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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Nigeria was 237,527,782 in 2025 vs 19,020,271 people in Romania in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nigeria's population is 245,016,045 people compared to 18,912,567 in Romania.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 13 times bigger than Romania's.
  • Nigeria is ranked the 6th most populous country in the world, while Romania is the 70th.
  • The countries together account for 3.18% of the world: 2.95% for Nigeria vs 0.23% for Romania.
  • For the last 10 years, Nigeria has had an average growth rate of +2.25% per year vs -0.41% in Romania.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nigeria has increased from 149M people to 245M (64.4% growth), while Romania has declined from 21.2M to 18.9M (10.8% decline).

Nigeria vs Romania: population by year and forecast

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
Romania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nigeria Romania
2100 481,640,156 10,843,503
2099 481,456,918 10,927,951
2098 481,181,892 11,011,822
2097 480,838,161 11,095,182
2096 480,422,467 11,178,195
2095 479,938,579 11,261,202
2094 479,395,022 11,343,358
2093 478,769,369 11,426,736
2092 478,059,864 11,509,522
2091 477,236,907 11,591,897
2090 476,329,495 11,675,686
2089 475,326,347 11,759,143
2088 474,231,442 11,842,733
2087 473,035,563 11,926,699
2086 471,732,001 12,013,212
2085 470,328,175 12,099,742
2084 468,806,172 12,187,794
2083 467,187,453 12,277,402
2082 465,472,417 12,367,518
2081 463,643,190 12,460,785
2080 461,705,493 12,556,104
2079 459,644,523 12,652,446
2078 457,477,264 12,750,395
2077 455,218,871 12,849,896
2076 452,849,991 12,950,914
2075 450,367,356 13,053,551
2074 447,789,885 13,158,624
2073 445,117,028 13,264,931
2072 442,340,440 13,375,162
2071 439,464,323 13,488,051
2070 436,505,329 13,603,287
2069 433,437,998 13,721,187
2068 430,286,232 13,840,530
2067 427,032,499 13,963,377
2066 423,702,640 14,088,938
2065 420,285,359 14,218,608
2064 416,778,394 14,349,029
2063 413,198,800 14,480,312
2062 409,551,159 14,613,788
2061 405,827,482 14,747,178
2060 402,041,765 14,879,235
2059 398,197,311 15,011,161
2058 394,284,767 15,141,670
2057 390,311,065 15,271,230
2056 386,267,580 15,400,030
2055 382,162,992 15,527,331
2054 378,000,511 15,651,338
2053 373,769,779 15,773,422
2052 369,472,476 15,896,118
2051 365,120,741 16,016,719
2050 360,706,317 16,135,745
2049 356,243,287 16,255,638
2048 351,724,743 16,375,139
2047 347,142,279 16,494,633
2046 342,505,549 16,612,186
2045 337,807,869 16,730,009
2044 333,050,132 16,848,827
2043 328,230,652 16,966,857
2042 323,363,366 17,084,359
2041 318,443,989 17,203,640
2040 313,468,061 17,320,952
2039 308,450,008 17,438,042
2038 303,399,842 17,556,386
2037 298,327,800 17,673,500
2036 293,227,654 17,790,613
2035 288,115,630 17,906,949
2034 282,995,818 18,020,973
2033 277,875,880 18,134,889
2032 272,747,599 18,247,275
2031 267,645,657 18,359,750
2030 262,562,767 18,471,446
2029 257,484,616 18,583,513
2028 252,445,821 18,693,807
2027 247,437,680 18,803,518
2026 242,458,365 18,912,567
2025 237,527,782 19,020,271
2024 232,679,478 19,051,804
2023 227,882,945 19,061,062
2022 223,150,896 19,048,502
2021 218,529,286 19,122,059
2020 213,996,181 19,265,250
2019 209,485,641 19,371,648
2018 204,938,755 19,473,970
2017 200,254,579 19,588,715
2016 195,443,700 19,702,267
2015 190,671,878 19,815,616
2014 185,896,915 19,908,979
2013 181,049,443 19,983,693
2012 176,200,625 20,058,035
2011 171,379,598 20,147,528
2010 166,642,886 20,246,871
2009 162,049,464 20,367,487
2008 157,595,014 20,537,875
2007 153,267,261 20,882,982
2006 149,077,334 21,193,760
2005 145,017,253 21,319,685
2004 141,057,045 21,451,748
2003 137,202,644 21,574,326
2002 133,471,989 21,730,496
2001 129,862,595 22,131,970
2000 126,382,494 22,442,971
1999 123,047,320 22,472,040
1998 119,846,254 22,507,344
1997 116,754,792 22,553,978
1996 113,754,779 22,619,004
1995 110,819,428 22,684,270
1994 107,935,714 22,730,211
1993 105,122,069 22,763,280
1992 102,372,770 22,794,284
1991 99,720,162 23,001,155
1990 97,120,925 23,201,835
1989 94,531,014 23,161,458
1988 92,020,090 23,057,662
1987 89,591,716 22,949,430
1986 87,235,953 22,836,841
1985 84,897,973 22,732,999
1984 82,526,443 22,640,547
1983 80,438,260 22,560,478
1982 78,378,701 22,475,741
1981 76,068,103 22,353,070
1980 73,764,641 22,207,282
1979 71,498,242 22,090,488
1978 69,326,532 21,951,464
1977 67,234,590 21,756,096
1976 65,258,009 21,551,634
1975 63,410,815 21,293,583
1974 61,679,144 21,029,429
1973 60,082,139 20,835,681
1972 58,601,748 20,657,957
1971 57,214,684 20,461,567
1970 55,893,838 20,250,398
1969 54,631,914 20,009,141
1968 53,432,783 19,799,831
1967 52,293,065 19,534,242
1966 51,188,234 19,215,450
1965 50,086,764 19,031,576
1964 49,012,016 18,919,126
1963 47,973,575 18,797,850
1962 46,965,292 18,676,550
1961 45,989,310 18,555,250
1960 45,053,782 18,406,905

