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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Ethiopia was 135,472,051 in 2025 vs 237,527,782 people in Nigeria in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ethiopia's population is 140,722,974 people compared to 245,016,045 in Nigeria.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 1.74 times bigger than Ethiopia's.
  • Ethiopia is ranked the 10th most populous country in the world, while Nigeria is the 6th.
  • The countries together account for 4.64% of the world: 1.69% for Ethiopia vs 2.95% for Nigeria.
  • For the last 10 years, Ethiopia has had an average growth rate of +2.69% per year vs +2.25% in Nigeria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ethiopia has increased from 80.7M people to 141M (74.4% growth), while Nigeria has grown from 149M to 245M (64.4% growth).

Ethiopia vs Nigeria: population by year and forecast

Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ethiopia Nigeria
2100 371,078,260 481,640,156
2099 369,338,252 481,456,918
2098 367,513,542 481,181,892
2097 365,567,496 480,838,161
2096 363,536,294 480,422,467
2095 361,596,042 479,938,579
2094 359,531,317 479,395,022
2093 357,460,480 478,769,369
2092 355,389,829 478,059,864
2091 353,218,632 477,236,907
2090 350,960,021 476,329,495
2089 348,751,618 475,326,347
2088 346,517,326 474,231,442
2087 344,162,324 473,035,563
2086 341,671,994 471,732,001
2085 339,167,930 470,328,175
2084 336,649,520 468,806,172
2083 334,083,247 467,187,453
2082 331,401,460 465,472,417
2081 328,715,487 463,643,190
2080 326,013,981 461,705,493
2079 323,282,865 459,644,523
2078 320,422,535 457,477,264
2077 317,492,915 455,218,871
2076 314,518,328 452,849,991
2075 311,487,723 450,367,356
2074 308,416,133 447,789,885
2073 305,383,505 445,117,028
2072 302,258,564 442,340,440
2071 299,119,280 439,464,323
2070 295,963,235 436,505,329
2069 292,756,723 433,437,998
2068 289,522,748 430,286,232
2067 286,191,689 427,032,499
2066 282,905,709 423,702,640
2065 279,576,283 420,285,359
2064 276,197,958 416,778,394
2063 272,782,685 413,198,800
2062 269,340,926 409,551,159
2061 265,803,351 405,827,482
2060 262,269,354 402,041,765
2059 258,692,767 398,197,311
2058 255,205,644 394,284,767
2057 251,656,356 390,311,065
2056 248,002,497 386,267,580
2055 244,426,069 382,162,992
2054 240,794,405 378,000,511
2053 237,155,110 373,769,779
2052 233,479,314 369,472,476
2051 229,733,593 365,120,741
2050 226,055,085 360,706,317
2049 222,351,471 356,243,287
