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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Nigeria was 232,679,478 in 2024 vs 251,269,164 people in Pakistan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nigeria's population is 243,824,469 people compared to 260,356,147 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 6.08% of the world: 2.94% for Nigeria vs 3.14% for Pakistan.
  • For the last 10 years, Nigeria has had an average growth rate of +2.31% per year vs +1.6% in Pakistan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nigeria has increased from 149M people to 244M (63.6% growth), while Pakistan has grown from 180M to 260M (44.9% growth).

Nigeria vs Pakistan: population by year and forecast

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
Pakistan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nigeria Pakistan
2100 481,678,166 514,531,704
2099 481,494,914 513,655,674
2098 481,219,866 512,727,636
2097 480,876,108 511,735,790
2096 480,460,381 510,636,755
2095 479,976,454 509,437,875
2094 479,432,855 508,130,071
2093 478,807,152 506,765,644
2092 478,097,591 505,327,656
2091 477,274,569 503,824,444
2090 476,367,086 502,264,268
2089 475,363,859 500,660,501
2088 474,268,867 498,935,983
2087 473,072,894 497,190,466
2086 471,769,229 495,313,036
2085 470,365,292 493,366,305
2084 468,843,169 491,354,778
2083 467,224,322 489,225,193
2082 465,509,151 486,984,952
2081 463,679,779 484,673,501
2080 461,741,930 482,257,479
2079 459,680,797 479,813,404
2078 457,513,367 477,277,836
2077 455,254,796 474,593,860
2076 452,885,729 471,779,348
2075 450,402,898 468,855,468
2074 447,825,224 465,875,137
2073 445,152,156 462,811,079
2072 442,375,349 459,656,523
2071 439,499,004 456,423,506
2070 436,539,777 453,095,985
2069 433,472,204 449,655,599
2068 430,320,190 446,126,774
2067 427,066,199 442,540,629
2066 423,736,078 438,879,326
2065 420,318,527 435,169,856
2064 416,811,285 431,394,393
2063 413,231,409 427,575,887
2062 409,583,480 423,636,352
2061 405,859,509 419,672,017
2060 402,073,494 415,638,125
2059 398,228,736 411,576,344
2058 394,315,883 407,429,129
2057 390,341,867 403,233,874
2056 386,298,064 398,948,355
2055 382,193,151 394,645,693
2054 378,030,342 390,303,954
2053 373,799,276 385,922,748
2052 369,501,634 381,488,696
2051 365,149,555 377,018,239
2050 360,734,783 372,476,884
2049 356,271,401 367,909,407
2048 351,752,501 363,310,560
2047 347,169,674 358,659,474
2046 342,532,578 353,929,775
2045 337,834,528 349,156,085
2044 333,076,416 344,371,692
2043 328,256,555 339,561,029
2042 323,388,886 334,731,546
2041 318,469,120 329,875,686
2040 313,492,800 325,039,429
2039 308,474,350 320,137,108
2038 303,423,786 315,207,413
2037 298,351,344 310,312,684
2036 293,250,795 305,408,418
2035 288,138,368 300,541,523
2034 283,018,151 295,686,893
2033 277,897,810 290,851,174
2032 272,769,123 286,070,650
2031 267,666,779 281,351,929
2030 262,583,487 276,708,987
2029 257,504,936 272,189,955
2028 252,465,743 267,728,673
2027 247,457,208 263,390,059
2026 242,477,499 259,231,214
2025 237,546,527 255,166,301
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 48,380,769 people (a 24.8% growth), while Pakistan's population increased by 40,217,278 people (a 18.3% 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 47.9% to 360,734,783 people with a rank change from 6th to 5th. The population of Pakistan will increase by 43.1% to 372,476,884 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 2.09% 1.55%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Nigeria grew by 2.1%, while Pakistan's population grew by 1.52%.

Live population counters

Nigeria Pakistan
Current population
243824469
260356147
Population rank 6/197 5/197
Percent of world population 2.94% 3.14%
One net population change
6.58 seconds
8.38 seconds
One birth every
4.2 seconds
4.58 seconds
One death every
11.8 seconds
19.7 seconds
Daily growth/decline +13,141 +10,314
Annual growth/decline +4,796,533 +3,764,669
Annual growth/decline rate +2.1% +1.52%
Population growth rate rank 48/197 70/197
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 - -35,202 - -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 2026-04-06).

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 47,163,517 people) and 0.77% is from migration (a loss of 368,103 people). In Pakistan 77.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 51,255,404 people) and 22.2% is from migration (a loss of 14,629,055 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 2.55M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Maiduguri 1.2M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M
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 (1960–2024, 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/pakistan | 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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