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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Nigeria was 232,679,478 in 2024 vs 143,533,851 people in Russia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nigeria's population is 243,824,469 people compared to 141,906,741 in Russia.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 1.72 times bigger than Russia's.
  • Nigeria is ranked the 6th most populous country in the world, while Russia is the 9th.
  • The countries together account for 4.65% of the world: 2.94% for Nigeria vs 1.71% for Russia.
  • For the last 10 years, Nigeria has had an average growth rate of +2.31% per year vs -0.02% in Russia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nigeria has increased from 149M people to 244M (63.6% growth), while Russia has declined from 143M to 142M (0.8% decline).

Nigeria vs Russia: population by year and forecast

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
Russia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nigeria Russia
2100 481,678,166 124,983,377
2099 481,494,914 125,086,144
2098 481,219,866 125,186,329
2097 480,876,108 125,264,415
2096 480,460,381 125,354,177
2095 479,976,454 125,422,006
2094 479,432,855 125,474,373
2093 478,807,152 125,529,632
2092 478,097,591 125,604,261
2091 477,274,569 125,652,742
2090 476,367,086 125,707,894
2089 475,363,859 125,760,026
2088 474,268,867 125,810,124
2087 473,072,894 125,858,116
2086 471,769,229 125,926,035
2085 470,365,292 126,001,913
2084 468,843,169 126,076,414
2083 467,224,322 126,151,046
2082 465,509,151 126,234,371
2081 463,679,779 126,317,768
2080 461,741,930 126,414,511
2079 459,680,797 126,534,688
2078 457,513,367 126,674,591
2077 455,254,796 126,830,956
2076 452,885,729 126,982,766
2075 450,402,898 127,165,304
2074 447,825,224 127,362,143
2073 445,152,156 127,576,856
2072 442,375,349 127,802,632
2071 439,499,004 128,080,998
2070 436,539,777 128,353,977
2069 433,472,204 128,642,208
2068 430,320,190 128,920,237
2067 427,066,199 129,203,483
2066 423,736,078 129,511,983
2065 420,318,527 129,842,007
2064 416,811,285 130,177,089
2063 413,231,409 130,522,107
2062 409,583,480 130,851,664
2061 405,859,509 131,200,160
2060 402,073,494 131,526,812
2059 398,228,736 131,884,461
2058 394,315,883 132,247,211
2057 390,341,867 132,584,941
2056 386,298,064 132,925,501
2055 382,193,151 133,271,436
2054 378,030,342 133,595,068
2053 373,799,276 133,914,243
2052 369,501,634 134,180,223
2051 365,149,555 134,443,510
2050 360,734,783 134,687,487
2049 356,271,401 134,909,323
