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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Nigeria was 237,527,782 in 2025 vs 255,219,554 people in Pakistan in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nigeria's population is 245,016,045 people compared to 261,421,997 in Pakistan.

Population statistics:

  • Pakistan's population is 1.07 times bigger than Nigeria's.
  • Nigeria is ranked the 6th most populous country in the world, while Pakistan is the 5th.
  • The countries together account for 6.09% of the world: 2.95% for Nigeria vs 3.15% for Pakistan.
  • For the last 10 years, Nigeria has had an average growth rate of +2.25% per year vs +1.6% in Pakistan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nigeria has increased from 149M people to 245M (64.4% growth), while Pakistan has grown from 180M to 261M (45.5% growth).

Nigeria vs Pakistan: population by year and forecast

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
Pakistan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nigeria Pakistan
2100 481,640,156 514,639,086
2099 481,456,918 513,762,873
2098 481,181,892 512,834,641
2097 480,838,161 511,842,588
2096 480,422,467 510,743,323
2095 479,938,579 509,544,194
2094 479,395,022 508,236,117
2093 478,769,369 506,871,405
2092 478,059,864 505,433,117
2091 477,236,907 503,929,591
2090 476,329,495 502,369,089
2089 475,326,347 500,764,988
2088 474,231,442 499,040,109
2087 473,035,563 497,294,229
2086 471,732,001 495,416,407
2085 470,328,175 493,469,269
2084 468,806,172 491,457,322
2083 467,187,453 489,327,293
2082 465,472,417 487,086,584
2081 463,643,190 484,774,651
2080 461,705,493 482,358,125
2079 459,644,523 479,913,540
2078 457,477,264 477,377,443
2077 455,218,871 474,692,907
2076 452,849,991 471,877,807
2075 450,367,356 468,953,317
2074 447,789,885 465,972,364
2073 445,117,028 462,907,667
2072 442,340,440 459,752,452
2071 439,464,323 456,518,761
2070 436,505,329 453,190,545
2069 433,437,998 449,749,441
2068 430,286,232 446,219,879
2067 427,032,499 442,632,987
2066 423,702,640 438,970,919
2065 420,285,359 435,260,675
2064 416,778,394 431,484,424
2063 413,198,800 427,665,121
2062 409,551,159 423,724,764
2061 405,827,482 419,759,602
2060 402,041,765 415,724,868
2059 398,197,311 411,662,239
2058 394,284,767 407,514,159
2057 390,311,065 403,318,028
2056 386,267,580 399,031,614
2055 382,162,992 394,728,055
2054 378,000,511 390,385,410
2053 373,769,779 386,003,289
2052 369,472,476 381,568,312
2051 365,120,741 377,096,921
2050 360,706,317 372,554,619
2049 356,243,287 367,986,189
2048 351,724,743 363,386,382
2047 347,142,279 358,734,325
2046 342,505,549 354,003,639
2045 337,807,869 349,228,953
2044 333,050,132 344,443,561
2043 328,230,652 339,631,894
2042 323,363,366 334,801,403
2041 318,443,989 329,944,530
2040 313,468,061 325,107,264
2039 308,450,008 320,203,920
2038 303,399,842 315,273,196
2037 298,327,800 310,377,446
2036 293,227,654 305,472,156
2035 288,115,630 300,604,245
2034 282,995,818 295,748,602
2033 277,875,880 290,911,874
2032 272,747,599 286,130,352
2031 267,645,657 281,410,647
2030 262,562,767 276,766,735
2029 257,484,616 272,246,760
2028 252,445,821 267,784,548
2027 247,437,680 263,445,027
2026 242,458,365 259,285,315
2025 237,527,782 255,219,554
2024 232,679,478 251,269,164
2023 227,882,945 247,504,495
2022 223,150,896 243,700,667
2021 218,529,286 239,477,801
2020 213,996,181 235,001,746
2019 209,485,641 230,800,899
2018 204,938,755 226,928,892
2017 200,254,579 223,273,967
2016 195,443,700 220,138,869
2015 190,671,878 217,290,883
2014 185,896,915 214,264,647
2013 181,049,443 211,073,978
2012 176,200,625 207,667,125
2011 171,379,598 203,746,065
2010 166,642,886 199,239,047
2009 162,049,464 194,376,534
2008 157,595,014 189,499,113
2007 153,267,261 184,493,231
2006 149,077,334 179,682,690
2005 145,017,253 175,453,212
2004 141,057,045 171,286,000
2003 137,202,644 167,110,248
2002 133,471,989 163,222,549
2001 129,862,595 159,270,907
2000 126,382,494 154,879,127
1999 123,047,320 150,565,377
1998 119,846,254 146,522,356
1997 116,754,792 142,531,804
1996 113,754,779 138,557,092
1995 110,819,428 134,582,253
1994 107,935,714 130,748,083
1993 105,122,069 127,020,117
1992 102,372,770 123,546,848
1991 99,720,162 120,060,406
1990 97,120,925 116,155,576
1989 94,531,014 112,336,629
1988 92,020,090 108,724,739
1987 89,591,716 105,130,717
1986 87,235,953 101,606,764
1985 84,897,973 98,229,285
1984 82,526,443 95,164,936
1983 80,438,260 92,227,711
1982 78,378,701 89,089,246
1981 76,068,103 85,802,049
1980 73,764,641 82,291,010
1979 71,498,242 78,997,039
1978 69,326,532 76,307,379
1977 67,234,590 73,901,827
1976 65,258,009 71,620,254
1975 63,410,815 69,461,175
1974 61,679,144 67,415,487
1973 60,082,139 65,461,912
1972 58,601,748 63,583,194
1971 57,214,684 61,847,899
1970 55,893,838 60,166,719
1969 54,631,914 58,460,939
1968 53,432,783 56,810,507
1967 52,293,065 55,214,768
1966 51,188,234 53,678,667
1965 50,086,764 52,209,010
1964 49,012,016 50,799,999
1963 47,973,575 49,447,776
1962 46,965,292 48,156,128
1961 45,989,310 46,921,277
1960 45,053,782 45,709,310

