 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Burkina Faso gained 5,421,927 people (a 28% growth), while Nigeria's population increased by 48,380,769 people (a 24.8% growth).

Burkina Faso was ranked 63rd most populous country in 2006 and is 59th in 2026. Nigeria was ranked 7th in 2006 and ranked 6th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Burkina Faso's population will grow by 51.4% to 37,484,179 people with a rank change from 59th to 56th. The population of Nigeria will increase by 47.9% to 360,734,783 people and rank change from 6th to 5th.

Burkina Faso is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 50.4M people compared to the peak of 482M people in 2100 for Nigeria.

Population growth rate by year

Burkina Faso
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Burkina Faso Nigeria
2100 0.05% 0.04%
2099 0.06% 0.06%
2098 0.08% 0.07%
2097 0.09% 0.09%
2096 0.09% 0.1%
2095 0.11% 0.11%
2094 0.13% 0.13%
2093 0.15% 0.15%
2092 0.16% 0.17%
2091 0.19% 0.19%
2090 0.21% 0.21%
2089 0.23% 0.23%
2088 0.25% 0.25%
2087 0.27% 0.28%
2086 0.29% 0.3%
2085 0.31% 0.32%
2084 0.34% 0.35%
2083 0.36% 0.37%
2082 0.39% 0.39%
2081 0.41% 0.42%
2080 0.44% 0.45%
2079 0.47% 0.47%
2078 0.51% 0.5%
2077 0.53% 0.52%
2076 0.55% 0.55%
2075 0.58% 0.58%
2074 0.62% 0.6%
2073 0.65% 0.63%
2072 0.67% 0.65%
2071 0.7% 0.68%
2070 0.73% 0.71%
2069 0.75% 0.73%
2068 0.78% 0.76%
2067 0.81% 0.79%
2066 0.83% 0.81%
2065 0.87% 0.84%
2064 0.89% 0.87%
2063 0.91% 0.89%
2062 0.95% 0.92%
2061 0.97% 0.94%
2060 1% 0.97%
2059 1.03% 0.99%
2058 1.06% 1.02%
2057 1.08% 1.05%
2056 1.12% 1.07%
2055 1.14% 1.1%
2054 1.18% 1.13%
2053 1.22% 1.16%
2052 1.25% 1.19%
2051 1.29% 1.22%
2050 1.32% 1.25%
2049 1.35% 1.28%
2048 1.41% 1.32%
2047 1.44% 1.35%
2046 1.49% 1.39%
2045 1.53% 1.43%
2044 1.57% 1.47%
2043 1.61% 1.51%
2042 1.64% 1.54%
2041 1.68% 1.59%
2040 1.72% 1.63%
2039 1.76% 1.66%
2038 1.8% 1.7%
2037 1.85% 1.74%
2036 1.89% 1.77%
2035 1.94% 1.81%
2034 1.96% 1.84%
2033 1.98% 1.88%
2032 2.01% 1.91%
2031 2.03% 1.94%
2030 2.06% 1.97%
2029 2.09% 2%
2028 2.13% 2.02%
2027 2.17% 2.05%
2026 2.21% 2.08%
2025 2.26% 2.09%
2024 2.27% 2.1%
2023 2.3% 2.12%
2022 2.34% 2.11%
2021 2.4% 2.12%
2020 2.47% 2.15%
2019 2.56% 2.22%
2018 2.73% 2.34%
2017 2.89% 2.46%
2016 2.97% 2.5%
2015 3.01% 2.57%
2014 3.02% 2.68%
2013 3.05% 2.75%
2012 3.06% 2.81%
2011 3% 2.84%
2010 2.97% 2.83%
2009 2.96% 2.83%
2008 2.98% 2.82%
2007 3.08% 2.81%
2006 3.17% 2.8%
2005 3.2% 2.81%
2004 3.2% 2.81%
2003 3.17% 2.8%
2002 3.14% 2.78%
2001 3.1% 2.75%
2000 3.03% 2.71%
1999 2.97% 2.67%
1998 2.8% 2.65%
1997 2.61% 2.64%
1996 2.59% 2.65%
1995 2.6% 2.67%
1994 2.55% 2.68%
1993 2.52% 2.69%
1992 2.5% 2.66%
1991 2.57% 2.68%
1990 2.67% 2.74%
1989 2.69% 2.73%
1988 2.72% 2.71%
1987 2.77% 2.7%
1986 2.86% 2.75%
1985 2.93% 2.87%
1984 2.93% 2.6%
1983 2.87% 2.63%
1982 2.8% 3.04%
1981 2.77% 3.12%
1980 2.72% 3.17%
1979 2.62% 3.13%
1978 2.52% 3.11%
1977 2.36% 3.03%
1976 2.16% 2.91%
1975 2.04% 2.81%
1974 1.91% 2.66%
1973 1.8% 2.53%
1972 1.74% 2.42%
1971 1.74% 2.36%
1970 1.76% 2.31%
1969 1.74% 2.24%
1968 1.73% 2.18%
1967 1.69% 2.16%
1966 1.65% 2.2%
1965 1.61% 2.19%
1964 1.55% 2.16%
1963 1.5% 2.15%
1962 1.47% 2.12%
1961 1.46% 2.08%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/burkina-faso/nigeria | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Burkina Faso grew by 2.27%, while Nigeria's population grew by 2.1%.

