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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Japan was 123,975,371 in 2024 vs 232,679,478 people in Nigeria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Japan's population is 122,677,250 people compared to 243,824,469 in Nigeria.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 1.99 times bigger than Japan's.
  • Japan is ranked the 12th most populous country in the world, while Nigeria is the 6th.
  • The countries together account for 4.42% of the world: 1.48% for Japan vs 2.94% for Nigeria.
  • For the last 10 years, Japan has had an average growth rate of -0.25% per year vs +2.31% in Nigeria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Japan has decreased from 128M people to 123M (4.05% decline), while Nigeria has grown from 149M to 244M (63.6% growth).

Japan vs Nigeria: population by year and forecast

Japan
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Japan Nigeria
2100 76,978,998 481,678,166
2099 77,363,458 481,494,914
2098 77,742,445 481,219,866
2097 78,118,375 480,876,108
2096 78,498,614 480,460,381
2095 78,875,245 479,976,454
2094 79,250,325 479,432,855
2093 79,628,057 478,807,152
2092 80,007,967 478,097,591
2091 80,383,529 477,274,569
2090 80,760,724 476,367,086
2089 81,140,553 475,363,859
2088 81,521,696 474,268,867
2087 81,908,373 473,072,894
2086 82,304,497 471,769,229
2085 82,709,534 470,365,292
2084 83,123,058 468,843,169
2083 83,544,006 467,224,322
2082 83,980,325 465,509,151
2081 84,429,305 463,679,779
2080 84,899,768 461,741,930
2079 85,387,247 459,680,797
2078 85,897,934 457,513,367
2077 86,434,291 455,254,796
2076 86,993,007 452,885,729
2075 87,577,777 450,402,898
2074 88,190,392 447,825,224
2073 88,834,763 445,152,156
2072 89,499,356 442,375,349
2071 90,184,464 439,499,004
2070 90,899,136 436,539,777
2069 91,625,421 433,472,204
2068 92,367,969 430,320,190
2067 93,113,499 427,066,199
2066 93,869,240 423,736,078
2065 94,633,430 420,318,527
2064 95,391,433 416,811,285
2063 96,148,081 413,231,409
2062 96,902,907 409,583,480
2061 97,654,031 405,859,509
2060 98,400,894 402,073,494
2059 99,144,216 398,228,736
2058 99,868,968 394,315,883
2057 100,585,601 390,341,867
2056 101,295,868 386,298,064
2055 101,989,736 382,193,151
2054 102,683,462 378,030,342
2053 103,359,083 373,799,276
2052 104,036,901 369,501,634
2051 104,706,698 365,149,555
2050 105,377,283 360,734,783
2049 106,053,011 356,271,401
2048 106,731,207 351,752,501
2047 107,419,237 347,169,674
2046 108,115,358 342,532,578
2045 108,820,982 337,834,528
2044 109,529,333 333,076,416
2043 110,245,586 328,256,555
2042 110,968,174 323,388,886
2041 111,704,629 318,469,120
