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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iran was 91,567,738 in 2024 vs 232,679,478 people in Nigeria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iran's population is 93,468,444 people compared to 243,824,469 in Nigeria.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 2.61 times bigger than Iran's.
  • Iran is ranked the 17th most populous country in the world, while Nigeria is the 6th.
  • The countries together account for 4.07% of the world: 1.13% for Iran vs 2.94% for Nigeria.
  • For the last 10 years, Iran has had an average growth rate of +1.19% per year vs +2.31% in Nigeria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iran has increased from 73.4M people to 93.5M (27.4% growth), while Nigeria has grown from 149M to 244M (63.6% growth).

Iran vs Nigeria: population by year and forecast

Iran
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iran Nigeria
2100 80,713,760 481,678,166
2099 81,246,718 481,494,914
2098 81,770,953 481,219,866
2097 82,295,714 480,876,108
2096 82,818,575 480,460,381
2095 83,338,446 479,976,454
2094 83,854,648 479,432,855
2093 84,371,569 478,807,152
2092 84,888,626 478,097,591
2091 85,410,099 477,274,569
2090 85,934,675 476,367,086
2089 86,466,409 475,363,859
2088 87,004,165 474,268,867
2087 87,549,685 473,072,894
2086 88,105,571 471,769,229
2085 88,668,329 470,365,292
2084 89,239,709 468,843,169
2083 89,817,194 467,224,322
2082 90,402,538 465,509,151
2081 90,995,822 463,679,779
2080 91,595,122 461,741,930
2079 92,196,842 459,680,797
2078 92,801,160 457,513,367
2077 93,405,954 455,254,796
2076 94,007,669 452,885,729
2075 94,606,607 450,402,898
2074 95,197,577 447,825,224
2073 95,783,994 445,152,156
2072 96,355,853 442,375,349
2071 96,915,335 439,499,004
2070 97,460,813 436,539,777
2069 97,988,897 433,472,204
2068 98,496,927 430,320,190
2067 98,978,509 427,066,199
2066 99,439,391 423,736,078
2065 99,877,457 420,318,527
2064 100,288,977 416,811,285
2063 100,668,199 413,231,409
2062 101,017,348 409,583,480
2061 101,332,810 405,859,509
2060 101,612,261 402,073,494
2059 101,858,931 398,228,736
2058 102,061,144 394,315,883
2057 102,228,085 390,341,867
2056 102,358,266 386,298,064
2055 102,449,092 382,193,151
2054 102,498,594 378,030,342
2053 102,508,245 373,799,276
2052 102,480,373 369,501,634
2051 102,417,847 365,149,555
2050 102,318,917 360,734,783
2049 102,189,816 356,271,401
2048 102,024,233 351,752,501
2047 101,832,213 347,169,674
2046 101,613,554 342,532,578
2045 101,371,784 337,834,528
2044 101,104,998 333,076,416
2043 100,818,045 328,256,555
2042 100,512,032 323,388,886
