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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Nigeria was 232,679,478 in 2024 vs 10,694,681 people in Portugal in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nigeria's population is 243,824,469 people compared to 10,667,081 in Portugal.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 22.9 times bigger than Portugal's.
  • Nigeria is ranked the 6th most populous country in the world, while Portugal is the 92nd.
  • The countries together account for 3.07% of the world: 2.94% for Nigeria vs 0.13% for Portugal.
  • For the last 10 years, Nigeria has had an average growth rate of +2.31% per year vs +0.21% in Portugal.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nigeria has increased from 149M people to 244M (63.6% growth), while Portugal has grown from 10.5M to 10.7M (1.38% growth).

Nigeria vs Portugal: population by year and forecast

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
Portugal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nigeria Portugal
2100 481,678,166 8,977,781
2099 481,494,914 8,983,042
2098 481,219,866 8,987,129
2097 480,876,108 8,992,549
2096 480,460,381 8,998,689
2095 479,976,454 9,006,394
2094 479,432,855 9,011,158
2093 478,807,152 9,016,023
2092 478,097,591 9,021,257
2091 477,274,569 9,025,345
2090 476,367,086 9,029,722
2089 475,363,859 9,034,399
2088 474,268,867 9,039,122
2087 473,072,894 9,045,400
2086 471,769,229 9,050,153
2085 470,365,292 9,055,552
2084 468,843,169 9,062,369
2083 467,224,322 9,068,714
2082 465,509,151 9,077,003
2081 463,679,779 9,087,394
2080 461,741,930 9,098,423
2079 459,680,797 9,111,057
2078 457,513,367 9,125,056
2077 455,254,796 9,140,039
2076 452,885,729 9,158,661
2075 450,402,898 9,178,289
2074 447,825,224 9,201,245
2073 445,152,156 9,225,478
2072 442,375,349 9,248,867
2071 439,499,004 9,275,782
2070 436,539,777 9,304,137
2069 433,472,204 9,334,425
2068 430,320,190 9,367,211
2067 427,066,199 9,399,389
2066 423,736,078 9,432,609
2065 420,318,527 9,466,860
2064 416,811,285 9,503,941
2063 413,231,409 9,540,829
2062 409,583,480 9,578,098
2061 405,859,509 9,614,549
2060 402,073,494 9,652,893
2059 398,228,736 9,691,151
2058 394,315,883 9,731,557
2057 390,341,867 9,769,285
2056 386,298,064 9,807,403
2055 382,193,151 9,847,280
2054 378,030,342 9,885,446
2053 373,799,276 9,924,814
2052 369,501,634 9,963,090
2051 365,149,555 9,999,372
2050 360,734,783 10,035,796
2049 356,271,401 10,072,922
2048 351,752,501 10,106,403
2047 347,169,674 10,140,325
2046 342,532,578 10,173,871
2045 337,834,528 10,206,046
2044 333,076,416 10,237,224
2043 328,256,555 10,268,090
2042 323,388,886 10,296,167
2041 318,469,120 10,322,968
2040 313,492,800 10,351,965
2039 308,474,350 10,379,824
2038 303,423,786 10,405,843
2037 298,351,344 10,430,143
2036 293,250,795 10,454,779
2035 288,138,368 10,478,501
2034 283,018,151 10,502,828
2033 277,897,810 10,525,638
2032 272,769,123 10,548,736
2031 267,666,779 10,569,489
2030 262,583,487 10,588,717
2029 257,504,936 10,609,556
2028 252,465,743 10,631,437
2027 247,457,208 10,649,916
2026 242,477,499 10,667,081
2025 237,546,527 10,683,692
2024 232,679,478 10,694,681
2023 227,882,945 10,578,174
2022 223,150,896 10,434,332
2021 218,529,286 10,361,831
2020 213,996,181 10,297,081
2019 209,485,641 10,286,263
2018 204,938,755 10,283,822
2017 200,254,579 10,300,300
2016 195,443,700 10,325,452
2015 190,671,878 10,358,076
2014 185,896,915 10,401,062
2013 181,049,443 10,457,295
2012 176,200,625 10,514,844
2011 171,379,598 10,557,560
2010 166,642,886 10,573,100
2009 162,049,464 10,568,247
2008 157,595,014 10,558,177
2007 153,267,261 10,542,964
2006 149,077,334 10,522,288
2005 145,017,253 10,503,330
2004 141,057,045 10,483,861
2003 137,202,644 10,458,821
2002 133,471,989 10,419,631
2001 129,862,595 10,362,722
2000 126,382,494 10,289,898
1999 123,047,320 10,217,828
1998 119,846,254 10,160,196
1997 116,754,792 10,108,977
1996 113,754,779 10,063,945
1995 110,819,428 10,026,176
1994 107,935,714 9,991,525
1993 105,122,069 9,964,675
1992 102,372,770 9,952,494
1991 99,720,162 9,960,235
1990 97,120,925 9,983,218
1989 94,531,014 10,005,000
1988 92,020,090 10,019,610
1987 89,591,716 10,030,031
1986 87,235,953 10,032,734
1985 84,897,973 10,023,613
1984 82,526,443 9,996,232
1983 80,438,260 9,957,865
1982 78,378,701 9,911,771
1981 76,068,103 9,851,362
1980 73,764,641 9,766,312
1979 71,498,242 9,661,265
1978 69,326,532 9,558,250
1977 67,234,590 9,455,675
1976 65,258,009 9,355,810
1975 63,410,815 9,093,470
1974 61,679,144 8,754,365
1973 60,082,139 8,633,100
1972 58,601,748 8,630,430
1971 57,214,684 8,643,756
1970 55,893,838 8,680,431
1969 54,631,914 8,757,705
1968 53,432,783 8,836,650
1967 52,293,065 8,874,520
1966 51,188,234 8,930,990
1965 50,086,764 8,998,595
1964 49,012,016 9,035,365
1963 47,973,575 9,030,355
1962 46,965,292 8,993,985
1961 45,989,310 8,929,316
1960 45,053,782 8,857,716