2040 112,438,759 313,492,800
2039 113,175,948 308,474,350
2038 113,915,783 303,423,786
2037 114,662,374 298,351,344
2036 115,410,956 293,250,795
2035 116,162,381 288,138,368
2034 116,911,001 283,018,151
2033 117,652,676 277,897,810
2032 118,393,188 272,769,123
2031 119,127,425 267,666,779
2030 119,856,131 262,583,487
2029 120,574,242 257,504,936
2028 121,287,543 252,465,743
2027 121,989,133 247,457,208
2026 122,677,250 242,477,499
2025 123,339,586 237,546,527
2024 123,975,371 232,679,478
2023 124,516,650 227,882,945
2022 125,124,989 223,150,896
2021 125,681,593 218,529,286
2020 126,261,000 213,996,181
2019 126,633,000 209,485,641
2018 126,811,000 204,938,755
2017 126,972,000 200,254,579
2016 127,076,000 195,443,700
2015 127,141,000 190,671,878
2014 127,276,000 185,896,915
2013 127,445,000 181,049,443
2012 127,629,000 176,200,625
2011 127,833,000 171,379,598
2010 128,070,000 166,642,886
2009 128,047,000 162,049,464
2008 128,063,000 157,595,014
2007 128,001,000 153,267,261
2006 127,854,000 149,077,334
2005 127,773,000 145,017,253
2004 127,761,000 141,057,045
2003 127,718,000 137,202,644
2002 127,445,000 133,471,989
2001 127,149,000 129,862,595
2000 126,843,000 126,382,494
1999 126,631,000 123,047,320
1998 126,400,000 119,846,254
1997 126,057,000 116,754,792
1996 125,757,000 113,754,779
1995 125,472,000 110,819,428
1994 125,178,000 107,935,714
1993 124,829,000 105,122,069
1992 124,425,000 102,372,770
1991 123,964,000 99,720,162
1990 123,478,000 97,120,925
1989 123,069,000 94,531,014
1988 122,578,000 92,020,090
1987 122,069,000 89,591,716
1986 121,482,000 87,235,953
1985 120,837,000 84,897,973
1984 120,083,000 82,526,443
1983 119,307,000 80,438,260
1982 118,480,000 78,378,701
1981 117,661,000 76,068,103
1980 116,807,000 73,764,641
1979 115,890,000 71,498,242
1978 114,913,000 69,326,532
1977 113,872,000 67,234,590
1976 112,775,000 65,258,009
1975 111,573,000 63,410,815
1974 110,162,000 61,679,144
1973 108,707,000 60,082,139
1972 107,188,000 58,601,748
1971 105,697,000 57,214,684
1970 103,403,000 55,893,838
1969 102,219,000 54,631,914
1968 101,011,000 53,432,783
1967 99,879,000 52,293,065
1966 98,851,000 51,188,234
1965 97,952,000 50,086,764
1964 96,903,000 49,012,016
1963 95,900,000 47,973,575
1962 94,933,000 46,965,292
1961 94,055,000 45,989,310
1960 93,216,000 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/japan/nigeria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Japan decreased by 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline), while Nigeria gained 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Japan lost 4,398,750 people (a 3.46% decline), while Nigeria's population increased by 48,380,769 people (a 24.8% growth).

