Skip to content

Population in Nigeria compared to Papua New Guinea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Nigeria was 237,527,782 in 2025 vs 10,762,817 people in Papua New Guinea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nigeria's population is 245,016,045 people compared to 11,045,681 in Papua New Guinea.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 22.2 times bigger than Papua New Guinea's.
  • Nigeria is ranked the 6th most populous country in the world, while Papua New Guinea is the 89th.
  • The countries together account for 3.08% of the world: 2.95% for Nigeria vs 0.13% for Papua New Guinea.
  • For the last 10 years, Nigeria has had an average growth rate of +2.25% per year vs +2.14% in Papua New Guinea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nigeria has increased from 149M people to 245M (64.4% growth), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.7% growth).

Nigeria vs Papua New Guinea: population by year and forecast

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nigeria Papua New Guinea
2100 481,640,156 18,798,240
2099 481,456,918 18,786,145
2098 481,181,892 18,772,372
2097 480,838,161 18,755,008
2096 480,422,467 18,733,822
2095 479,938,579 18,710,340
2094 479,395,022 18,683,383
2093 478,769,369 18,654,365
2092 478,059,864 18,621,911
2091 477,236,907 18,586,147
2090 476,329,495 18,545,656
2089 475,326,347 18,506,626
2088 474,231,442 18,464,999
2087 473,035,563 18,420,558
2086 471,732,001 18,372,233
2085 470,328,175 18,321,842
2084 468,806,172 18,270,605
2083 467,187,453 18,214,932
2082 465,472,417 18,159,412
2081 463,643,190 18,100,531
2080 461,705,493 18,035,268
2079 459,644,523 17,972,052
2078 457,477,264 17,904,957
2077 455,218,871 17,837,082
2076 452,849,991 17,768,107
2075 450,367,356 17,695,759
2074 447,789,885 17,621,390
2073 445,117,028 17,544,490
2072 442,340,440 17,463,028
2071 439,464,323 17,377,995
2070 436,505,329 17,291,519
2069 433,437,998 17,201,936
2068 430,286,232 17,108,606
2067 427,032,499 17,011,562
2066 423,702,640 16,911,929
2065 420,285,359 16,809,460
2064 416,778,394 16,705,205
2063 413,198,800 16,600,853
2062 409,551,159 16,493,872
2061 405,827,482 16,383,508
2060 402,041,765 16,267,162
2059 398,197,311 16,149,265
2058 394,284,767 16,029,360
2057 390,311,065 15,906,350
2056 386,267,580 15,781,247
2055 382,162,992 15,653,296
2054 378,000,511 15,519,925
2053 373,769,779 15,386,054
2052 369,472,476 15,247,553
2051 365,120,741 15,107,257