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/romania | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Nigeria increased by 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth), while Romania lost 1,491,493 people (a 7.04% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Nigeria gained 49,572,345 people (a 25.4% growth), while Romania's population decreased by 789,700 people (a 4.01% decline).

Nigeria was ranked 7th most populous country in 2006 and is 6th in 2026. Romania was ranked 51st in 2006 and ranked 70th 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 Romania will decrease by 14.7% to 16,135,745 people and rank change from 70th to 81st.

Nigeria is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 482M people, while Romania's population already peaked in 1990 at 23.2M people and is projected to decrease to 10.8M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
Romania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Nigeria Romania
2100 0.04% -0.77%
2099 0.06% -0.76%
2098 0.07% -0.75%
2097 0.09% -0.74%
2096 0.1% -0.74%
2095 0.11% -0.72%
2094 0.13% -0.73%
2093 0.15% -0.72%
2092 0.17% -0.71%
2091 0.19% -0.72%
2090 0.21% -0.71%
2089 0.23% -0.71%
2088 0.25% -0.7%
2087 0.28% -0.72%
2086 0.3% -0.72%
2085 0.32% -0.72%
2084 0.35% -0.73%
2083 0.37% -0.73%
2082 0.39% -0.75%
2081 0.42% -0.76%
2080 0.45% -0.76%
2079 0.47% -0.77%
2078 0.5% -0.77%
2077 0.52% -0.78%
2076 0.55% -0.79%
2075 0.58% -0.8%
2074 0.6% -0.8%
2073 0.63% -0.82%
2072 0.65% -0.84%
2071 0.68% -0.85%
2070 0.71% -0.86%
2069 0.73% -0.86%
2068 0.76% -0.88%
2067 0.79% -0.89%
2066 0.81% -0.91%
2065 0.84% -0.91%
2064 0.87% -0.91%
2063 0.89% -0.91%
2062 0.92% -0.9%
2061 0.94% -0.89%
2060 0.97% -0.88%
2059 0.99% -0.86%
2058 1.02% -0.85%
2057 1.05% -0.84%
2056 1.07% -0.82%
2055 1.1% -0.79%
2054 1.13% -0.77%
2053 1.16% -0.77%
2052 1.19% -0.75%
2051 1.22% -0.74%
2050 1.25% -0.74%
2049 1.28% -0.73%
2048 1.32% -0.72%
2047 1.35% -0.71%
2046 1.39% -0.7%
2045 1.43% -0.71%
2044 1.47% -0.7%
2043 1.51% -0.69%
2042 1.54% -0.69%
2041 1.59% -0.68%
2040 1.63% -0.67%
2039 1.66% -0.67%
2038 1.7% -0.66%
2037 1.74% -0.66%
2036 1.77% -0.65%
2035 1.81% -0.63%
2034 1.84% -0.63%
2033 1.88% -0.62%
