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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Nigeria was 232,679,478 in 2024 vs 10,576,502 people in Papua New Guinea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nigeria's population is 243,824,469 people compared to 11,002,753 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 3.07% of the world: 2.94% for Nigeria vs 0.13% for Papua New Guinea.
  • For the last 10 years, Nigeria has had an average growth rate of +2.31% per year vs +2.23% in Papua New Guinea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nigeria has increased from 149M people to 244M (63.6% growth), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.1% 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 481,678,166 18,802,138
2099 481,494,914 18,790,040
2098 481,219,866 18,776,265
2097 480,876,108 18,758,897
2096 480,460,381 18,737,707
2095 479,976,454 18,714,219
2094 479,432,855 18,687,257
2093 478,807,152 18,658,233
2092 478,097,591 18,625,772
2091 477,274,569 18,590,001
2090 476,367,086 18,549,501
2089 475,363,859 18,510,463
2088 474,268,867 18,468,827
2087 473,072,894 18,424,378
2086 471,769,229 18,376,043
2085 470,365,292 18,325,641
2084 468,843,169 18,274,394
2083 467,224,322 18,218,709
2082 465,509,151 18,163,177
2081 463,679,779 18,104,285
2080 461,741,930 18,039,008
2079 459,680,797 17,975,778
2078 457,513,367 17,908,670
2077 455,254,796 17,840,781
2076 452,885,729 17,771,791
2075 450,402,898 17,699,428
2074 447,825,224 17,625,044
2073 445,152,156 17,548,128
2072 442,375,349 17,466,649
2071 439,499,004 17,381,598
2070 436,539,777 17,295,105
2069 433,472,204 17,205,503
2068 430,320,190 17,112,154
2067 427,066,199 17,015,090
2066 423,736,078 16,915,436
2065 420,318,527 16,812,946
2064 416,811,285 16,708,669
2063 413,231,409 16,604,296
2062 409,583,480 16,497,292
2061 405,859,509 16,386,905
2060 402,073,494 16,270,535
2059 398,228,736 16,152,614
2058 394,315,883 16,032,684
2057 390,341,867 15,909,649
2056 386,298,064 15,784,519
2055 382,193,151 15,656,542
2054 378,030,342 15,523,143
2053 373,799,276 15,389,244
2052 369,501,634 15,250,715
2051 365,149,555 15,110,389
2050 360,734,783 14,968,530
2049 356,271,401 14,821,865
2048 351,752,501 14,673,459
2047 347,169,674 14,522,926
2046 342,532,578 14,370,120
2045 337,834,528 14,213,585
2044 333,076,416 14,056,036
2043 328,256,555 13,897,765
2042 323,388,886 13,738,690
2041 318,469,120 13,577,382
2040 313,492,800 13,413,396
2039 308,474,350 13,247,486
2038 303,423,786 13,079,352
2037 298,351,344 12,909,735
2036 293,250,795 12,738,223
2035 288,138,368 12,566,543
2034 283,018,151 12,392,476
2033 277,897,810 12,218,246
2032 272,769,123 12,042,345
2031 267,666,779 11,865,316
2030 262,583,487 11,685,599
2029 257,504,936 11,504,890
2028 252,465,743 11,322,573
2027 247,457,208 11,138,409
2026 242,477,499 10,952,454
2025 237,546,527 10,765,048
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 48,380,769 people (a 24.8% growth), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,041,035 people (a 22.8% 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 47.9% to 360,734,783 people with a rank change from 6th to 5th. The population of Papua New Guinea will increase by 36% to 14,968,530 people and rank change from 89th to 85th.

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 2.09% 1.78%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/nigeria/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Nigeria grew by 2.1%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

Nigeria Papua New Guinea
Current population
243824469
11002753
Population rank 6/197 89/197
Percent of world population 2.94% 0.13%
One net population change
6.58 seconds
2.81 minutes
One birth every
4.2 seconds
2.06 minutes
One death every
11.8 seconds
7.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline +13,141 +512
Annual growth/decline +4,796,533 +186,867
Annual growth/decline rate +2.1% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 48/197 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 - -35,202 - -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 2026-04-06).

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 47,163,517 people) and 0.77% is from migration (a loss of 368,103 people). In Papua New Guinea 91% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,883,906 people) and 8.98% is from migration (a gain of 185,900 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 2.55M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Maiduguri 1.2M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M
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 (1960–2024, 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/papua-new-guinea | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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