2050 360,706,317 14,965,427
2049 356,243,287 14,818,793
2048 351,724,743 14,670,417
2047 347,142,279 14,519,915
2046 342,505,549 14,367,141
2045 337,807,869 14,210,639
2044 333,050,132 14,053,122
2043 328,230,652 13,894,884
2042 323,363,366 13,735,841
2041 318,443,989 13,574,567
2040 313,468,061 13,410,615
2039 308,450,008 13,244,740
2038 303,399,842 13,076,640
2037 298,327,800 12,907,059
2036 293,227,654 12,735,582
2035 288,115,630 12,563,938
2034 282,995,818 12,389,907
2033 277,875,880 12,215,713
2032 272,747,599 12,039,848
2031 267,645,657 11,862,856
2030 262,562,767 11,683,177
2029 257,484,616 11,502,504
2028 252,445,821 11,320,226
2027 247,437,680 11,136,100
2026 242,458,365 10,950,183
2025 237,527,782 10,762,817
2024 232,679,478 10,576,502
2023 227,882,945 10,389,635
2022 223,150,896 10,203,169
2021 218,529,286 10,012,896
2020 213,996,181 9,815,746
2019 209,485,641 9,609,010
2018 204,938,755 9,394,513
2017 200,254,579 9,178,714
2016 195,443,700 8,961,718
2015 190,671,878 8,743,246
2014 185,896,915 8,523,441
2013 181,049,443 8,302,698
2012 176,200,625 8,081,390
2011 171,379,598 7,859,346
2010 166,642,886 7,633,523
2009 162,049,464 7,406,438
2008 157,595,014 7,183,002
2007 153,267,261 6,963,345
2006 149,077,334 6,747,720
2005 145,017,253 6,535,905
2004 141,057,045 6,328,041
2003 137,202,644 6,123,997
2002 133,471,989 5,924,003
2001 129,862,595 5,728,435
2000 126,382,494 5,537,064
1999 123,047,320 5,349,333
1998 119,846,254 5,166,390
1997 116,754,792 4,987,883
1996 113,754,779 4,813,361
1995 110,819,428 4,644,278
1994 107,935,714 4,480,208
1993 105,122,069 4,320,872
1992 102,372,770 4,166,699
1991 99,720,162 4,021,837
1990 97,120,925 3,896,481
1989 94,531,014 3,796,078
1988 92,020,090 3,711,880
1987 89,591,716 3,632,543
1986 87,235,953 3,554,793
1985 84,897,973 3,478,936
1984 82,526,443 3,405,198
1983 80,438,260 3,333,633
1982 78,378,701 3,264,291
1981 76,068,103 3,197,019
1980 73,764,641 3,131,512
1979 71,498,242 3,067,341
1978 69,326,532 3,003,714
1977 67,234,590 2,940,327
1976 65,258,009 2,877,327
1975 63,410,815 2,814,820
1974 61,679,144 2,752,671
1973 60,082,139 2,690,629
1972 58,601,748 2,628,432
1971 57,214,684 2,566,421
1970 55,893,838 2,505,628
1969 54,631,914 2,446,927
1968 53,432,783 2,390,803
1967 52,293,065 2,337,532
1966 51,188,234 2,285,774
1965 50,086,764 2,235,820
1964 49,012,016 2,188,325
1963 47,973,575 2,141,376
1962 46,965,292 2,093,919
1961 45,989,310 2,046,127
1960 45,053,782 1,995,110