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/portugal | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Nigeria increased by 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth), while Portugal lost 196,836 people (a 1.87% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Nigeria gained 48,380,769 people (a 24.8% growth), while Portugal's population increased by 341,629 people (a 3.31% growth).

Nigeria was ranked 7th most populous country in 2006 and is 6th in 2026. Portugal was ranked 78th in 2006 and ranked 92nd 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 Portugal will decrease by 5.92% to 10,035,796 people and rank change from 92nd to 97th.

Nigeria is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 482M people, while Portugal's population already peaked in 2024 at 10.7M people and is projected to decrease to 8.98M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
Portugal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Nigeria Portugal
2100 0.04% -0.06%
2099 0.06% -0.05%
2098 0.07% -0.06%
2097 0.09% -0.07%
2096 0.1% -0.09%
2095 0.11% -0.05%
2094 0.13% -0.05%
2093 0.15% -0.06%
2092 0.17% -0.05%
2091 0.19% -0.05%
2090 0.21% -0.05%
2089 0.23% -0.05%
2088 0.25% -0.07%
2087 0.28% -0.05%
2086 0.3% -0.06%
2085 0.32% -0.08%
2084 0.35% -0.07%
2083 0.37% -0.09%
2082 0.39% -0.11%
2081 0.42% -0.12%
2080 0.45% -0.14%
2079 0.47% -0.15%
2078 0.5% -0.16%
2077 0.52% -0.2%
2076 0.55% -0.21%
2075 0.58% -0.25%
2074 0.6% -0.26%
2073 0.63% -0.25%
2072 0.65% -0.29%
2071 0.68% -0.3%
2070 0.71% -0.32%
2069 0.73% -0.35%
2068 0.76% -0.34%
2067 0.79% -0.35%
2066 0.81% -0.36%
2065 0.84% -0.39%
2064 0.87% -0.39%
2063 0.89% -0.39%
2062 0.92% -0.38%
2061 0.94% -0.4%
2060 0.97% -0.39%
2059 0.99% -0.42%
2058 1.02% -0.39%
2057 1.05% -0.39%
2056 1.07% -0.4%
2055 1.1% -0.39%
2054 1.13% -0.4%
2053 1.16% -0.38%
2052 1.19% -0.36%
2051 1.22% -0.36%
2050 1.25% -0.37%
2049 1.28% -0.33%
2048 1.32% -0.33%
2047 1.35% -0.33%
2046 1.39% -0.32%
2045 1.43% -0.3%
2044 1.47% -0.3%
2043 1.51% -0.27%
2042 1.54% -0.26%
2041 1.59% -0.28%
2040 1.63% -0.27%
2039 1.66% -0.25%
2038 1.7% -0.23%
2037 1.74% -0.24%
2036 1.77% -0.23%
2035 1.81% -0.23%
2034 1.84% -0.22%