2048 351,752,501 135,117,641
2047 347,169,674 135,311,492
2046 342,532,578 135,482,008
2045 337,834,528 135,664,379
2044 333,076,416 135,863,165
2043 328,256,555 136,085,277
2042 323,388,886 136,307,658
2041 318,469,120 136,557,818
2040 313,492,800 136,821,807
2039 308,474,350 137,122,219
2038 303,423,786 137,433,644
2037 298,351,344 137,770,811
2036 293,250,795 138,118,955
2035 288,138,368 138,478,809
2034 283,018,151 138,852,689
2033 277,897,810 139,237,595
2032 272,769,123 139,635,142
2031 267,666,779 140,058,187
2030 262,583,487 140,453,528
2029 257,504,936 140,840,370
2028 252,465,743 141,214,141
2027 247,457,208 141,580,416
2026 242,477,499 141,906,741
2025 237,546,527 142,772,403
2024 232,679,478 143,533,851
2023 227,882,945 143,826,130
2022 223,150,896 144,236,933
2021 218,529,286 144,746,762
2020 213,996,181 145,245,148
2019 209,485,641 145,453,291
2018 204,938,755 145,398,106
2017 200,254,579 145,293,260
2016 195,443,700 145,015,460
2015 190,671,878 144,640,716
2014 185,896,915 144,237,223
2013 181,049,443 143,805,638
2012 176,200,625 143,378,447
2011 171,379,598 143,018,195
2010 166,642,886 142,849,468
2009 162,049,464 142,785,348
2008 157,595,014 142,742,366
2007 153,267,261 142,805,114
2006 149,077,334 143,049,637
2005 145,017,253 143,518,814
2004 141,057,045 144,067,316
2003 137,202,644 144,648,618
2002 133,471,989 145,306,497
2001 129,862,595 145,976,482
2000 126,382,494 146,596,869
1999 123,047,320 147,214,776
1998 119,846,254 147,670,784
1997 116,754,792 147,915,361
1996 113,754,779 148,160,129
1995 110,819,428 148,375,787
1994 107,935,714 148,407,912
1993 105,122,069 148,458,777
1992 102,372,770 148,538,197
1991 99,720,162 148,394,216
1990 97,120,925 147,969,406
1989 94,531,014 147,721,000
1988 92,020,090 146,857,000
1987 89,591,716 145,908,000
1986 87,235,953 144,894,000
1985 84,897,973 143,858,000
1984 82,526,443 142,745,000
1983 80,438,260 141,668,000
1982 78,378,701 140,823,000
1981 76,068,103 139,941,000
1980 73,764,641 139,010,000
1979 71,498,242 138,027,000
1978 69,326,532 137,060,000
1977 67,234,590 136,100,000
1976 65,258,009 135,147,000
1975 63,410,815 134,200,000
1974 61,679,144 133,432,000
1973 60,082,139 132,669,000
1972 58,601,748 131,909,000
1971 57,214,684 131,155,000
1970 55,893,838 130,404,000
1969 54,631,914 129,664,000
1968 53,432,783 128,928,000
1967 52,293,065 128,196,000
1966 51,188,234 127,468,000
1965 50,086,764 126,745,000
1964 49,012,016 125,345,000
1963 47,973,575 123,960,000
1962 46,965,292 122,591,000
1961 45,989,310 121,236,000
1960 45,053,782 119,897,000