Japan was ranked 10th most populous country in 2006 and is 12th 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) Japan's population will shrink by 14.1% to 105,377,283 people with a rank change from 12th to 17th. 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 Japan's population already peaked in 2010 at 128M people and is projected to decrease to 77M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Japan
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Japan Nigeria
2100 -0.5% 0.04%
2099 -0.49% 0.06%
2098 -0.48% 0.07%
2097 -0.48% 0.09%
2096 -0.48% 0.1%
2095 -0.47% 0.11%
2094 -0.47% 0.13%
2093 -0.47% 0.15%
2092 -0.47% 0.17%
2091 -0.47% 0.19%
2090 -0.47% 0.21%
2089 -0.47% 0.23%
2088 -0.47% 0.25%
2087 -0.48% 0.28%
2086 -0.49% 0.3%
2085 -0.5% 0.32%
2084 -0.5% 0.35%
2083 -0.52% 0.37%
2082 -0.53% 0.39%
2081 -0.55% 0.42%
2080 -0.57% 0.45%
2079 -0.59% 0.47%
2078 -0.62% 0.5%
2077 -0.64% 0.52%
2076 -0.67% 0.55%
2075 -0.69% 0.58%
2074 -0.73% 0.6%
2073 -0.74% 0.63%
2072 -0.76% 0.65%
2071 -0.79% 0.68%
2070 -0.79% 0.71%
2069 -0.8% 0.73%
2068 -0.8% 0.76%
2067 -0.81% 0.79%
2066 -0.81% 0.81%
2065 -0.79% 0.84%
2064 -0.79% 0.87%
2063 -0.78% 0.89%
2062 -0.77% 0.92%
2061 -0.76% 0.94%
2060 -0.75% 0.97%
2059 -0.73% 0.99%
2058 -0.71% 1.02%
2057 -0.7% 1.05%
2056 -0.68% 1.07%
2055 -0.68% 1.1%
2054 -0.65% 1.13%
2053 -0.65% 1.16%
2052 -0.64% 1.19%
2051 -0.64% 1.22%
2050 -0.64% 1.25%
2049 -0.64% 1.28%
2048 -0.64% 1.32%
2047 -0.64% 1.35%
2046 -0.65% 1.39%
2045 -0.65% 1.43%
2044 -0.65% 1.47%
2043 -0.65% 1.51%
2042 -0.66% 1.54%
2041 -0.65% 1.59%
2040 -0.65% 1.63%
2039 -0.65% 1.66%
2038 -0.65% 1.7%
2037 -0.65% 1.74%
2036 -0.65% 1.77%
2035 -0.64% 1.81%
2034 -0.63% 1.84%
2033 -0.63% 1.88%
2032 -0.62% 1.91%
2031 -0.61% 1.94%
2030 -0.6% 1.97%
2029 -0.59% 2%
2028 -0.58% 2.02%
2027 -0.56% 2.05%
2026 -0.54% 2.08%
2025 -0.51% 2.09%
2024 -0.43% 2.1%
2023 -0.49% 2.12%
2022 -0.44% 2.11%
2021 -0.46% 2.12%
2020 -0.29% 2.15%
2019 -0.14% 2.22%
2018 -0.13% 2.34%
2017 -0.08% 2.46%
2016 -0.05% 2.5%
2015 -0.11% 2.57%
2014 -0.13% 2.68%
2013 -0.14% 2.75%
2012 -0.16% 2.81%
2011 -0.19% 2.84%
2010 0.02% 2.83%
2009 -0.01% 2.83%
2008 0.05% 2.82%
2007 0.11% 2.81%
2006 0.06% 2.8%
2005 0.009% 2.81%
2004 0.03% 2.81%
2003 0.21% 2.8%
2002 0.23% 2.78%
2001 0.24% 2.75%
2000 0.17% 2.71%
1999 0.18% 2.67%
1998 0.27% 2.65%
1997 0.24% 2.64%
1996 0.23% 2.65%
1995 0.23% 2.67%
1994 0.28% 2.68%
1993 0.32% 2.69%
1992 0.37% 2.66%
1991 0.39% 2.68%
1990 0.33% 2.74%
1989 0.4% 2.73%
1988 0.42% 2.71%
1987 0.48% 2.7%
1986 0.53% 2.75%
1985 0.63% 2.87%
1984 0.65% 2.6%
1983 0.7% 2.63%
1982 0.7% 3.04%
1981 0.73% 3.12%
1980 0.79% 3.17%
1979 0.85% 3.13%
1978 0.91% 3.11%
1977 0.97% 3.03%
1976 1.08% 2.91%
1975 1.28% 2.81%
1974 1.34% 2.66%
1973 1.42% 2.53%
1972 1.41% 2.42%
1971 2.22% 2.36%
1970 1.16% 2.31%
1969 1.2% 2.24%
1968 1.13% 2.18%
1967 1.04% 2.16%
1966 0.92% 2.2%
1965 1.08% 2.19%
1964 1.05% 2.16%
1963 1.02% 2.15%
1962 0.93% 2.12%
1961 0.9% 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/japan/nigeria | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Japan declined by 0.43%, while Nigeria's population grew by 2.1%.