2041 100,188,214 318,469,120
2040 99,849,875 313,492,800
2039 99,501,869 308,474,350
2038 99,137,385 303,423,786
2037 98,759,167 298,351,344
2036 98,366,612 293,250,795
2035 97,963,082 288,138,368
2034 97,546,148 283,018,151
2033 97,118,106 277,897,810
2032 96,671,440 272,769,123
2031 96,204,118 267,666,779
2030 95,718,604 262,583,487
2029 95,195,996 257,504,936
2028 94,623,034 252,465,743
2027 93,987,260 247,457,208
2026 93,276,075 242,477,499
2025 92,478,162 237,546,527
2024 91,567,738 232,679,478
2023 90,608,707 227,882,945
2022 89,524,246 223,150,896
2021 88,455,488 218,529,286
2020 87,723,443 213,996,181
2019 87,051,648 209,485,641
2018 86,117,998 204,938,755
2017 85,026,754 200,254,579
2016 83,812,228 195,443,700
2015 82,619,362 190,671,878
2014 81,502,045 185,896,915
2013 80,414,686 181,049,443
2012 79,370,580 176,200,625
2011 78,383,598 171,379,598
2010 77,420,842 166,642,886
2009 76,457,825 162,049,464
2008 75,514,204 157,595,014
2007 74,602,648 153,267,261
2006 73,392,747 149,077,334
2005 71,828,455 145,017,253
2004 70,256,316 141,057,045
2003 68,769,340 137,202,644
2002 68,011,317 133,471,989
2001 67,452,005 129,862,595
2000 66,418,659 126,382,494
1999 65,445,391 123,047,320
1998 64,519,859 119,846,254
1997 63,639,638 116,754,792
1996 62,881,300 113,754,779
1995 62,205,567 110,819,428
1994 61,520,598 107,935,714
1993 61,403,543 105,122,069
1992 61,184,983 102,372,770
1991 59,986,931 99,720,162
1990 58,380,092 97,120,925
1989 56,704,914 94,531,014
1988 55,072,694 92,020,090
1987 53,323,493 89,591,716
1986 51,446,045 87,235,953
1985 49,582,289 84,897,973
1984 47,793,998 82,526,443
1983 46,029,535 80,438,260
1982 44,272,141 78,378,701
1981 41,989,312 76,068,103
1980 39,842,324 73,764,641
1979 38,424,952 71,498,242
1978 37,126,535 69,326,532
1977 35,933,181 67,234,590
1976 34,837,271 65,258,009
1975 33,802,973 63,410,815
1974 32,796,463 61,679,144
1973 31,839,838 60,082,139
1972 30,921,179 58,601,748
1971 30,029,071 57,214,684
1970 29,145,100 55,893,838
1969 28,273,482 54,631,914
1968 27,437,391 53,432,783
1967 26,628,432 52,293,065
1966 25,829,270 51,188,234
1965 25,036,978 50,086,764
1964 24,262,859 49,012,016
1963 23,519,005 47,973,575
1962 22,807,907 46,965,292
1961 22,125,726 45,989,310
1960 21,470,434 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/iran/nigeria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iran increased by 10,419,481 people (a 14.2% growth), while Nigeria gained 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iran gained 9,656,216 people (a 11.5% growth), while Nigeria's population increased by 48,380,769 people (a 24.8% growth).