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/russia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Nigeria increased by 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth), while Russia gained 1,965,823 people (a 1.37% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Nigeria gained 48,380,769 people (a 24.8% growth), while Russia's population decreased by 3,108,719 people (a 2.14% decline).

Nigeria was ranked 7th most populous country in 2006 and is 6th in 2026. Russia was ranked 9th in 2006 and still ranked 9th 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 Russia will decrease by 5.09% to 134,687,487 people and rank change from 9th to 14th.

Nigeria is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 482M people, while Russia's population already peaked in 1992 at 149M people and is projected to decrease to 125M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
Russia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Nigeria Russia
2100 0.04% -0.08%
2099 0.06% -0.08%
2098 0.07% -0.06%
2097 0.09% -0.07%
2096 0.1% -0.05%
2095 0.11% -0.04%
2094 0.13% -0.04%
2093 0.15% -0.06%
2092 0.17% -0.04%
2091 0.19% -0.04%
2090 0.21% -0.04%
2089 0.23% -0.04%
2088 0.25% -0.04%
2087 0.28% -0.05%
2086 0.3% -0.06%
2085 0.32% -0.06%
2084 0.35% -0.06%
2083 0.37% -0.07%
2082 0.39% -0.07%
2081 0.42% -0.08%
2080 0.45% -0.09%
2079 0.47% -0.11%
2078 0.5% -0.12%
2077 0.52% -0.12%
2076 0.55% -0.14%
2075 0.58% -0.15%
2074 0.6% -0.17%
2073 0.63% -0.18%
2072 0.65% -0.22%
2071 0.68% -0.21%
2070 0.71% -0.22%
2069 0.73% -0.22%
2068 0.76% -0.22%
2067 0.79% -0.24%
2066 0.81% -0.25%
2065 0.84% -0.26%
2064 0.87% -0.26%
2063 0.89% -0.25%
2062 0.92% -0.27%
2061 0.94% -0.25%
2060 0.97% -0.27%
2059 0.99% -0.27%
2058 1.02% -0.25%
2057 1.05% -0.26%
2056 1.07% -0.26%
2055 1.1% -0.24%
2054 1.13% -0.24%
2053 1.16% -0.2%
2052 1.19% -0.2%
2051 1.22% -0.18%
2050 1.25% -0.16%
2049 1.28% -0.15%
2048 1.32% -0.14%
2047 1.35% -0.13%
2046 1.39% -0.13%
2045 1.43% -0.15%
2044 1.47% -0.16%
2043 1.51% -0.16%
2042 1.54% -0.18%
2041 1.59% -0.19%
2040 1.63% -0.22%
2039 1.66% -0.23%
2038 1.7% -0.24%
2037 1.74% -0.25%
2036 1.77% -0.26%
2035 1.81% -0.27%
2034 1.84% -0.28%
2033 1.88% -0.28%
2032 1.91% -0.3%
2031 1.94% -0.28%
2030 1.97% -0.27%
2029 2% -0.26%
2028 2.02% -0.26%
2027 2.05% -0.23%
2026 2.08% -0.61%
2025 2.09% -0.53%
2024 2.1% -0.2%
2023 2.12% -0.28%
2022 2.11% -0.35%
2021 2.12% -0.34%
2020 2.15% -0.14%
2019 2.22% 0.04%
2018 2.34% 0.07%
2017 2.46% 0.19%
2016 2.5% 0.26%
2015 2.57% 0.28%
2014 2.68% 0.3%
2013 2.75% 0.3%
2012 2.81% 0.25%
2011 2.84% 0.12%
2010 2.83% 0.04%
2009 2.83% 0.03%
2008 2.82% -0.04%
2007 2.81% -0.17%
2006 2.8% -0.33%
2005 2.81% -0.38%
2004 2.81% -0.4%
2003 2.8% -0.45%
2002 2.78% -0.46%
2001 2.75% -0.42%
2000 2.71% -0.42%
1999 2.67% -0.31%
1998 2.65% -0.17%
1997 2.64% -0.17%
1996 2.65% -0.15%
1995 2.67% -0.02%
1994 2.68% -0.03%
1993 2.69% -0.05%
1992 2.66% 0.1%
1991 2.68% 0.29%
1990 2.74% 0.17%
1989 2.73% 0.59%
1988 2.71% 0.65%
1987 2.7% 0.7%
1986 2.75% 0.72%
1985 2.87% 0.78%
1984 2.6% 0.76%
1983 2.63% 0.6%
1982 3.04% 0.63%
1981 3.12% 0.67%
1980 3.17% 0.71%
1979 3.13% 0.71%
1978 3.11% 0.71%
1977 3.03% 0.71%
1976 2.91% 0.71%
1975 2.81% 0.58%
1974 2.66% 0.58%
1973 2.53% 0.58%
1972 2.42% 0.57%
1971 2.36% 0.58%
1970 2.31% 0.57%
1969 2.24% 0.57%
1968 2.18% 0.57%
1967 2.16% 0.57%
1966 2.2% 0.57%
1965 2.19% 1.12%
1964 2.16% 1.12%
1963 2.15% 1.12%
1962 2.12% 1.12%
1961 2.08% 1.12%

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/russia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Nigeria grew by 2.1%, while Russia's population declined by 0.2%.

