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Population in Nigeria compared to North Korea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Nigeria was 232,679,478 in 2024 vs 26,498,823 people in North Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nigeria's population is 243,824,469 people compared to 26,659,144 in North Korea.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 9.15 times bigger than North Korea's.
  • Nigeria is ranked the 6th most populous country in the world, while North Korea is the 57th.
  • The countries together account for 3.26% of the world: 2.94% for Nigeria vs 0.32% for North Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Nigeria has had an average growth rate of +2.31% per year vs +0.41% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nigeria has increased from 149M people to 244M (63.6% growth), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.7% growth).

Nigeria vs North Korea: population by year and forecast

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nigeria North Korea
2100 481,678,166 19,604,631
2099 481,494,914 19,733,548
2098 481,219,866 19,862,949
2097 480,876,108 19,993,288
2096 480,460,381 20,124,518
2095 479,976,454 20,256,401
2094 479,432,855 20,388,156
2093 478,807,152 20,520,253
2092 478,097,591 20,652,961
2091 477,274,569 20,785,785
2090 476,367,086 20,918,305
2089 475,363,859 21,050,580
2088 474,268,867 21,182,325
2087 473,072,894 21,314,047
2086 471,769,229 21,445,329
2085 470,365,292 21,575,835
2084 468,843,169 21,705,777
2083 467,224,322 21,835,029
2082 465,509,151 21,964,199
2081 463,679,779 22,092,862
2080 461,741,930 22,220,948
2079 459,680,797 22,348,577
2078 457,513,367 22,475,755
2077 455,254,796 22,602,817
2076 452,885,729 22,729,499
2075 450,402,898 22,856,369
2074 447,825,224 22,983,784
2073 445,152,156 23,111,441
2072 442,375,349 23,239,261
2071 439,499,004 23,367,583
2070 436,539,777 23,496,136
2069 433,472,204 23,625,538
2068 430,320,190 23,755,136
2067 427,066,199 23,884,879
2066 423,736,078 24,015,027
2065 420,318,527 24,144,985
2064 416,811,285 24,274,257
2063 413,231,409 24,402,439
2062 409,583,480 24,529,941
2061 405,859,509 24,656,350
2060 402,073,494 24,780,911
2059 398,228,736 24,903,037
2058 394,315,883 25,023,260
2057 390,341,867 25,140,523
2056 386,298,064 25,255,342
2055 382,193,151 25,366,397
2054 378,030,342 25,474,292
2053 373,799,276 25,578,870
2052 369,501,634 25,679,963
2051 365,149,555 25,777,639
2050 360,734,783 25,871,673
2049 356,271,401 25,962,167
2048 351,752,501 26,048,593
2047 347,169,674 26,131,429
2046 342,532,578 26,210,487
2045 337,834,528 26,286,208
2044 333,076,416 26,358,331
2043 328,256,555 26,427,062
2042 323,388,886 26,491,482
2041 318,469,120 26,552,564
2040 313,492,800 26,609,557
2039 308,474,350 26,661,815
2038 303,423,786 26,708,400
2037 298,351,344 26,749,134
2036 293,250,795 26,783,304
2035 288,138,368 26,810,026
2034 283,018,151 26,828,912
2033 277,897,810 26,839,229
2032 272,769,123 26,840,944
2031 267,666,779 26,832,957
2030 262,583,487 26,814,812
2029 257,504,936 26,787,117
2028 252,465,743 26,749,227
2027 247,457,208 26,701,444
2026 242,477,499 26,643,460
2025 237,546,527 26,575,953
2024 232,679,478 26,498,823
2023 227,882,945 26,418,204
2022 223,150,896 26,328,845
2021 218,529,286 26,232,534
2020 213,996,181 26,136,312
2019 209,485,641 26,037,632
2018 204,938,755 25,931,147
2017 200,254,579 25,817,709
2016 195,443,700 25,698,326
2015 190,671,878 25,575,350
2014 185,896,915 25,451,262
2013 181,049,443 25,329,451
2012 176,200,625 25,211,728
2011 171,379,598 25,097,874
2010 166,642,886 24,987,258
2009 162,049,464 24,878,332
2008 157,595,014 24,764,618
2007 153,267,261 24,646,383
2006 149,077,334 24,524,507
2005 145,017,253 24,396,433
2004 141,057,045 24,254,943
2003 137,202,644 24,090,380
2002 133,471,989 23,943,973
2001 129,862,595 23,815,358
2000 126,382,494 23,665,910
1999 123,047,320 23,497,599
1998 119,846,254 23,311,564
1997 116,754,792 23,110,830
1996 113,754,779 22,895,746
1995 110,819,428 22,669,304
1994 107,935,714 22,393,975
1993 105,122,069 22,073,352
1992 102,372,770 21,750,911
1991 99,720,162 21,428,638
1990 97,120,925 21,112,137
1989 94,531,014 20,804,367
1988 92,020,090 20,503,161
1987 89,591,716 20,205,483
1986 87,235,953 19,910,855
1985 84,897,973 19,620,388
1984 82,526,443 19,335,043
1983 80,438,260 19,054,034
1982 78,378,701 18,776,357
1981 76,068,103 18,501,295
1980 73,764,641 18,236,786
1979 71,498,242 17,983,470
1978 69,326,532 17,735,995
1977 67,234,590 17,492,798
1976 65,258,009 17,243,450
1975 63,410,815 16,971,055
1974 61,679,144 16,673,121
1973 60,082,139 16,350,367
1972 58,601,748 15,975,069
1971 57,214,684 15,572,457
1970 55,893,838 15,172,775
1969 54,631,914 14,767,615
1968 53,432,783 14,365,596
1967 52,293,065 13,958,350
1966 51,188,234 13,569,094
1965 50,086,764 13,219,369
1964 49,012,016 12,889,770
1963 47,973,575 12,567,057
1962 46,965,292 12,262,882
1961 45,989,310 11,990,713
1960 45,053,782 11,722,953