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/nigeria/pakistan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Nigeria increased by 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth), while Pakistan gained 40,456,179 people (a 22.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Nigeria gained 49,572,345 people (a 25.4% growth), while Pakistan's population increased by 41,283,128 people (a 18.8% growth).

Nigeria was ranked 7th most populous country in 2006 and is 6th in 2026. Pakistan was ranked 6th in 2006 and ranked 5th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Nigeria's population will grow by 47.2% to 360,706,317 people with a rank change from 6th to 5th. The population of Pakistan will increase by 42.5% to 372,554,619 people and rank change from 5th to 4th.

Nigeria is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 482M people compared to the peak of 515M people in 2100 for Pakistan.

Population growth rate by year

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
Pakistan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Nigeria Pakistan
2100 0.04% 0.17%
2099 0.06% 0.18%
2098 0.07% 0.19%
2097 0.09% 0.22%
2096 0.1% 0.24%
2095 0.11% 0.26%
2094 0.13% 0.27%
2093 0.15% 0.28%
2092 0.17% 0.3%
2091 0.19% 0.31%
2090 0.21% 0.32%
2089 0.23% 0.35%
2088 0.25% 0.35%
2087 0.28% 0.38%
2086 0.3% 0.39%
2085 0.32% 0.41%
2084 0.35% 0.44%
2083 0.37% 0.46%
2082 0.39% 0.48%
2081 0.42% 0.5%
2080 0.45% 0.51%
2079 0.47% 0.53%
2078 0.5% 0.57%
2077 0.52% 0.6%
2076 0.55% 0.62%
2075 0.58% 0.64%
2074 0.6% 0.66%
2073 0.63% 0.69%
2072 0.65% 0.71%
2071 0.68% 0.73%
2070 0.71% 0.77%
2069 0.73% 0.79%
2068 0.76% 0.81%
2067 0.79% 0.83%
2066 0.81% 0.85%
2065 0.84% 0.88%
2064 0.87% 0.89%
2063 0.89% 0.93%
2062 0.92% 0.94%
2061 0.94% 0.97%
2060 0.97% 0.99%
2059 0.99% 1.02%
2058 1.02% 1.04%
2057 1.05% 1.07%
2056 1.07% 1.09%
2055 1.1% 1.11%
2054 1.13% 1.14%
2053 1.16% 1.16%
2052 1.19% 1.19%
2051 1.22% 1.22%
2050 1.25% 1.24%
2049 1.28% 1.27%
2048 1.32% 1.3%
2047 1.35% 1.34%
2046 1.39% 1.37%
2045 1.43% 1.39%
2044 1.47% 1.42%
2043 1.51% 1.44%
2042 1.54% 1.47%
2041 1.59% 1.49%
2040 1.63% 1.53%
2039 1.66% 1.56%
2038 1.7% 1.58%
2037 1.74% 1.61%
2036 1.77% 1.62%