Live population counters

Burkina Faso Nigeria
Current population
24756783
243824469
Population rank 59/197 6/197
Percent of world population 0.3% 2.94%
One net population change
1 minute
6.58 seconds
One birth every
43.3 seconds
4.2 seconds
One death every
2.87 minutes
11.8 seconds
Daily growth/decline +1,433 +13,141
Annual growth/decline +523,005 +4,796,533
Annual growth/decline rate +2.27% +2.1%
Population growth rate rank 39/197 48/197
One migration net change every
19.4 minutes
34.5 minutes
Annual migration change -27,130 -15,258
Net migration rank 158/196 145/196
Foreign-born residents 739,820 1,403,281
Foreign-born residents rank 68/195 49/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.1% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 115/195 173/195

Natural population change vs migration

Burkina Faso
Natural

Migration
Nigeria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Burkina Faso Nigeria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,130 - -15,258
2024 - -25,807 - -35,202
2023 545,227 -24,957 4,834,309 -57,936
2022 538,146 -24,960 4,739,502 -51,680
2021 527,468 -13,079 4,641,562 -86,115
2020 524,359 -5,661 4,525,164 -14,497
2019 540,001 -25,240 4,609,941 -99,722
2018 556,493 -23,938 4,659,898 -76,565
2017 569,975 -14,780 4,706,183 78,685
2016 571,519 -7,598 4,761,594 75,265
2015 570,554 -19,726 4,823,045 -116,162
2014 563,218 -17,984 4,862,319 -19,376
2013 556,096 -33,212 4,811,751 40,201
2012 544,293 -20,930 4,774,508 71,138
2011 530,765 -33,391 4,728,363 67,808
2010 515,480 -42,055 4,629,173 47,966
2009 499,596 -40,148 4,528,149 -18,422
2008 485,223 -40,725 4,412,976 -13,646
2007 467,277 -28,202 4,265,428 -9,162
2006 450,357 -4,218 4,135,703 -12,093
2005 427,243 9,795 4,013,788 -17,146
2004 408,567 17,570 3,877,376 46,370
2003 394,516 15,359 3,751,120 33,857
2002 377,333 16,076 3,606,814 69,594
2001 367,731 10,654 3,478,370 64,163
2000 356,657 3,877 3,343,196 74,535
1999 342,630 -1,922 3,155,425 97,195
1998 333,196 -5,367 3,003,946 145,575
1997 322,253 -37,200 2,936,500 96,885
1996 315,820 -44,314 2,882,205 84,448
1995 305,878 -38,943 2,830,771 73,243
1994 296,465 -37,554 2,735,198 128,134
1993 289,044 -43,784 2,673,675 90,200
1992 284,622 -45,003 2,596,173 138,412
1991 280,111 -50,451 2,527,807 42,760
1990 273,846 -32,970 2,491,928 135,959
1989 267,314 -31,843 2,452,324 99,588
1988 262,065 -30,068 2,376,419 93,510
1987 257,730 -29,081 2,322,397 64,418
1986 252,922 -25,051 2,295,003 29,682
1985 246,574 -16,623 2,289,784 61,514
1984 237,838 -12,445 2,278,060 113,758
1983 228,467 -11,618 2,292,089 -507,539
1982 220,896 -15,879 2,233,401 101,116
1981 212,623 -17,797 2,179,884 106,723
1980 205,248 -15,345 2,121,618 198,672
1979 196,647 -18,559 2,074,807 137,721
1978 187,019 -19,274 2,019,621 111,258
1977 175,672 -18,914 1,923,917 129,075
1976 165,224 -25,786 1,827,289 72,889
1975 157,174 -30,484 1,718,623 75,603
1974 149,231 -30,599 1,624,813 44,281
1973 141,751 -34,452 1,525,485 -618
1972 135,756 -33,679 1,448,928 -12,962
1971 130,924 -34,524 1,373,896 -35,639
1970 127,814 -28,832 1,295,507 7,953
1969 123,666 -28,406 1,213,484 6,912
1968 121,264 -27,461 1,168,254 9,615
1967 117,223 -26,444 1,082,884 18,683
1966 113,344 -27,301 1,095,582 12,513
1965 109,544 -25,398 1,061,840 32,988
1964 105,741 -26,307 1,028,272 26,411
1963 101,760 -26,382 995,116 27,115
1962 98,561 -26,040 966,452 27,906
1961 95,059 -24,687 932,111 25,515
1960 92,055 -23,220 901,301 12,131

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/burkina-faso/nigeria | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 96.9% of the population change in Burkina Faso is from natural causes (a gain of 5,506,960 people) and 3.13% is from migration (a loss of 177,923 people). In Nigeria 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 47,163,517 people) and 0.77% is from migration (a loss of 368,103 people).

As of 2024, 739,820 residents or 3.1% of the population were not native-born in Burkina Faso, compared to 1,403,281 people or 0.6% in Nigeria.

Biggest cities by population

Burkina Faso
City Population
Ouagadougou 2.45M
Bobo-Dioulasso 904K
Koudougou 160K
Ouahigouya 125K
Fada N'gourma 73.2K
Dedougou 63.6K
Leo 51.7K
Dori 46.5K
Nouna 32.4K
Manga 28.6K
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 map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/burkina-faso/nigeria | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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