2032 1.91% -0.61%
2031 1.94% -0.6%
2030 1.97% -0.6%
2029 2% -0.59%
2028 2.02% -0.58%
2027 2.05% -0.58%
2026 2.08% -0.57%
2025 2.08% -0.17%
2024 2.1% -0.05%
2023 2.12% 0.07%
2022 2.11% -0.38%
2021 2.12% -0.74%
2020 2.15% -0.55%
2019 2.22% -0.53%
2018 2.34% -0.59%
2017 2.46% -0.58%
2016 2.5% -0.57%
2015 2.57% -0.47%
2014 2.68% -0.37%
2013 2.75% -0.37%
2012 2.81% -0.44%
2011 2.84% -0.49%
2010 2.83% -0.59%
2009 2.83% -0.83%
2008 2.82% -1.65%
2007 2.81% -1.47%
2006 2.8% -0.59%
2005 2.81% -0.62%
2004 2.81% -0.57%
2003 2.8% -0.72%
2002 2.78% -1.81%
2001 2.75% -1.39%
2000 2.71% -0.13%
1999 2.67% -0.16%
1998 2.65% -0.21%
1997 2.64% -0.29%
1996 2.65% -0.29%
1995 2.67% -0.2%
1994 2.68% -0.15%
1993 2.69% -0.14%
1992 2.66% -0.9%
1991 2.68% -0.86%
1990 2.74% 0.17%
1989 2.73% 0.45%
1988 2.71% 0.47%
1987 2.7% 0.49%
1986 2.75% 0.46%
1985 2.87% 0.41%
1984 2.6% 0.35%
1983 2.63% 0.38%
1982 3.04% 0.55%
1981 3.12% 0.66%
1980 3.17% 0.53%
1979 3.13% 0.63%
1978 3.11% 0.9%
1977 3.03% 0.95%
1976 2.91% 1.21%
1975 2.81% 1.26%
1974 2.66% 0.93%
1973 2.53% 0.86%
1972 2.42% 0.96%
1971 2.36% 1.04%
1970 2.31% 1.21%
1969 2.24% 1.06%
1968 2.18% 1.36%
1967 2.16% 1.66%
1966 2.2% 0.97%
1965 2.19% 0.59%
1964 2.16% 0.65%
1963 2.15% 0.65%
1962 2.12% 0.65%
1961 2.08% 0.81%

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/romania | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Nigeria grew by 2.08%, while Romania's population declined by 0.17%.

Live population counters

Nigeria Romania
Current population
245016045
18912567
Population rank 6/197 70/197
Percent of world population 2.95% 0.23%
One net population change
6.52 seconds
16.7 minutes
One birth every
4.17 seconds
3.68 minutes
One death every
11.6 seconds
2.16 minutes
Daily growth/decline +13,283 -86
Annual growth/decline +4,848,304 -31,533
Annual growth/decline rate +2.08% -0.17%
Population growth rate rank 45/197 172/197
One migration net change every
34.5 minutes
18.1 minutes
Annual migration change -15,258 -29,041
Net migration rank 145/196 163/196
Foreign-born residents 1,403,281 655,579
Foreign-born residents rank 49/195 73/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 3.4%
Foreign-born share rank 173/195 112/195