Iran was ranked 17th most populous country in 2006 and is still 17th 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) Iran's population will grow by 9.47% to 102,318,917 people with a rank change from 17th to 18th. The population of Nigeria will increase by 47.9% to 360,734,783 people and rank change from 6th to 5th.

Iran is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 103M people compared to the peak of 482M people in 2100 for Nigeria.

Population growth rate by year

Iran
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iran Nigeria
2100 -0.66% 0.04%
2099 -0.64% 0.06%
2098 -0.64% 0.07%
2097 -0.63% 0.09%
2096 -0.62% 0.1%
2095 -0.62% 0.11%
2094 -0.61% 0.13%
2093 -0.61% 0.15%
2092 -0.61% 0.17%
2091 -0.61% 0.19%
2090 -0.61% 0.21%
2089 -0.62% 0.23%
2088 -0.62% 0.25%
2087 -0.63% 0.28%
2086 -0.63% 0.3%
2085 -0.64% 0.32%
2084 -0.64% 0.35%
2083 -0.65% 0.37%
2082 -0.65% 0.39%
2081 -0.65% 0.42%
2080 -0.65% 0.45%
2079 -0.65% 0.47%
2078 -0.65% 0.5%
2077 -0.64% 0.52%
2076 -0.63% 0.55%
2075 -0.62% 0.58%
2074 -0.61% 0.6%
2073 -0.59% 0.63%
2072 -0.58% 0.65%
2071 -0.56% 0.68%
2070 -0.54% 0.71%
2069 -0.52% 0.73%
2068 -0.49% 0.76%
2067 -0.46% 0.79%
2066 -0.44% 0.81%
2065 -0.41% 0.84%
2064 -0.38% 0.87%
2063 -0.35% 0.89%
2062 -0.31% 0.92%
2061 -0.28% 0.94%
2060 -0.24% 0.97%
2059 -0.2% 0.99%
2058 -0.16% 1.02%
2057 -0.13% 1.05%
2056 -0.09% 1.07%
2055 -0.05% 1.1%
2054 -0.009% 1.13%
2053 0.03% 1.16%
2052 0.06% 1.19%
2051 0.1% 1.22%
2050 0.13% 1.25%
2049 0.16% 1.28%
2048 0.19% 1.32%
2047 0.22% 1.35%
2046 0.24% 1.39%
2045 0.26% 1.43%
2044 0.28% 1.47%
2043 0.3% 1.51%
2042 0.32% 1.54%
2041 0.34% 1.59%
2040 0.35% 1.63%
2039 0.37% 1.66%
2038 0.38% 1.7%
2037 0.4% 1.74%
2036 0.41% 1.77%
2035 0.43% 1.81%
2034 0.44% 1.84%
2033 0.46% 1.88%
2032 0.49% 1.91%
2031 0.51% 1.94%
2030 0.55% 1.97%
2029 0.61% 2%
2028 0.68% 2.02%
2027 0.76% 2.05%
2026 0.86% 2.08%
2025 0.99% 2.09%
2024 1.06% 2.1%
2023 1.21% 2.12%
2022 1.21% 2.11%
2021 0.83% 2.12%
2020 0.77% 2.15%
2019 1.08% 2.22%
2018 1.28% 2.34%
2017 1.45% 2.46%
2016 1.44% 2.5%
2015 1.37% 2.57%
2014 1.35% 2.68%
2013 1.32% 2.75%
2012 1.26% 2.81%
2011 1.24% 2.84%
2010 1.26% 2.83%
2009 1.25% 2.83%
2008 1.22% 2.82%
2007 1.65% 2.81%
2006 2.18% 2.8%
2005 2.24% 2.81%
2004 2.16% 2.81%
2003 1.11% 2.8%
2002 0.83% 2.78%
2001 1.56% 2.75%
2000 1.49% 2.71%
1999 1.43% 2.67%
1998 1.38% 2.65%
1997 1.21% 2.64%
1996 1.09% 2.65%
1995 1.11% 2.67%
1994 0.19% 2.68%
1993 0.36% 2.69%
1992 2% 2.66%
1991 2.75% 2.68%
1990 2.95% 2.74%
1989 2.96% 2.73%
1988 3.28% 2.71%
1987 3.65% 2.7%
1986 3.76% 2.75%
1985 3.74% 2.87%
1984 3.83% 2.6%
1983 3.97% 2.63%
1982 5.44% 3.04%
1981 5.39% 3.12%
1980 3.69% 3.17%
1979 3.5% 3.13%
1978 3.32% 3.11%
1977 3.15% 3.03%
1976 3.06% 2.91%
1975 3.07% 2.81%
1974 3% 2.66%
1973 2.97% 2.53%
1972 2.97% 2.42%
1971 3.03% 2.36%
1970 3.08% 2.31%
1969 3.05% 2.24%
1968 3.04% 2.18%
1967 3.09% 2.16%
1966 3.16% 2.2%
1965 3.19% 2.19%
1964 3.16% 2.16%
1963 3.12% 2.15%
1962 3.08% 2.12%
1961 3.05% 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/iran/nigeria | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Iran grew by 1.06%, while Nigeria's population grew by 2.1%.

Live population counters

Iran Nigeria
Current population
93468444
243824469
Population rank 17/197 6/197
Percent of world population 1.13% 2.94%
One net population change
32.9 seconds
6.58 seconds
One birth every
26.9 seconds
4.2 seconds
One death every
1.24 minutes
11.8 seconds
Daily growth/decline +2,627 +13,141
Annual growth/decline +959,031 +4,796,533
Annual growth/decline rate +1.06% +2.1%
Population growth rate rank 98/197 48/197
One migration net change every
4.51 minutes
34.5 minutes
Annual migration change +116,786 -15,258
Net migration rank 14/196 145/196
Foreign-born residents 3,840,654 1,403,281
Foreign-born residents rank 17/195 49/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.2% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 103/195 173/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iran
Natural