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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Nigeria increased by 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth), while Papua New Guinea gained 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Nigeria gained 49,572,345 people (a 25.4% growth), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,083,963 people (a 23.3% growth).

Nigeria was ranked 7th most populous country in 2006 and is 6th in 2026. Papua New Guinea was ranked 100th in 2006 and ranked 89th 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 Papua New Guinea will increase by 35.5% to 14,965,427 people and rank change from 89th to 84th.

Nigeria is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 482M people compared to the peak of 18.8M people in 2100 for Papua New Guinea.

Population growth rate by year

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Nigeria Papua New Guinea
2100 0.04% 0.06%
2099 0.06% 0.07%
2098 0.07% 0.09%
2097 0.09% 0.11%
2096 0.1% 0.13%
2095 0.11% 0.14%
2094 0.13% 0.16%
2093 0.15% 0.17%
2092 0.17% 0.19%
2091 0.19% 0.22%
2090 0.21% 0.21%
2089 0.23% 0.23%
2088 0.25% 0.24%
2087 0.28% 0.26%
2086 0.3% 0.28%
2085 0.32% 0.28%
2084 0.35% 0.31%
2083 0.37% 0.31%
2082 0.39% 0.33%
2081 0.42% 0.36%
2080 0.45% 0.35%
2079 0.47% 0.37%
2078 0.5% 0.38%
2077 0.52% 0.39%
2076 0.55% 0.41%
2075 0.58% 0.42%
2074 0.6% 0.44%
2073 0.63% 0.47%
2072 0.65% 0.49%
2071 0.68% 0.5%
2070 0.71% 0.52%
2069 0.73% 0.55%
2068 0.76% 0.57%
2067 0.79% 0.59%
2066 0.81% 0.61%
2065 0.84% 0.62%
2064 0.87% 0.63%
2063 0.89% 0.65%
2062 0.92% 0.67%
2061 0.94% 0.72%
2060 0.97% 0.73%
2059 0.99% 0.75%
2058 1.02% 0.77%
2057 1.05% 0.79%
2056 1.07% 0.82%
2055 1.1% 0.86%
2054 1.13% 0.87%
2053 1.16% 0.91%
2052 1.19% 0.93%
2051 1.22% 0.95%
2050 1.25% 0.99%
2049 1.28% 1.01%
2048 1.32% 1.04%
2047 1.35% 1.06%
2046 1.39% 1.1%
2045 1.43% 1.12%
2044 1.47% 1.14%
2043 1.51% 1.16%
2042 1.54% 1.19%
2041 1.59% 1.22%
2040 1.63% 1.25%
2039 1.66% 1.29%
2038 1.7% 1.31%
2037 1.74% 1.35%
2036 1.77% 1.37%
2035 1.81% 1.4%
2034 1.84% 1.43%
2033 1.88% 1.46%
2032 1.91% 1.49%
2031 1.94% 1.54%
2030 1.97% 1.57%
2029 2% 1.61%
2028 2.02% 1.65%
2027 2.05% 1.7%
2026 2.08% 1.74%
2025 2.08% 1.76%
2024 2.1% 1.8%
2023 2.12% 1.83%
2022 2.11% 1.9%
2021 2.12% 2.01%
2020 2.15% 2.15%
2019 2.22% 2.28%
2018 2.34% 2.35%
2017 2.46% 2.42%
2016 2.5% 2.5%
2015 2.57% 2.58%
2014 2.68% 2.66%
2013 2.75% 2.74%
2012 2.81% 2.83%
2011 2.84% 2.96%
2010 2.83% 3.07%
2009 2.83% 3.11%
2008 2.82% 3.15%
2007 2.81% 3.2%
2006 2.8% 3.24%
2005 2.81% 3.28%
2004 2.81% 3.33%
2003 2.8% 3.38%
2002 2.78% 3.41%
2001 2.75% 3.46%
2000 2.71% 3.51%
1999 2.67% 3.54%
1998 2.65% 3.58%
1997 2.64% 3.63%
1996 2.65% 3.64%
1995 2.67% 3.66%
1994 2.68% 3.69%
1993 2.69% 3.7%
1992 2.66% 3.6%
1991 2.68% 3.22%
1990 2.74% 2.64%
1989 2.73% 2.27%
1988 2.71% 2.18%
1987 2.7% 2.19%
1986 2.75% 2.18%
1985 2.87% 2.17%
1984 2.6% 2.15%
1983 2.63% 2.12%
1982 3.04% 2.1%
1981 3.12% 2.09%
1980 3.17% 2.09%
1979 3.13% 2.12%
1978 3.11% 2.16%
1977 3.03% 2.19%
1976 2.91% 2.22%
1975 2.81% 2.26%
1974 2.66% 2.31%
1973 2.53% 2.37%
1972 2.42% 2.42%
1971 2.36% 2.43%
1970 2.31% 2.4%
1969 2.24% 2.35%
1968 2.18% 2.28%
1967 2.16% 2.26%
1966 2.2% 2.23%
1965 2.19% 2.17%
1964 2.16% 2.19%
1963 2.15% 2.27%
1962 2.12% 2.34%
1961 2.08% 2.56%

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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Nigeria grew by 2.08%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.76%.

Live population counters

Nigeria Papua New Guinea
Current population
245016045
11045681
Population rank 6/197 89/197
Percent of world population 2.95% 0.13%
One net population change
6.52 seconds
2.83 minutes
One birth every
4.17 seconds
2.05 minutes
One death every
11.6 seconds
7.58 minutes
Daily growth/decline +13,283 +510
Annual growth/decline +4,848,304 +186,315
Annual growth/decline rate +2.08% +1.76%
Population growth rate rank 45/197 59/197
One migration net change every
34.5 minutes
1.29 days
Annual migration change -15,258 -284
Net migration rank 145/196 87/196
Foreign-born residents 1,403,281 31,171
Foreign-born residents rank 49/195 163/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 0.3%
Foreign-born share rank 173/195 183/195