Natural population change vs migration

Nigeria
Natural

Migration
Romania
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Nigeria Romania
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -15,258 - -29,041
2024 4,851,833 -35,202 -100,975 -28,466
2023 4,834,309 -57,936 -83,869 -27,780
2022 4,739,502 -51,680 -93,338 89,076
2021 4,641,562 -86,115 -141,504 -17,731
2020 4,525,164 -14,497 -100,179 -13,202
2019 4,609,941 -99,722 -60,053 -27,909
2018 4,659,898 -76,565 -62,316 -33,018
2017 4,706,183 78,685 -50,930 -33,081
2016 4,761,594 75,265 -53,196 -33,073
2015 4,823,045 -116,162 -59,447 -35,751
2014 4,862,319 -19,376 -55,745 -35,448
2013 4,811,751 40,201 -59,951 -34,910
2012 4,774,508 71,138 -54,157 -37,589
2011 4,728,363 67,808 -56,413 -102,769
2010 4,629,173 47,966 -46,567 -122,364
2009 4,528,149 -18,422 -34,625 -137,953
2008 4,412,976 -13,646 -30,806 -144,368
2007 4,265,428 -9,162 -37,590 -133,089
2006 4,135,703 -12,093 -38,148 -132,777
2005 4,013,788 -17,146 -40,508 -131,176
2004 3,877,376 46,370 -42,904 -117,432
2003 3,751,120 33,857 -56,093 -107,139
2002 3,606,814 69,594 -58,673 -106,585
2001 3,478,370 64,163 -37,625 -91,154
2000 3,343,196 74,535 -22,443 -92,451
1999 3,155,425 97,195 -31,461 -82,590
1998 3,003,946 145,575 -33,761 -81,366
1997 2,936,500 96,885 -42,853 -88,734
1996 2,882,205 84,448 -56,548 -70,799
1995 2,830,771 73,243 -36,295 -73,779
1994 2,735,198 128,134 -18,184 -76,246
1993 2,673,675 90,200 -13,658 -73,475
1992 2,596,173 138,412 -4,559 -63,200
1991 2,527,807 42,760 25,301 -36,824
1990 2,491,928 135,959 69,605 -38,157
1989 2,452,324 99,588 122,756 -33,866
1988 2,376,419 93,510 126,817 -48,911
1987 2,322,397 64,418 128,517 -42,868
1986 2,295,003 29,682 134,737 -50,450
1985 2,289,784 61,514 111,392 -28,108
1984 2,278,060 113,758 117,731 -24,629
1983 2,292,089 -507,539 87,986 3,093
1982 2,233,401 101,116 119,121 -4,725
1981 2,179,884 106,723 156,472 -20,870
1980 2,121,618 198,672 168,776 -16,668
1979 2,074,807 137,721 194,397 -29,600
1978 2,019,621 111,258 204,148 -31,427
1977 1,923,917 129,075 215,385 -28,135
1976 1,827,289 72,889 213,361 18,748
1975 1,718,623 75,603 219,324 9,125
1974 1,624,813 44,281 235,530 6,725
1973 1,525,485 -618 175,020 58,651
1972 1,448,928 -12,962 198,316 61,920
1971 1,373,896 -35,639 206,662 74,473
1970 1,295,507 7,953 234,905 71,919
1969 1,213,484 6,912 264,120 74,851
1968 1,168,254 9,615 338,577 33,601
1967 1,082,884 18,683 347,709 37,282
1966 1,095,582 12,513 115,293 -25,458
1965 1,061,840 32,988 114,190 -60,430
1964 1,028,272 26,411 134,326 -59,500
1963 995,116 27,115 139,104 -58,076
1962 966,452 27,906 130,736 -56,152
1961 932,111 25,515 163,286 -54,642
1960 901,301 12,131 191,431 -55,397

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

GeoRank.org/population/nigeria/romania | 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 Romania 83.4% is from natural causes (a loss of 805,807 people) and 16.6% is from migration (a loss of 160,935 people).

As of 2024, 1,403,281 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Nigeria, compared to 655,579 people or 3.4% in Romania.

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
Romania
City Population
Bucharest 1.72M
Cluj-Napoca 287K
Iasi 272K
Constanta 264K
Timisoara 251K
Brasov 238K
Craiova 234K
Galati 218K
Oradea 183K
Ploiesti 181K

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/romania | 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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