2035 1.81% 1.64%
2034 1.84% 1.66%
2033 1.88% 1.67%
2032 1.91% 1.68%
2031 1.94% 1.68%
2030 1.97% 1.66%
2029 2% 1.67%
2028 2.02% 1.65%
2027 2.05% 1.6%
2026 2.08% 1.59%
2025 2.08% 1.57%
2024 2.1% 1.52%
2023 2.12% 1.56%
2022 2.11% 1.76%
2021 2.12% 1.9%
2020 2.15% 1.82%
2019 2.22% 1.71%
2018 2.34% 1.64%
2017 2.46% 1.42%
2016 2.5% 1.31%
2015 2.57% 1.41%
2014 2.68% 1.51%
2013 2.75% 1.64%
2012 2.81% 1.92%
2011 2.84% 2.26%
2010 2.83% 2.5%
2009 2.83% 2.57%
2008 2.82% 2.71%
2007 2.81% 2.68%
2006 2.8% 2.41%
2005 2.81% 2.43%
2004 2.81% 2.5%
2003 2.8% 2.38%
2002 2.78% 2.48%
2001 2.75% 2.84%
2000 2.71% 2.87%
1999 2.67% 2.76%
1998 2.65% 2.8%
1997 2.64% 2.87%
1996 2.65% 2.95%
1995 2.67% 2.93%
1994 2.68% 2.93%
1993 2.69% 2.81%
1992 2.66% 2.9%
1991 2.68% 3.36%
1990 2.74% 3.4%
1989 2.73% 3.32%
1988 2.71% 3.42%
1987 2.7% 3.47%
1986 2.75% 3.44%
1985 2.87% 3.22%
1984 2.6% 3.18%
1983 2.63% 3.52%
1982 3.04% 3.83%
1981 3.12% 4.27%
1980 3.17% 4.17%
1979 3.13% 3.52%
1978 3.11% 3.26%
1977 3.03% 3.19%
1976 2.91% 3.11%
1975 2.81% 3.03%
1974 2.66% 2.98%
1973 2.53% 2.95%
1972 2.42% 2.81%
1971 2.36% 2.79%
1970 2.31% 2.92%
1969 2.24% 2.91%
1968 2.18% 2.89%
1967 2.16% 2.86%
1966 2.2% 2.81%
1965 2.19% 2.77%
1964 2.16% 2.73%
1963 2.15% 2.68%
1962 2.12% 2.63%
1961 2.08% 2.65%

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/nigeria/pakistan | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Nigeria grew by 2.08%, while Pakistan's population grew by 1.57%.

Live population counters

Nigeria Pakistan
Current population
245016045
261421997
Population rank 6/197 5/197
Percent of world population 2.95% 3.15%
One net population change
6.52 seconds
8.01 seconds
One birth every
4.17 seconds
4.58 seconds
One death every
11.6 seconds
19.5 seconds
Daily growth/decline +13,283 +10,823
Annual growth/decline +4,848,304 +3,950,390
Annual growth/decline rate +2.08% +1.57%
Population growth rate rank 45/197 66/197
One migration net change every
34.5 minutes
25.6 seconds
Annual migration change -15,258 -1,235,336
Net migration rank 145/196 196/196
Foreign-born residents 1,403,281 4,175,958
Foreign-born residents rank 49/195 16/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 1.7%
Foreign-born share rank 173/195 141/195

