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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Japan was 123,366,734 in 2025 vs 237,527,782 people in Nigeria in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Japan's population is 122,704,252 people compared to 245,016,045 in Nigeria.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 2 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 4.43% of the world: 1.48% for Japan vs 2.95% for Nigeria.
  • For the last 10 years, Japan has had an average growth rate of -0.28% per year vs +2.25% in Nigeria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Japan has decreased from 128M people to 123M (4.03% decline), while Nigeria has grown from 149M to 245M (64.4% growth).

Japan vs Nigeria: population by year and forecast

Japan
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Japan Nigeria
2100 76,995,942 481,640,156
2099 77,380,486 481,456,918
2098 77,759,557 481,181,892
2097 78,135,569 480,838,161
2096 78,515,892 480,422,467
2095 78,892,606 479,938,579
2094 79,267,768 479,395,022
2093 79,645,584 478,769,369
2092 80,025,578 478,059,864
2091 80,401,222 477,236,907
2090 80,778,500 476,329,495
2089 81,158,413 475,326,347
2088 81,539,639 474,231,442
2087 81,926,401 473,035,563
2086 82,322,612 471,732,001
2085 82,727,738 470,328,175
2084 83,141,354 468,806,172
2083 83,562,394 467,187,453
2082 83,998,809 465,472,417
2081 84,447,888 463,643,190
2080 84,918,455 461,705,493
2079 85,406,042 459,644,523
2078 85,916,840 457,477,264
2077 86,453,316 455,218,871
2076 87,012,155 452,849,991
2075 87,597,053 450,367,356
2074 88,209,803 447,789,885
2073 88,854,316 445,117,028
2072 89,519,055 442,340,440
2071 90,204,314 439,464,323
2070 90,919,143 436,505,329
2069 91,645,589 433,437,998
2068 92,388,299 430,286,232
2067 93,133,993 427,032,499
2066 93,889,902 423,702,640
2065 94,654,259 420,285,359
2064 95,412,429 416,778,394
2063 96,169,244 413,198,800
2062 96,924,236 409,551,159
2061 97,675,525 405,827,482
2060 98,422,553 402,041,765
2059 99,166,038 398,197,311
2058 99,890,950 394,284,767
2057 100,607,740 390,311,065
2056 101,318,164 386,267,580
2055 102,012,184 382,162,992
2054 102,706,063 378,000,511
2053 103,381,833 373,769,779
2052 104,059,800 369,472,476
2051 104,729,745 365,120,741
2050 105,400,477 360,706,317
2049 106,076,354 356,243,287
2048 106,754,699 351,724,743
2047 107,442,881 347,142,279
2046 108,139,155 342,505,549
2045 108,844,934 337,807,869
2044 109,553,441 333,050,132
2043 110,269,851 328,230,652
2042 110,992,599 323,363,366
2041 111,729,216 318,443,989
2040 112,463,507 313,468,061
2039 113,200,859 308,450,008
2038 113,940,856 303,399,842
2037 114,687,611 298,327,800
2036 115,436,359 293,227,654
2035 116,187,949 288,115,630
2034 116,936,734 282,995,818
2033 117,678,572 277,875,880
2032 118,419,247 272,747,599
2031 119,153,646 267,645,657
2030 119,882,512 262,562,767
2029 120,600,781 257,484,616
2028 121,314,239 252,445,821
2027 122,015,984 247,437,680
2026 122,704,252 242,458,365
2025 123,366,734 237,527,782
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 4,371,748 people (a 3.44% decline), while Nigeria's population increased by 49,572,345 people (a 25.4% 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 105,400,477 people with a rank change from 12th to 17th. The population of Nigeria will increase by 47.2% to 360,706,317 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 -0.49% 2.08%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Japan declined by 0.49%, while Nigeria's population grew by 2.08%.

Live population counters

Japan Nigeria
Current population
122704252
245016045
Population rank 12/197 6/197
Percent of world population 1.48% 2.95%
One net population change
52 seconds
6.52 seconds
One birth every
44.6 seconds
4.17 seconds
One death every
19.1 seconds
11.6 seconds
Daily growth/decline -1,667 +13,283
Annual growth/decline -608,637 +4,848,304
Annual growth/decline rate -0.49% +2.08%
Population growth rate rank 183/197 45/197
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 -942,213 153,357 4,851,833 -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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 75% of the population change in Japan is from natural causes (a loss of 5,853,772 people) and 25% is from migration (a gain of 1,955,351 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, 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 2.56M
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/japan/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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