2048 218,627,197 351,724,743
2047 214,883,954 347,142,279
2046 211,161,780 342,505,549
2045 207,461,987 337,807,869
2044 203,749,820 333,050,132
2043 200,035,613 328,230,652
2042 196,351,202 323,363,366
2041 192,689,672 318,443,989
2040 189,023,384 313,468,061
2039 185,365,776 308,450,008
2038 181,733,067 303,399,842
2037 178,124,993 298,327,800
2036 174,515,366 293,227,654
2035 170,904,339 288,115,630
2034 167,316,305 282,995,818
2033 163,763,376 277,875,880
2032 160,167,364 272,747,599
2031 156,590,018 267,645,657
2030 153,023,174 262,562,767
2029 149,461,578 257,484,616
2028 145,944,350 252,445,821
2027 142,419,893 247,437,680
2026 138,930,724 242,458,365
2025 135,472,051 237,527,782
2024 132,059,767 232,679,478
2023 128,691,692 227,882,945
2022 125,384,287 223,150,896
2021 122,138,588 218,529,286
2020 118,917,671 213,996,181
2019 115,737,383 209,485,641
2018 112,664,152 204,938,755
2017 109,666,481 200,254,579
2016 106,718,162 195,443,700
2015 103,867,135 190,671,878
2014 101,115,610 185,896,915
2013 98,438,751 181,049,443
2012 95,798,767 176,200,625
2011 93,149,970 171,379,598
2010 90,538,514 166,642,886
2009 88,007,636 162,049,464
2008 85,543,668 157,595,014
2007 83,103,217 153,267,261
2006 80,703,490 149,077,334
2005 78,367,470 145,017,253
2004 76,077,206 141,057,045
2003 73,832,663 137,202,644
2002 71,635,517 133,471,989
2001 69,487,762 129,862,595
2000 67,411,494 126,382,494
1999 65,374,561 123,047,320
1998 63,363,524 119,846,254
1997 61,404,539 116,754,792
1996 59,467,635 113,754,779
1995 57,537,335 110,819,428
1994 55,611,508 107,935,714
1993 53,708,891 105,122,069
1992 51,853,747 102,372,770
1991 49,717,198 99,720,162
1990 47,609,755 97,120,925
1989 45,879,690 94,531,014
1988 44,150,825 92,020,090
1987 42,460,039 89,591,716
1986 41,037,656 87,235,953
1985 39,842,136 84,897,973
1984 38,735,722 82,526,443
1983 37,740,817 80,438,260
1982 36,701,290 78,378,701
1981 35,304,012 76,068,103
1980 34,428,514 73,764,641
1979 34,238,652 71,498,242
1978 33,734,592 69,326,532
1977 33,167,272 67,234,590
1976 32,534,418 65,258,009
1975 31,723,252 63,410,815
1974 30,957,273 61,679,144
1973 30,166,785 60,082,139
1972 29,374,608 58,601,748
1971 28,600,106 57,214,684
1970 27,829,128 55,893,838
1969 27,072,571 54,631,914
1968 26,337,930 53,432,783
1967 25,620,276 52,293,065
1966 24,952,689 51,188,234
1965 24,310,612 50,086,764
1964 23,666,548 49,012,016
1963 23,051,637 47,973,575
1962 22,465,126 46,965,292
1961 21,906,102 45,989,310
1960 21,376,693 45,053,782