2033 1.88% -0.22%
2032 1.91% -0.2%
2031 1.94% -0.18%
2030 1.97% -0.2%
2029 2% -0.21%
2028 2.02% -0.17%
2027 2.05% -0.16%
2026 2.08% -0.16%
2025 2.09% -0.1%
2024 2.1% 1.1%
2023 2.12% 1.38%
2022 2.11% 0.7%
2021 2.12% 0.63%
2020 2.15% 0.11%
2019 2.22% 0.02%
2018 2.34% -0.16%
2017 2.46% -0.24%
2016 2.5% -0.31%
2015 2.57% -0.41%
2014 2.68% -0.54%
2013 2.75% -0.55%
2012 2.81% -0.4%
2011 2.84% -0.15%
2010 2.83% 0.05%
2009 2.83% 0.1%
2008 2.82% 0.14%
2007 2.81% 0.2%
2006 2.8% 0.18%
2005 2.81% 0.19%
2004 2.81% 0.24%
2003 2.8% 0.38%
2002 2.78% 0.55%
2001 2.75% 0.71%
2000 2.71% 0.71%
1999 2.67% 0.57%
1998 2.65% 0.51%
1997 2.64% 0.45%
1996 2.65% 0.38%
1995 2.67% 0.35%
1994 2.68% 0.27%
1993 2.69% 0.12%
1992 2.66% -0.08%
1991 2.68% -0.23%
1990 2.74% -0.22%
1989 2.73% -0.15%
1988 2.71% -0.1%
1987 2.7% -0.03%
1986 2.75% 0.09%
1985 2.87% 0.27%
1984 2.6% 0.39%
1983 2.63% 0.47%
1982 3.04% 0.61%
1981 3.12% 0.87%
1980 3.17% 1.09%
1979 3.13% 1.08%
1978 3.11% 1.08%
1977 3.03% 1.07%
1976 2.91% 2.88%
1975 2.81% 3.87%
1974 2.66% 1.4%
1973 2.53% 0.03%
1972 2.42% -0.15%
1971 2.36% -0.42%
1970 2.31% -0.88%
1969 2.24% -0.89%
1968 2.18% -0.43%
1967 2.16% -0.63%
1966 2.2% -0.75%
1965 2.19% -0.41%
1964 2.16% 0.06%
1963 2.15% 0.4%
1962 2.12% 0.72%
1961 2.08% 0.81%

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/portugal | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Nigeria grew by 2.1%, while Portugal's population grew by 1.1%.

Live population counters

Nigeria Portugal
Current population
243824469
10667081
Population rank 6/197 92/197
Percent of world population 2.94% 0.13%
One net population change
6.58 seconds
4.51 minutes
One birth every
4.2 seconds
6.13 minutes
One death every
11.8 seconds
4.44 minutes
Daily growth/decline +13,141 +319
Annual growth/decline +4,796,533 +116,507
Annual growth/decline rate +2.1% +1.1%
Population growth rate rank 48/197 94/197
One migration net change every
34.5 minutes
32 minutes
Annual migration change -15,258 +16,472
Net migration rank 145/196 38/196
Foreign-born residents 1,403,281 1,127,184
Foreign-born residents rank 49/195 56/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 10.8%
Foreign-born share rank 173/195 61/195