Natural population change vs migration

Nigeria
Natural

Migration
Papua New Guinea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Nigeria Papua New Guinea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -15,258 - -284
2024 4,851,833 -35,202 187,595 -707
2023 4,834,309 -57,936 187,637 -787
2022 4,739,502 -51,680 186,861 -787
2021 4,641,562 -86,115 183,766 10,703
2020 4,525,164 -14,497 189,130 10,703
2019 4,609,941 -99,722 190,662 22,978
2018 4,659,898 -76,565 190,662 24,684
2017 4,706,183 78,685 189,715 26,513
2016 4,761,594 75,265 189,281 28,473
2015 4,823,045 -116,162 188,600 30,580
2014 4,862,319 -19,376 187,592 32,840
2013 4,811,751 40,201 185,790 35,280
2012 4,774,508 71,138 183,658 37,893
2011 4,728,363 67,808 181,842 40,690
2010 4,629,173 47,966 178,998 50,106
2009 4,528,149 -18,422 175,421 49,647
2008 4,412,976 -13,646 172,823 48,985
2007 4,265,428 -9,162 169,306 48,203
2006 4,135,703 -12,093 166,540 47,191
2005 4,013,788 -17,146 163,888 46,014
2004 3,877,376 46,370 161,023 44,811
2003 3,751,120 33,857 158,611 43,639
2002 3,606,814 69,594 155,091 42,657
2001 3,478,370 64,163 151,431 41,962
2000 3,343,196 74,535 147,496 41,855
1999 3,155,425 97,195 143,592 42,519
1998 3,003,946 145,575 136,677 43,091
1997 2,936,500 96,885 134,458 42,787
1996 2,882,205 84,448 129,802 41,994
1995 2,830,771 73,243 125,410 40,962
1994 2,735,198 128,134 122,113 39,669
1993 2,673,675 90,200 118,668 38,220
1992 2,596,173 138,412 114,818 36,622
1991 2,527,807 42,760 111,453 26,830
1990 2,491,928 135,959 110,033 2,398
1989 2,452,324 99,588 108,199 -19,824
1988 2,376,419 93,510 106,256 -26,232
1987 2,322,397 64,418 104,367 -25,720
1986 2,295,003 29,682 102,346 -25,495
1985 2,289,784 61,514 100,333 -25,470
1984 2,278,060 113,758 98,103 -25,487
1983 2,292,089 -507,539 95,982 -25,465
1982 2,233,401 101,116 93,522 -25,355
1981 2,179,884 106,723 91,767 -25,383
1980 2,121,618 198,672 90,266 -25,638
1979 2,074,807 137,721 89,330 -25,618
1978 2,019,621 111,258 88,747 -25,208
1977 1,923,917 129,075 87,954 -24,722
1976 1,827,289 72,889 86,965 -24,198
1975 1,718,623 75,603 85,809 -23,562
1974 1,624,813 44,281 84,829 -22,771
1973 1,525,485 -618 83,821 -21,803
1972 1,448,928 -12,962 82,672 -20,303
1971 1,373,896 -35,639 80,599 -18,945
1970 1,295,507 7,953 78,712 -18,773
1969 1,213,484 6,912 76,454 -18,994
1968 1,168,254 9,615 73,983 -19,188
1967 1,082,884 18,683 71,519 -19,767
1966 1,095,582 12,513 69,206 -17,454
1965 1,061,840 32,988 66,693 -18,532
1964 1,028,272 26,411 64,558 -17,730
1963 995,116 27,115 62,260 -15,189
1962 966,452 27,906 59,974 -12,141
1961 932,111 25,515 58,151 -10,409
1960 901,301 12,131 56,326 -2,034

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

GeoRank.org/population/nigeria/papua-new-guinea | 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 Papua New Guinea 92.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,883,909 people) and 7.48% is from migration (a gain of 152,353 people).

As of 2024, 1,403,281 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Nigeria, compared to 31,171 people or 0.3% in Papua New Guinea.

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
Papua New Guinea
City Population
Port Moresby 317K
Lae 101K

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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.