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/nigeria/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Nigeria increased by 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth), while North Korea gained 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Nigeria gained 48,380,769 people (a 24.8% growth), while North Korea's population increased by 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth).

Nigeria was ranked 7th most populous country in 2006 and is 6th in 2026. North Korea was ranked 46th in 2006 and ranked 57th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Nigeria's population will grow by 47.9% to 360,734,783 people with a rank change from 6th to 5th. The population of North Korea will decrease by 2.95% to 25,871,673 people and rank change from 57th to 66th.

Nigeria is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 482M people compared to the peak of 26.8M people in 2032 for North Korea.

Population growth rate by year

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Nigeria North Korea
2100 0.04% -0.65%
2099 0.06% -0.65%
2098 0.07% -0.65%
2097 0.09% -0.65%
2096 0.1% -0.65%
2095 0.11% -0.65%
2094 0.13% -0.64%
2093 0.15% -0.64%
2092 0.17% -0.64%
2091 0.19% -0.63%
2090 0.21% -0.63%
2089 0.23% -0.62%
2088 0.25% -0.62%
2087 0.28% -0.61%
2086 0.3% -0.6%
2085 0.32% -0.6%
2084 0.35% -0.59%
2083 0.37% -0.59%
2082 0.39% -0.58%
2081 0.42% -0.58%
2080 0.45% -0.57%
2079 0.47% -0.57%
2078 0.5% -0.56%
2077 0.52% -0.56%
2076 0.55% -0.56%
2075 0.58% -0.55%
2074 0.6% -0.55%
2073 0.63% -0.55%
2072 0.65% -0.55%
2071 0.68% -0.55%
2070 0.71% -0.55%
2069 0.73% -0.55%
2068 0.76% -0.54%
2067 0.79% -0.54%
2066 0.81% -0.54%
2065 0.84% -0.53%
2064 0.87% -0.53%
2063 0.89% -0.52%
2062 0.92% -0.51%
2061 0.94% -0.5%
2060 0.97% -0.49%
2059 0.99% -0.48%
2058 1.02% -0.47%
2057 1.05% -0.45%
2056 1.07% -0.44%
2055 1.1% -0.42%
2054 1.13% -0.41%
2053 1.16% -0.39%
2052 1.19% -0.38%
2051 1.22% -0.36%
2050 1.25% -0.35%
2049 1.28% -0.33%
2048 1.32% -0.32%
2047 1.35% -0.3%
2046 1.39% -0.29%
2045 1.43% -0.27%
2044 1.47% -0.26%
2043 1.51% -0.24%
2042 1.54% -0.23%
2041 1.59% -0.21%
2040 1.63% -0.2%
2039 1.66% -0.17%
2038 1.7% -0.15%
2037 1.74% -0.13%