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ethiopia increased by 26,014,672 people (a 32.2% growth), while Nigeria gained 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ethiopia gained 34,004,812 people (a 31.9% growth), while Nigeria's population increased by 49,572,345 people (a 25.4% growth).

Ethiopia was ranked 16th most populous country in 2006 and is 10th 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) Ethiopia's population will grow by 60.6% to 226,055,085 people with a rank change from 10th to 7th. The population of Nigeria will increase by 47.2% to 360,706,317 people and rank change from 6th to 5th.

Ethiopia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 371M people compared to the peak of 482M people in 2100 for Nigeria.

Population growth rate by year

Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ethiopia Nigeria
2100 0.47% 0.04%
2099 0.5% 0.06%
2098 0.53% 0.07%
2097 0.56% 0.09%
2096 0.54% 0.1%
2095 0.57% 0.11%
2094 0.58% 0.13%
2093 0.58% 0.15%
2092 0.61% 0.17%
2091 0.64% 0.19%
2090 0.63% 0.21%
2089 0.64% 0.23%
2088 0.68% 0.25%
2087 0.73% 0.28%
2086 0.74% 0.3%
2085 0.75% 0.32%
2084 0.77% 0.35%
2083 0.81% 0.37%
2082 0.82% 0.39%
2081 0.83% 0.42%
2080 0.84% 0.45%
2079 0.89% 0.47%
2078 0.92% 0.5%
2077 0.95% 0.52%
2076 0.97% 0.55%
2075 1% 0.58%
2074 0.99% 0.6%
2073 1.03% 0.63%
2072 1.05% 0.65%
2071 1.07% 0.68%
2070 1.1% 0.71%
2069 1.12% 0.73%
2068 1.16% 0.76%
2067 1.16% 0.79%
2066 1.19% 0.81%
2065 1.22% 0.84%
2064 1.25% 0.87%
2063 1.28% 0.89%
2062 1.33% 0.92%
2061 1.35% 0.94%
2060 1.38% 0.97%
2059 1.37% 0.99%
2058 1.41% 1.02%
2057 1.47% 1.05%
2056 1.46% 1.07%
2055 1.51% 1.1%
2054 1.53% 1.13%
2053 1.57% 1.16%
2052 1.63% 1.19%
2051 1.63% 1.22%
2050 1.67% 1.25%
2049 1.7% 1.28%
2048 1.74% 1.32%
2047 1.76% 1.35%
2046 1.78% 1.39%
2045 1.82% 1.43%
2044 1.86% 1.47%
2043 1.88% 1.51%
2042 1.9% 1.54%
2041 1.94% 1.59%
2040 1.97% 1.63%
2039 2% 1.66%
2038 2.03% 1.7%
2037 2.07% 1.74%
2036 2.11% 1.77%
2035 2.14% 1.81%
2034 2.17% 1.84%
2033 2.25% 1.88%
2032 2.28% 1.91%
2031 2.33% 1.94%
2030 2.38% 1.97%
2029 2.41% 2%
2028 2.47% 2.02%
2027 2.51% 2.05%
2026 2.55% 2.08%
2025 2.58% 2.08%
2024 2.62% 2.1%
2023 2.64% 2.12%
2022 2.66% 2.11%
2021 2.71% 2.12%
2020 2.75% 2.15%
2019 2.73% 2.22%
2018 2.73% 2.34%
2017 2.76% 2.46%
2016 2.74% 2.5%
2015 2.72% 2.57%
2014 2.72% 2.68%
2013 2.76% 2.75%
2012 2.84% 2.81%
2011 2.88% 2.84%
2010 2.88% 2.83%
2009 2.88% 2.83%
2008 2.94% 2.82%
2007 2.97% 2.81%
2006 2.98% 2.8%
2005 3.01% 2.81%
2004 3.04% 2.81%
2003 3.07% 2.8%
2002 3.09% 2.78%
2001 3.08% 2.75%
2000 3.12% 2.71%
1999 3.17% 2.67%
1998 3.19% 2.65%
1997 3.26% 2.64%
1996 3.35% 2.65%
1995 3.46% 2.67%
1994 3.54% 2.68%
1993 3.58% 2.69%
1992 4.3% 2.66%
1991 4.43% 2.68%
1990 3.77% 2.74%
1989 3.92% 2.73%
1988 3.98% 2.71%
1987 3.47% 2.7%
1986 3% 2.75%
1985 2.86% 2.87%
1984 2.64% 2.6%
1983 2.83% 2.63%
1982 3.96% 3.04%
1981 2.54% 3.12%
1980 0.55% 3.17%
1979 1.49% 3.13%
1978 1.71% 3.11%
1977 1.95% 3.03%
1976 2.56% 2.91%
1975 2.47% 2.81%
1974 2.62% 2.66%
1973 2.7% 2.53%
1972 2.71% 2.42%
1971 2.77% 2.36%
1970 2.79% 2.31%
1969 2.79% 2.24%
1968 2.8% 2.18%
1967 2.68% 2.16%
1966 2.64% 2.2%
1965 2.72% 2.19%
1964 2.67% 2.16%
1963 2.61% 2.15%
1962 2.55% 2.12%
1961 2.48% 2.08%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Ethiopia grew by 2.58%, while Nigeria's population grew by 2.08%.

Live population counters

Ethiopia Nigeria
Current population
140722974
245016045
Population rank 10/197 6/197
Percent of world population 1.69% 2.95%
One net population change
9.27 seconds
6.52 seconds
One birth every
7.59 seconds
4.17 seconds
One death every
40.6 seconds
11.6 seconds
Daily growth/decline +9,349 +13,283
Annual growth/decline +3,412,284 +4,848,304
Annual growth/decline rate +2.58% +2.08%
Population growth rate rank 24/197 45/197
One migration net change every
21.9 minutes
34.5 minutes
Annual migration change +24,054 -15,258
Net migration rank 31/196 145/196
Foreign-born residents 1,168,455 1,403,281
Foreign-born residents rank 53/195 49/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 157/195 173/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ethiopia
Natural