Natural population change vs migration

Nigeria
Natural

Migration
Pakistan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Nigeria Pakistan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -15,258 - -1,235,336
2024 4,851,833 -35,202 5,268,361 -1,401,173
2023 4,834,309 -57,936 5,281,745 -1,619,557
2022 4,739,502 -51,680 5,268,077 -1,322,625
2021 4,641,562 -86,115 5,065,913 -565,673
2020 4,525,164 -14,497 5,011,177 -559,291
2019 4,609,941 -99,722 5,127,011 -1,177,220
2018 4,659,898 -76,565 5,103,858 -1,309,611
2017 4,706,183 78,685 5,090,200 -1,574,585
2016 4,761,594 75,265 5,044,922 -2,290,411
2015 4,823,045 -116,162 5,113,507 -2,172,162
2014 4,862,319 -19,376 5,148,994 -2,037,920
2013 4,811,751 40,201 5,176,590 -1,906,319
2012 4,774,508 71,138 5,191,263 -1,647,989
2011 4,728,363 67,808 5,189,412 -890,633
2010 4,629,173 47,966 5,147,142 -431,902
2009 4,528,149 -18,422 5,028,132 -18,298
2008 4,412,976 -13,646 4,885,855 -140,746
2007 4,265,428 -9,162 4,690,187 576,349
2006 4,135,703 -12,093 4,538,426 -183,933
2005 4,013,788 -17,146 4,294,393 -189,899
2004 3,877,376 46,370 4,294,654 -64,669
2003 3,751,120 33,857 4,340,688 -219,118
2002 3,606,814 69,594 4,307,607 -653,758
2001 3,478,370 64,163 4,304,297 -54,727
2000 3,343,196 74,535 4,281,169 252,869
1999 3,155,425 97,195 4,228,026 -134,510
1998 3,003,946 145,575 4,104,824 -112,191
1997 2,936,500 96,885 4,043,912 -55,539
1996 2,882,205 84,448 4,021,758 -60,855
1995 2,830,771 73,243 3,977,175 11,534
1994 2,735,198 128,134 3,956,699 -277,100
1993 2,673,675 90,200 3,915,776 -139,493
1992 2,596,173 138,412 3,888,637 -718,387
1991 2,527,807 42,760 3,822,363 -19,668
1990 2,491,928 135,959 3,731,730 275,242
1989 2,452,324 99,588 3,648,132 -17,164
1988 2,376,419 93,510 3,554,755 38,139
1987 2,322,397 64,418 3,448,813 146,364
1986 2,295,003 29,682 3,341,643 111,045
1985 2,289,784 61,514 3,233,315 68,860
1984 2,278,060 113,758 3,145,772 -319,242
1983 2,292,089 -507,539 3,052,738 -4,753
1982 2,233,401 101,116 2,934,689 294,252
1981 2,179,884 106,723 2,790,454 555,032
1980 2,121,618 198,672 2,598,421 1,078,229
1979 2,074,807 137,721 2,461,311 450,003
1978 2,019,621 111,258 2,356,601 111,386
1977 1,923,917 129,075 2,257,849 85,250
1976 1,827,289 72,889 2,171,812 48,238
1975 1,718,623 75,603 2,099,811 -1,710
1974 1,624,813 44,281 2,028,061 -34,785
1973 1,525,485 -618 1,971,909 -58,012
1972 1,448,928 -12,962 1,912,774 -69,209
1971 1,373,896 -35,639 1,695,374 -68,357
1970 1,295,507 7,953 1,793,570 -58,281
1969 1,213,484 6,912 1,733,601 -57,406
1968 1,168,254 9,615 1,683,296 -58,721
1967 1,082,884 18,683 1,626,737 -59,932
1966 1,095,582 12,513 1,566,343 -61,025
1965 1,061,840 32,988 1,496,050 -62,070
1964 1,028,272 26,411 1,447,394 -63,298
1963 995,116 27,115 1,384,934 -64,552
1962 966,452 27,906 1,328,675 -65,780
1961 932,111 25,515 1,273,772 -66,991
1960 901,301 12,131 1,217,147 0

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 99.2% of the population change in Nigeria is from natural causes (a gain of 47,153,031 people) and 0.81% is from migration (a loss of 383,929 people). In Pakistan 78.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 51,374,771 people) and 21.4% is from migration (a loss of 13,992,308 people).

As of 2024, 1,403,281 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Nigeria, compared to 4,175,958 people or 1.7% in Pakistan.

Biggest cities by population

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
Pakistan
City Population
Karachi 14.9M
Lahore 11.1M
Faisalabad 3.2M
Rawalpindi 2.1M
Gujranwala 2.03M
Peshawar 1.97M
Multan 1.87M
Hyderabad 1.73M
Islamabad 1.01M
Quetta 1M

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/nigeria/pakistan | 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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