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Population in China compared to Nigeria: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,408,975,000 in 2024 vs 232,679,478 people in Nigeria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,402,578,808 people compared to 243,824,469 in Nigeria.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 5.75 times bigger than Nigeria's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while Nigeria is the 6th.
  • The countries together account for 19.9% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 2.94% for Nigeria.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.3% per year vs +2.31% in Nigeria.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (6.98% growth), while Nigeria has grown from 149M to 244M (63.6% growth).

China vs Nigeria: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China Nigeria
2100 633,320,628 481,678,166
2099 643,959,697 481,494,914
2098 654,691,595 481,219,866
2097 665,517,335 480,876,108
2096 676,438,150 480,460,381
2095 687,457,915 479,976,454
2094 698,589,897 479,432,855
2093 709,852,629 478,807,152
2092 721,251,520 478,097,591
2091 732,791,748 477,274,569
2090 744,501,355 476,367,086
2089 756,404,299 475,363,859
2088 768,478,316 474,268,867
2087 780,707,622 473,072,894
2086 793,081,006 471,769,229
2085 805,608,315 470,365,292
2084 818,268,277 468,843,169
2083 830,972,107 467,224,322
2082 843,721,746 465,509,151
2081 856,534,631 463,679,779
2080 869,351,919 461,741,930
2079 882,146,959 459,680,797
2078 894,889,246 457,513,367
2077 907,592,919 455,254,796
2076 920,280,380 452,885,729
2075 932,956,157 450,402,898
2074 945,631,173 447,825,224
2073 958,352,980 445,152,156
2072 971,115,895 442,375,349
2071 983,938,054 439,499,004
2070 996,853,418 436,539,777
2069 1,009,905,851 433,472,204
2068 1,023,081,790 430,320,190
2067 1,036,420,010 427,066,199
2066 1,049,887,382 423,736,078
2065 1,063,477,623 420,318,527
2064 1,077,206,695 416,811,285
2063 1,090,982,303 413,231,409
2062 1,104,833,556 409,583,480
2061 1,118,682,849 405,859,509
2060 1,132,504,136 402,073,494
2059 1,146,199,736 398,228,736
2058 1,159,714,746 394,315,883
2057 1,172,963,523 390,341,867
2056 1,185,938,083 386,298,064
2055 1,198,550,408 382,193,151
2054 1,210,749,681 378,030,342
2053 1,222,500,569 373,799,276
2052 1,233,808,926 369,501,634
2051 1,244,584,333 365,149,555
2050 1,254,824,040 360,734,783
2049 1,264,598,914 356,271,401
2048 1,273,885,471 351,752,501
2047 1,282,701,271 347,169,674
2046 1,291,133,690 342,532,578
2045 1,299,154,327 337,834,528
2044 1,306,805,350 333,076,416
2043 1,314,176,710 328,256,555
2042 1,321,319,298 323,388,886
2041 1,328,219,755 318,469,120
2040 1,334,857,481 313,492,800
2039 1,341,265,381 308,474,350
2038 1,347,407,165 303,423,786
2037 1,353,377,505 298,351,344
2036 1,359,133,287 293,250,795
2035 1,364,651,508 288,138,368
2034 1,369,940,557 283,018,151
2033 1,375,003,005 277,897,810
2032 1,379,784,204 272,769,123
2031 1,384,301,522 267,666,779
2030 1,388,520,533 262,583,487
2029 1,392,490,007 257,504,936
2028 1,396,163,778 252,465,743
2027 1,399,515,824 247,457,208
2026 1,402,578,808 242,477,499
2025 1,405,826,385 237,546,527
2024 1,408,975,000 232,679,478
2023 1,410,710,000 227,882,945
2022 1,412,175,000 223,150,896
2021 1,412,360,000 218,529,286
2020 1,411,100,000 213,996,181
2019 1,407,745,000 209,485,641
2018 1,402,760,000 204,938,755
2017 1,396,215,000 200,254,579
2016 1,387,790,000 195,443,700
2015 1,379,860,000 190,671,878
2014 1,371,860,000 185,896,915
2013 1,363,240,000 181,049,443
2012 1,354,190,000 176,200,625
2011 1,345,035,000 171,379,598
2010 1,337,705,000 166,642,886
2009 1,331,260,000 162,049,464
2008 1,324,655,000 157,595,014
2007 1,317,885,000 153,267,261
2006 1,311,020,000 149,077,334
2005 1,303,720,000 145,017,253
2004 1,296,075,000 141,057,045
2003 1,288,400,000 137,202,644
2002 1,280,400,000 133,471,989
2001 1,271,850,000 129,862,595
2000 1,262,645,000 126,382,494
1999 1,252,735,000 123,047,320
1998 1,241,935,000 119,846,254
1997 1,230,075,000 116,754,792
1996 1,217,550,000 113,754,779
1995 1,204,855,000 110,819,428
1994 1,191,835,000 107,935,714
1993 1,178,440,000 105,122,069
1992 1,164,970,000 102,372,770
1991 1,150,780,000 99,720,162
1990 1,135,185,000 97,120,925
1989 1,118,650,000 94,531,014
1988 1,101,630,000 92,020,090
1987 1,084,035,000 89,591,716
1986 1,066,790,000 87,235,953
1985 1,051,040,000 84,897,973
1984 1,036,825,000 82,526,443
1983 1,023,310,000 80,438,260
1982 1,008,630,000 78,378,701
1981 993,885,000 76,068,103
1980 981,235,000 73,764,641
1979 969,005,000 71,498,242
1978 956,165,000 69,326,532
1977 943,455,000 67,234,590
1976 930,685,000 65,258,009
1975 916,395,000 63,410,815
1974 900,350,000 61,679,144
1973 881,940,000 60,082,139
1972 862,030,000 58,601,748
1971 841,105,000 57,214,684
1970 818,315,000 55,893,838
1969 796,025,000 54,631,914
1968 774,510,000 53,432,783
1967 754,550,000 52,293,065
1966 735,400,000 51,188,234
1965 715,185,000 50,086,764
1964 698,355,000 49,012,016
1963 682,335,000 47,973,575
1962 665,770,000 46,965,292
1961 660,330,000 45,989,310
1960 667,070,000 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/china/nigeria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while Nigeria gained 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 14,788,808 people (a 1.07% growth), while Nigeria's population increased by 48,380,769 people (a 24.8% growth).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd 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) China's population will shrink by 10.5% to 1,254,824,040 people and will still be ranked 2nd. The population of Nigeria will increase by 47.9% to 360,734,783 people and rank change from 6th to 5th.