Migration
Nigeria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ethiopia Nigeria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 24,054 - -15,258
2024 3,379,409 30,069 4,851,833 -35,202
2023 3,338,649 -11,996 4,834,309 -57,936
2022 3,300,114 -11,996 4,739,502 -51,680
2021 3,204,673 -1,377 4,641,562 -86,115
2020 3,199,718 38,866 4,525,164 -14,497
2019 3,132,780 -10,807 4,609,941 -99,722
2018 3,015,231 9,302 4,659,898 -76,565
2017 2,899,143 71,766 4,706,183 78,685
2016 2,809,889 115,823 4,761,594 75,265
2015 2,713,529 62,785 4,823,045 -116,162
2014 2,623,647 103,122 4,862,319 -19,376
2013 2,546,020 80,955 4,811,751 40,201
2012 2,533,398 119,517 4,774,508 71,138
2011 2,527,811 116,793 4,728,363 67,808
2010 2,498,048 80,213 4,629,173 47,966
2009 2,467,118 16,315 4,528,149 -18,422
2008 2,465,283 -20,780 4,412,976 -13,646
2007 2,436,753 -381 4,265,428 -9,162
2006 2,393,585 -30,512 4,135,703 -12,093
2005 2,353,375 -44,421 4,013,788 -17,146
2004 2,296,999 -25,430 3,877,376 46,370
2003 2,231,223 -13,744 3,751,120 33,857
2002 2,189,683 -12,925 3,606,814 69,594
2001 2,137,791 -19,063 3,478,370 64,163
2000 2,083,622 -49,891 3,343,196 74,535
1999 2,010,987 29,142 3,155,425 97,195
1998 1,984,989 -3,011 3,003,946 145,575
1997 1,945,112 -9,119 2,936,500 96,885
1996 1,896,364 41,456 2,882,205 84,448
1995 1,831,068 91,727 2,830,771 73,243
1994 1,788,133 140,715 2,735,198 128,134
1993 1,734,851 141,545 2,673,675 90,200
1992 1,673,839 160,106 2,596,173 138,412
1991 1,579,416 859,737 2,527,807 42,760
1990 1,479,663 296,014 2,491,928 135,959
1989 1,441,769 242,614 2,452,324 99,588
1988 1,393,356 379,966 2,376,419 93,510
1987 1,356,853 251,387 2,322,397 64,418
1986 1,050,277 186,227 2,295,003 29,682
1985 997,050 157,476 2,289,784 61,514
1984 920,670 137,632 2,278,060 113,758
1983 863,472 68,022 2,292,089 -507,539
1982 1,080,853 66,702 2,233,401 101,116
1981 1,018,838 628,135 2,179,884 106,723
1980 1,007,516 -903,529 2,121,618 198,672
1979 987,203 -711,455 2,074,807 137,721
1978 943,388 -210,991 2,019,621 111,258
1977 929,381 -527,133 1,923,917 129,075
1976 899,577 -36,125 1,827,289 72,889
1975 801,425 -42,540 1,718,623 75,603
1974 777,306 -4,232 1,624,813 44,281
1973 807,535 347 1,525,485 -618
1972 779,808 -3,375 1,448,928 -12,962
1971 787,047 -14,510 1,373,896 -35,639
1970 760,821 8,589 1,295,507 7,953
1969 736,428 7,258 1,213,484 6,912
1968 715,602 9,992 1,168,254 9,615
1967 695,283 14,437 1,082,884 18,683
1966 616,281 9,160 1,095,582 12,513
1965 642,359 16,348 1,061,840 32,988
1964 618,667 10,749 1,028,272 26,411
1963 590,998 9,418 995,116 27,115
1962 563,650 8,960 966,452 27,906
1961 538,518 6,938 932,111 25,515
1960 511,694 1,696 901,301 12,131

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 99.1% of the population change in Ethiopia is from natural causes (a gain of 30,993,135 people) and 0.93% is from migration (a gain of 292,435 people). In Nigeria 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 47,153,031 people) and 0.81% is from migration (a loss of 383,929 people).

As of 2024, 1,168,455 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Ethiopia, compared to 1,403,281 people or 0.6% in Nigeria.

Biggest cities by population

Ethiopia
City Population
Addis Ababa 5.7M
Gondar 324K
Mekelle 324K
Awasa 300K
Dire Dawa 277K
Bahir Dar 243K
Dessie 188K
Jimma 178K
Harar 157K
Jijiga 126K
Nigeria
City Population
Lagos 15.1M
Kano 4.35M
Port Harcourt 3.32M
Ibadan 2.56M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M
Owerri 908K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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