Migration
Nigeria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iran Nigeria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 116,786 - -15,258
2024 - 190,156 - -35,202
2023 750,150 262,044 4,834,309 -57,936
2022 753,525 403,190 4,739,502 -51,680
2021 645,725 334,967 4,641,562 -86,115
2020 663,978 -180,680 4,525,164 -14,497
2019 893,063 -32,794 4,609,941 -99,722
2018 1,035,052 -27,946 4,659,898 -76,565
2017 1,140,549 34,849 4,706,183 78,685
2016 1,186,949 66,630 4,761,594 75,265
2015 1,178,317 -46,239 4,823,045 -116,162
2014 1,158,552 -56,042 4,862,319 -19,376
2013 1,119,533 -47,322 4,811,751 40,201
2012 1,073,804 -57,823 4,774,508 71,138
2011 1,023,925 -65,924 4,728,363 67,808
2010 980,380 -12,849 4,629,173 47,966
2009 958,322 211 4,528,149 -18,422
2008 940,983 -12,184 4,412,976 -13,646
2007 919,254 -24,950 4,265,428 -9,162
2006 884,529 640,932 4,135,703 -12,093
2005 837,305 765,873 4,013,788 -17,146
2004 801,203 739,996 3,877,376 46,370
2003 732,600 700,222 3,751,120 33,857
2002 752,205 -668,962 3,606,814 69,594
2001 743,658 291,692 3,478,370 64,163
2000 731,203 300,133 3,343,196 74,535
1999 723,237 191,988 3,155,425 97,195
1998 717,655 218,171 3,003,946 145,575
1997 726,574 98,009 2,936,500 96,885
1996 784,508 -92,435 2,882,205 84,448
1995 879,648 -220,258 2,830,771 73,243
1994 1,008,076 -297,487 2,735,198 128,134
1993 1,219,658 -1,696,091 2,673,675 90,200
1992 1,365,466 -451,945 2,596,173 138,412
1991 1,495,594 -13,059 2,527,807 42,760
1990 1,530,434 200,711 2,491,928 135,959
1989 1,609,739 9,460 2,452,324 99,588
1988 1,614,512 30,688 2,376,419 93,510
1987 1,639,644 213,524 2,322,397 64,418
1986 1,659,289 242,411 2,295,003 29,682
1985 1,661,750 163,999 2,289,784 61,514
1984 1,653,051 97,748 2,278,060 113,758
1983 1,573,612 204,544 2,292,089 -507,539
1982 1,514,240 222,390 2,233,401 101,116
1981 1,376,830 1,452,169 2,179,884 106,723
1980 1,361,293 103,674 2,121,618 198,672
1979 1,294,306 75,451 2,074,807 137,721
1978 1,156,974 70,088 2,019,621 111,258
1977 1,091,542 68,093 1,923,917 129,075
1976 1,013,347 18,825 1,827,289 72,889
1975 929,481 106,921 1,718,623 75,603
1974 873,369 103,252 1,624,813 44,281
1973 831,880 104,779 1,525,485 -618
1972 804,043 96,614 1,448,928 -12,962
1971 805,830 77,717 1,373,896 -35,639
1970 794,612 89,757 1,295,507 7,953
1969 780,660 78,196 1,213,484 6,912
1968 743,992 69,342 1,168,254 9,615
1967 727,276 77,313 1,082,884 18,683
1966 695,040 98,709 1,095,582 12,513
1965 663,029 127,808 1,061,840 32,988
1964 635,589 121,817 1,028,272 26,411
1963 620,126 110,190 995,116 27,115
1962 595,538 96,332 966,452 27,906
1961 594,674 77,811 932,111 25,515
1960 584,060 54,041 901,301 12,131

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 92.5% of the population change in Iran is from natural causes (a gain of 9,405,860 people) and 7.46% is from migration (a gain of 757,979 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, 3,840,654 residents or 4.2% of the population were not native-born in Iran, compared to 1,403,281 people or 0.6% in Nigeria.

Biggest cities by population

Iran
City Population
Tehran 8.69M
Mashhad 3M
Isfahan 1.96M
Karaj 1.59M
Shiraz 1.57M
Tabriz 1.56M
Qom 1.2M
Ahvaz 1.18M
Kermanshah 947K
Urmia 736K
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/iran/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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