Nigeria is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 482M people, while China's population already peaked in 2021 at 1.41B people and is projected to decrease to 633M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

China
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China Nigeria
2100 -1.65% 0.04%
2099 -1.64% 0.06%
2098 -1.63% 0.07%
2097 -1.61% 0.09%
2096 -1.6% 0.1%
2095 -1.59% 0.11%
2094 -1.59% 0.13%
2093 -1.58% 0.15%
2092 -1.57% 0.17%
2091 -1.57% 0.19%
2090 -1.57% 0.21%
2089 -1.57% 0.23%
2088 -1.57% 0.25%
2087 -1.56% 0.28%
2086 -1.56% 0.3%
2085 -1.55% 0.32%
2084 -1.53% 0.35%
2083 -1.51% 0.37%
2082 -1.5% 0.39%
2081 -1.47% 0.42%
2080 -1.45% 0.45%
2079 -1.42% 0.47%
2078 -1.4% 0.5%
2077 -1.38% 0.52%
2076 -1.36% 0.55%
2075 -1.34% 0.58%
2074 -1.33% 0.6%
2073 -1.31% 0.63%
2072 -1.3% 0.65%
2071 -1.3% 0.68%
2070 -1.29% 0.71%
2069 -1.29% 0.73%
2068 -1.29% 0.76%
2067 -1.28% 0.79%
2066 -1.28% 0.81%
2065 -1.27% 0.84%
2064 -1.26% 0.87%
2063 -1.25% 0.89%
2062 -1.24% 0.92%
2061 -1.22% 0.94%
2060 -1.19% 0.97%
2059 -1.17% 0.99%
2058 -1.13% 1.02%
2057 -1.09% 1.05%
2056 -1.05% 1.07%
2055 -1.01% 1.1%
2054 -0.96% 1.13%
2053 -0.92% 1.16%
2052 -0.87% 1.19%
2051 -0.82% 1.22%
2050 -0.77% 1.25%
2049 -0.73% 1.28%
2048 -0.69% 1.32%
2047 -0.65% 1.35%
2046 -0.62% 1.39%
2045 -0.59% 1.43%
2044 -0.56% 1.47%
2043 -0.54% 1.51%
2042 -0.52% 1.54%
2041 -0.5% 1.59%
2040 -0.48% 1.63%
2039 -0.46% 1.66%
2038 -0.44% 1.7%
2037 -0.42% 1.74%
2036 -0.4% 1.77%
2035 -0.39% 1.81%
2034 -0.37% 1.84%
2033 -0.35% 1.88%
2032 -0.33% 1.91%
2031 -0.3% 1.94%
2030 -0.29% 1.97%
2029 -0.26% 2%
2028 -0.24% 2.02%
2027 -0.22% 2.05%
2026 -0.23% 2.08%
2025 -0.22% 2.09%
2024 -0.12% 2.1%
2023 -0.1% 2.12%
2022 -0.01% 2.11%
2021 0.09% 2.12%
2020 0.24% 2.15%
2019 0.36% 2.22%
2018 0.47% 2.34%
2017 0.61% 2.46%
2016 0.57% 2.5%
2015 0.58% 2.57%
2014 0.63% 2.68%
2013 0.67% 2.75%
2012 0.68% 2.81%
2011 0.55% 2.84%
2010 0.48% 2.83%
2009 0.5% 2.83%
2008 0.51% 2.82%
2007 0.52% 2.81%
2006 0.56% 2.8%
2005 0.59% 2.81%
2004 0.6% 2.81%
2003 0.62% 2.8%
2002 0.67% 2.78%
2001 0.73% 2.75%
2000 0.79% 2.71%
1999 0.87% 2.67%
1998 0.96% 2.65%
1997 1.03% 2.64%
1996 1.05% 2.65%
1995 1.09% 2.67%
1994 1.14% 2.68%
1993 1.16% 2.69%
1992 1.23% 2.66%
1991 1.37% 2.68%
1990 1.48% 2.74%
1989 1.54% 2.73%
1988 1.62% 2.71%
1987 1.62% 2.7%
1986 1.5% 2.75%
1985 1.37% 2.87%
1984 1.32% 2.6%
1983 1.46% 2.63%
1982 1.48% 3.04%
1981 1.29% 3.12%
1980 1.26% 3.17%
1979 1.34% 3.13%
1978 1.35% 3.11%
1977 1.37% 3.03%
1976 1.56% 2.91%
1975 1.78% 2.81%
1974 2.09% 2.66%
1973 2.31% 2.53%
1972 2.49% 2.42%
1971 2.78% 2.36%
1970 2.8% 2.31%
1969 2.78% 2.24%
1968 2.65% 2.18%
1967 2.6% 2.16%
1966 2.83% 2.2%
1965 2.41% 2.19%
1964 2.35% 2.16%
1963 2.49% 2.15%
1962 0.82% 2.12%
1961 -1.01% 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/china/nigeria | CC BY