2036 1.77% -0.1%
2035 1.81% -0.07%
2034 1.84% -0.04%
2033 1.88% -0.006%
2032 1.91% 0.03%
2031 1.94% 0.07%
2030 1.97% 0.1%
2029 2% 0.14%
2028 2.02% 0.18%
2027 2.05% 0.22%
2026 2.08% 0.25%
2025 2.09% 0.29%
2024 2.1% 0.31%
2023 2.12% 0.34%
2022 2.11% 0.37%
2021 2.12% 0.37%
2020 2.15% 0.38%
2019 2.22% 0.41%
2018 2.34% 0.44%
2017 2.46% 0.46%
2016 2.5% 0.48%
2015 2.57% 0.49%
2014 2.68% 0.48%
2013 2.75% 0.47%
2012 2.81% 0.45%
2011 2.84% 0.44%
2010 2.83% 0.44%
2009 2.83% 0.46%
2008 2.82% 0.48%
2007 2.81% 0.5%
2006 2.8% 0.52%
2005 2.81% 0.58%
2004 2.81% 0.68%
2003 2.8% 0.61%
2002 2.78% 0.54%
2001 2.75% 0.63%
2000 2.71% 0.72%
1999 2.67% 0.8%
1998 2.65% 0.87%
1997 2.64% 0.94%
1996 2.65% 1%
1995 2.67% 1.23%
1994 2.68% 1.45%
1993 2.69% 1.48%
1992 2.66% 1.5%
1991 2.68% 1.5%
1990 2.74% 1.48%
1989 2.73% 1.47%
1988 2.71% 1.47%
1987 2.7% 1.48%
1986 2.75% 1.48%
1985 2.87% 1.48%
1984 2.6% 1.47%
1983 2.63% 1.48%
1982 3.04% 1.49%
1981 3.12% 1.45%
1980 3.17% 1.41%
1979 3.13% 1.4%
1978 3.11% 1.39%
1977 3.03% 1.45%
1976 2.91% 1.61%
1975 2.81% 1.79%
1974 2.66% 1.97%
1973 2.53% 2.35%
1972 2.42% 2.59%
1971 2.36% 2.63%
1970 2.31% 2.74%
1969 2.24% 2.8%
1968 2.18% 2.92%
1967 2.16% 2.87%
1966 2.2% 2.65%
1965 2.19% 2.56%
1964 2.16% 2.57%
1963 2.15% 2.48%
1962 2.12% 2.27%
1961 2.08% 2.28%

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/nigeria/north-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Nigeria grew by 2.1%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.31%.

Live population counters

Nigeria North Korea
Current population
243824469
26659144
Population rank 6/197 57/197
Percent of world population 2.94% 0.32%
One net population change
6.58 seconds
6.52 minutes
One birth every
4.2 seconds
1.54 minutes
One death every
11.8 seconds
2.05 minutes
Daily growth/decline +13,141 +221
Annual growth/decline +4,796,533 +80,619
Annual growth/decline rate +2.1% +0.31%
Population growth rate rank 48/197 150/197
One migration net change every
34.5 minutes
3.15 hours
Annual migration change -15,258 -2,787
Net migration rank 145/196 104/196
Foreign-born residents 1,403,281 50,439
Foreign-born residents rank 49/195 150/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 173/195 189/195