Live population counters

Japan Nigeria
Current population
122677250
243824469
Population rank 12/197 6/197
Percent of world population 1.48% 2.94%
One net population change
58.3 seconds
6.58 seconds
One birth every
42.2 seconds
4.2 seconds
One death every
19.5 seconds
11.8 seconds
Daily growth/decline -1,483 +13,141
Annual growth/decline -541,279 +4,796,533
Annual growth/decline rate -0.43% +2.1%
Population growth rate rank 185/197 48/197
One migration net change every
3.75 minutes
34.5 minutes
Annual migration change +140,579 -15,258
Net migration rank 10/196 145/196
Foreign-born residents 3,409,529 1,403,281
Foreign-born residents rank 19/195 49/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.8% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 120/195 173/195

Natural population change vs migration

Japan
Natural

Migration
Nigeria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Japan Nigeria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 140,579 - -15,258
2024 - 153,357 - -35,202
2023 -871,617 175,003 4,834,309 -57,936
2022 -825,825 175,003 4,739,502 -51,680
2021 -640,976 -34,996 4,641,562 -86,115
2020 -542,923 42,001 4,525,164 -14,497
2019 -531,858 318,190 4,609,941 -99,722
2018 -456,520 320,601 4,659,898 -76,565
2017 -406,310 322,564 4,706,183 78,685
2016 -343,106 314,732 4,761,594 75,265
2015 -292,424 168,896 4,823,045 -116,162
2014 -267,279 58,109 4,862,319 -19,376
2013 -242,146 66,449 4,811,751 40,201
2012 -229,733 67,904 4,774,508 71,138
2011 -204,533 97,720 4,728,363 67,808
2010 -128,070 131,860 4,629,173 47,966
2009 -76,828 125,450 4,528,149 -18,422
2008 -51,225 142,605 4,412,976 -13,646
2007 -25,600 138,024 4,265,428 -9,162
2006 12,785 130,065 4,135,703 -12,093
2005 -25,554 113,017 4,013,788 -17,146
2004 76,656 69,014 3,877,376 46,370
2003 114,946 74,875 3,751,120 33,857
2002 178,423 60,864 3,606,814 69,594
2001 203,438 59,563 3,478,370 64,163
2000 228,317 23,468 3,343,196 74,535
1999 202,610 56,901 3,155,425 97,195
1998 265,440 45,912 3,003,946 145,575
1997 277,325 43,366 2,936,500 96,885
1996 314,392 25,030 2,882,205 84,448
1995 276,039 87,714 2,830,771 73,243
1994 363,017 154,214 2,735,198 128,134
1993 312,073 168,836 2,673,675 90,200
1992 360,833 170,878 2,596,173 138,412
1991 396,685 161,331 2,527,807 42,760
1990 407,478 124,582 2,491,928 135,959
1989 467,662 31,202 2,452,324 99,588
1988 527,085 51,154 2,376,419 93,510
1987 598,138 28,001 2,322,397 64,418
1986 631,706 27,987 2,295,003 29,682
1985 676,687 -141,323 2,289,784 61,514
1984 756,523 -273,686 2,278,060 113,758
1983 775,495 -269,755 2,292,089 -507,539
1982 805,664 -288,550 2,233,401 101,116
1981 811,861 -278,525 2,179,884 106,723
1980 864,372 -92,314 2,121,618 198,672
1979 950,298 -57,692 2,074,807 137,721
1978 1,011,234 -47,996 2,019,621 111,258
1977 1,070,397 -49,082 1,923,917 129,075
1976 1,127,750 -34,976 1,827,289 72,889
1975 1,204,989 107 1,718,623 75,603
1974 1,332,960 -10,145 1,624,813 44,281
1973 1,391,449 -34,674 1,525,485 -618
1972 1,372,006 -73,980 1,448,928 -12,962
1971 1,331,782 -107,778 1,373,896 -35,639
1970 1,230,496 33,731 1,295,507 7,953
1969 1,195,962 49,447 1,213,484 6,912
1968 1,191,930 43,593 1,168,254 9,615
1967 1,258,475 29,632 1,082,884 18,683
1966 682,072 68,934 1,095,582 12,513
1965 1,126,448 -50,667 1,061,840 32,988
1964 1,046,553 -100,696 1,028,272 26,411
1963 987,770 -100,742 995,116 27,115
1962 901,864 -57,075 966,452 27,906
1961 893,522 -58,882 932,111 25,515
1960 894,874 -150,371 901,301 12,131

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 73.6% of the population change in Japan is from natural causes (a loss of 5,178,838 people) and 26.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,860,103 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, 3,409,529 residents or 2.8% of the population were not native-born in Japan, compared to 1,403,281 people or 0.6% in Nigeria.

Biggest cities by population

Japan
City Population
Tokyo 14.3M
Yokohama 3.76M
Osaka 2.75M
Nagoya 2.33M
Sapporo 1.96M
Fukuoka 1.6M
Kawasaki 1.54M
Kobe 1.52M
Kyoto 1.46M
Saitama 1.33M
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/japan/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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