Natural population change vs migration

Nigeria
Natural

Migration
Portugal
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Nigeria Portugal
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -15,258 - 16,472
2024 - -35,202 - 20,648
2023 4,834,309 -57,936 -32,792 29,102
2022 4,739,502 -51,680 -40,694 68,696
2021 4,641,562 -86,115 -45,592 69,606
2020 4,525,164 -14,497 -39,129 54,076
2019 4,609,941 -99,722 -24,687 63,031
2018 4,659,898 -76,565 -25,709 22,495
2017 4,706,183 78,685 -23,691 13,979
2016 4,761,594 75,265 -23,749 -775
2015 4,823,045 -116,162 -23,823 -3,209
2014 4,862,319 -19,376 -22,882 -26,447
2013 4,811,751 40,201 -24,052 -36,342
2012 4,774,508 71,138 -17,875 -37,083
2011 4,728,363 67,808 -5,279 -31,513
2010 4,629,173 47,966 -4,230 -5,627
2009 4,528,149 -18,422 -5,284 14,532
2008 4,412,976 -13,646 0 9,478
2007 4,265,428 -9,162 -1,055 21,064
2006 4,135,703 -12,093 3,156 16,754
2005 4,013,788 -17,146 2,101 15,537
2004 3,877,376 46,370 7,339 13,928
2003 3,751,120 33,857 4,184 24,740
2002 3,606,814 69,594 8,335 42,169
2001 3,478,370 64,163 8,290 55,565
2000 3,343,196 74,535 15,435 60,586
1999 3,155,425 97,195 8,175 49,572
1998 3,003,946 145,575 7,112 40,931
1997 2,936,500 96,885 8,087 36,922
1996 2,882,205 84,448 4,026 32,640
1995 2,830,771 73,243 4,011 26,971
1994 2,735,198 128,134 9,991 20,761
1993 2,673,675 90,200 7,972 8,561
1992 2,596,173 138,412 13,933 -11,847
1991 2,527,807 42,760 12,948 -37,914
1990 2,491,928 135,959 13,976 -34,855
1989 2,452,324 99,588 22,011 -30,615
1988 2,376,419 93,510 24,047 -26,595
1987 2,322,397 64,418 28,084 -23,142
1986 2,295,003 29,682 31,102 -20,000
1985 2,289,784 61,514 33,077 -19,183
1984 2,278,060 113,758 45,983 -16,658
1983 2,292,089 -507,539 47,798 -16,568
1982 2,233,401 101,116 58,479 -15,006
1981 2,179,884 106,723 56,152 -7,938
1980 2,121,618 198,672 63,481 29,881
1979 2,074,807 137,721 67,628 32,434
1978 2,019,621 111,258 70,731 34,345
1977 1,923,917 129,075 84,156 37,779
1976 1,827,289 72,889 85,138 40,490
1975 1,718,623 75,603 81,841 42,262
1974 1,624,813 44,281 74,412 41,254
1973 1,525,485 -618 76,835 39,748
1972 1,448,928 -12,962 83,715 39,058
1971 1,373,896 -35,639 82,980 48,944
1970 1,295,507 7,953 87,672 -191,862
1969 1,213,484 6,912 89,329 -161,114
1968 1,168,254 9,615 100,737 -145,200
1967 1,082,884 18,683 106,495 -136,232
1966 1,095,582 12,513 107,171 -129,233
1965 1,061,840 32,988 115,182 -123,855
1964 1,028,272 26,411 120,170 -118,763
1963 995,116 27,115 113,783 -116,874
1962 966,452 27,906 123,217 -113,947
1961 932,111 25,515 117,867 -112,768
1960 901,301 12,131 118,693 -95,886

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

GeoRank.org/population/nigeria/portugal | 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 Portugal 51% is from natural causes (a loss of 302,748 people) and 49% is from migration (a gain of 290,554 people).

As of 2024, 1,403,281 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Nigeria, compared to 1,127,184 people or 10.8% in Portugal.

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
Portugal
City Population
Lisbon 546K
Sintra 386K
Vila Nova de Gaia 304K
Porto 232K
Cascais 214K
Loures 202K
Braga 193K
Almada 177K
Matosinhos 173K
Oeiras 172K

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/portugal | 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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