Natural population change vs migration

Nigeria
Natural

Migration
North Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Nigeria North Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -15,258 - -2,787
2024 - -35,202 - -2,473
2023 4,834,309 -57,936 86,203 -1,997
2022 4,739,502 -51,680 96,495 -1,997
2021 4,641,562 -86,115 99,710 -1,585
2020 4,525,164 -14,497 95,920 -1,585
2019 4,609,941 -99,722 106,208 -3,142
2018 4,659,898 -76,565 113,164 -3,225
2017 4,706,183 78,685 120,181 -3,224
2016 4,761,594 75,265 125,048 -3,222
2015 4,823,045 -116,162 127,365 -3,208
2014 4,862,319 -19,376 127,078 -3,042
2013 4,811,751 40,201 122,519 -2,933
2012 4,774,508 71,138 118,773 -2,919
2011 4,728,363 67,808 114,798 -2,957
2010 4,629,173 47,966 112,443 -3,053
2009 4,528,149 -18,422 111,530 -3,058
2008 4,412,976 -13,646 122,015 -3,051
2007 4,265,428 -9,162 120,521 -3,021
2006 4,135,703 -12,093 129,171 -2,948
2005 4,013,788 -17,146 132,765 -2,861
2004 3,877,376 46,370 155,838 -2,758
2003 3,751,120 33,857 178,775 -2,717
2002 3,606,814 69,594 119,504 -2,763
2001 3,478,370 64,163 143,321 -2,884
2000 3,343,196 74,535 161,591 -3,142
1999 3,155,425 97,195 181,613 -3,443
1998 3,003,946 145,575 197,589 -3,706
1997 2,936,500 96,885 211,325 -3,745
1996 2,882,205 84,448 226,095 -3,512
1995 2,830,771 73,243 233,381 -3,094
1994 2,735,198 128,134 320,861 -517
1993 2,673,675 90,200 320,880 0
1992 2,596,173 138,412 324,002 0
1991 2,527,807 42,760 320,551 0
1990 2,491,928 135,959 312,460 0
1989 2,452,324 99,588 303,078 0
1988 2,376,419 93,510 299,305 0
1987 2,322,397 64,418 296,030 0
1986 2,295,003 29,682 293,227 0
1985 2,289,784 61,514 287,714 0
1984 2,278,060 113,758 282,987 0
1983 2,292,089 -507,539 279,046 0
1982 2,233,401 101,116 276,332 0
1981 2,179,884 106,723 273,800 0
1980 2,121,618 198,672 255,206 0
1979 2,074,807 137,721 251,409 0
1978 2,019,621 111,258 243,533 0
1977 1,923,917 129,075 242,870 0
1976 1,827,289 72,889 255,841 0
1975 1,718,623 75,603 288,966 0
1974 1,624,813 44,281 306,902 0
1973 1,525,485 -618 338,600 0
1972 1,448,928 -12,962 411,997 0
1971 1,373,896 -35,639 393,220 0
1970 1,295,507 7,953 406,129 0
1969 1,213,484 6,912 404,189 0
1968 1,168,254 9,615 399,837 0
1967 1,082,884 18,683 414,632 0
1966 1,095,582 12,513 363,882 0
1965 1,061,840 32,988 335,587 0
1964 1,028,272 26,411 323,623 0
1963 995,116 27,115 321,805 0
1962 966,452 27,906 286,534 0
1961 932,111 25,515 257,788 0
1960 901,301 12,131 277,717 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/nigeria/north-korea | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 99.2% of the population change in Nigeria is from natural causes (a gain of 47,163,517 people) and 0.77% is from migration (a loss of 368,103 people). In North Korea 97.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,097,372 people) and 2.33% is from migration (a loss of 26,227 people).

As of 2024, 1,403,281 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Nigeria, compared to 50,439 people or 0.2% in North Korea.

Biggest cities by population

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
North Korea
City Population
Pyongyang 2.86M
Hamhung 769K
Chongjin 668K
Sunchon 437K
Nampo 367K
Wonsan 363K
Sinuiju 359K
Tanchon 346K
Kaechon 320K
Kaesong 308K

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/nigeria/north-korea | 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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