In 2024, the population of China declined by 0.12%, while Nigeria's population grew by 2.1%.

Live population counters

China Nigeria
Current population
1402578808
243824469
Population rank 2/197 6/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 2.94%
One net population change
18.2 seconds
6.58 seconds
One birth every
3.5 seconds
4.2 seconds
One death every
2.84 seconds
11.8 seconds
Daily growth/decline -4,753 +13,141
Annual growth/decline -1,735,000 +4,796,533
Annual growth/decline rate -0.12% +2.1%
Population growth rate rank 173/197 48/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
34.5 minutes
Annual migration change -268,126 -15,258
Net migration rank 189/196 145/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 1,403,281
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 49/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 173/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
Nigeria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China Nigeria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - -15,258
2024 - -318,992 - -35,202
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 4,834,309 -57,936
2022 -847,305 -293,846 4,739,502 -51,680
2021 480,203 -379,749 4,641,562 -86,115
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 4,525,164 -14,497
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 4,609,941 -99,722
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 4,659,898 -76,565
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 4,706,183 78,685
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 4,761,594 75,265
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 4,823,045 -116,162
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 4,862,319 -19,376
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 4,811,751 40,201
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 4,774,508 71,138
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 4,728,363 67,808
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 4,629,173 47,966
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 4,528,149 -18,422
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 4,412,976 -13,646
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 4,265,428 -9,162
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 4,135,703 -12,093
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 4,013,788 -17,146
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 3,877,376 46,370
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 3,751,120 33,857
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 3,606,814 69,594
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 3,478,370 64,163
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 3,343,196 74,535
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 3,155,425 97,195
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 3,003,946 145,575
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 2,936,500 96,885
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 2,882,205 84,448
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 2,830,771 73,243
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 2,735,198 128,134
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 2,673,675 90,200
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 2,596,173 138,412
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 2,527,807 42,760
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 2,491,928 135,959
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 2,452,324 99,588
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 2,376,419 93,510
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 2,322,397 64,418
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 2,295,003 29,682
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 2,289,784 61,514
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 2,278,060 113,758
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 2,292,089 -507,539
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 2,233,401 101,116
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 2,179,884 106,723
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 2,121,618 198,672
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 2,074,807 137,721
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 2,019,621 111,258
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 1,923,917 129,075
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 1,827,289 72,889
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 1,718,623 75,603
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 1,624,813 44,281
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 1,525,485 -618
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 1,448,928 -12,962
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 1,373,896 -35,639
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 1,295,507 7,953
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 1,213,484 6,912
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 1,168,254 9,615
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 1,082,884 18,683
1966 19,282,187 4,165 1,095,582 12,513
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 1,061,840 32,988
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 1,028,272 26,411
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 995,116 27,115
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 966,452 27,906
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 932,111 25,515
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 901,301 12,131

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

GeoRank.org/population/china/nigeria | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 92.5% of the population change in China is from natural causes (a gain of 42,414,528 people) and 7.53% is from migration (a loss of 3,452,923 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, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 1,403,281 people or 0.6% in Nigeria.

Biggest cities by population

China
City Population
Chongqing 32.1M
Shanghai 24.9M
Beijing 21.9M
Chengdu 20.9M
Guangzhou 18.7M
Shenzhen 17.5M
Tianjin 13.9M
Xi'an 13M
Suzhou 12.7M
Zhengzhou 12.6M
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/china/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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