Live population counters

Nigeria Russia
Current population
243824469
141906741
Population rank 6/197 9/197
Percent of world population 2.94% 1.71%
One net population change
6.58 seconds
1.8 minutes
One birth every
4.2 seconds
25.5 seconds
One death every
11.8 seconds
18.1 seconds
Daily growth/decline +13,141 -801
Annual growth/decline +4,796,533 -292,279
Annual growth/decline rate +2.1% -0.2%
Population growth rate rank 48/197 177/197
One migration net change every
34.5 minutes
2.09 minutes
Annual migration change -15,258 -251,822
Net migration rank 145/196 187/196
Foreign-born residents 1,403,281 7,605,774
Foreign-born residents rank 49/195 10/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 5.3%
Foreign-born share rank 173/195 91/195

Natural population change vs migration

Nigeria
Natural

Migration
Russia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Nigeria Russia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -15,258 - -251,822
2024 - -35,202 - -178,042
2023 4,834,309 -57,936 -503,392 27,807
2022 4,739,502 -51,680 -576,948 765,629
2021 4,641,562 -86,115 -1,027,702 314,112
2020 4,525,164 -14,497 -697,177 334,094
2019 4,609,941 -99,722 -319,997 336,494
2018 4,659,898 -76,565 -232,637 339,972
2017 4,706,183 78,685 -130,764 396,619
2016 4,761,594 75,265 0 447,645
2015 4,823,045 -116,162 43,392 384,756
2014 4,862,319 -19,376 28,848 264,698
2013 4,811,751 40,201 28,761 289,872
2012 4,774,508 71,138 0 285,977
2011 4,728,363 67,808 -128,716 309,377
2010 4,629,173 47,966 -242,844 307,555
2009 4,528,149 -18,422 -257,014 350,206
2008 4,412,976 -13,646 -356,856 360,840
2007 4,265,428 -9,162 -471,257 365,717
2006 4,135,703 -12,093 -686,638 308,370
2005 4,013,788 -17,146 -846,761 263,541
2004 3,877,376 46,370 -792,370 261,519
2003 3,751,120 33,857 -896,822 256,804
2002 3,606,814 69,594 -944,492 1,358,944
2001 3,478,370 64,163 -963,445 259,614
2000 3,343,196 74,535 -967,540 550,401
1999 3,155,425 97,195 -927,453 375,468
1998 3,003,946 145,575 -694,053 528,135
1997 2,936,500 96,885 -769,159 541,387
1996 2,882,205 84,448 -785,248 587,171
1995 2,830,771 73,243 -845,742 723,875
1994 2,735,198 128,134 -920,129 1,271,417
1993 2,673,675 90,200 -757,140 507,229
1992 2,596,173 138,412 -222,808 -1,129,589
1991 2,527,807 42,760 103,876 125,505
1990 2,491,928 135,959 325,533 299,863
1989 2,452,324 99,588 576,112 89,400
1988 2,376,419 93,510 778,343 269,862
1987 2,322,397 64,418 977,583 275,611
1986 2,295,003 29,682 985,279 283,553
1985 2,289,784 61,514 762,447 280,614
1984 2,278,060 113,758 756,548 247,026
1983 2,292,089 -507,539 906,676 200,159
1982 2,233,401 101,116 830,855 107,520
1981 2,179,884 106,723 713,700 36,686
1980 2,121,618 198,672 681,149 10,440
1979 2,074,807 137,721 690,135 -5,791
1978 2,019,621 111,258 812,766 108,882
1977 1,923,917 129,075 832,932 122,316
1976 1,827,289 72,889 852,237 113,851
1975 1,718,623 75,603 843,850 80,069
1974 1,624,813 44,281 883,186 -51,759
1973 1,525,485 -618 846,561 -107,568
1972 1,448,928 -12,962 872,050 -111,168
1971 1,373,896 -35,639 854,999 -134,968
1970 1,295,507 7,953 785,554 -264,464
1969 1,213,484 6,912 753,088 -64,643
1968 1,168,254 9,615 787,621 -83,221
1967 1,082,884 18,683 854,554 -116,029
1966 1,095,582 12,513 989,279 -111,360
1965 1,061,840 32,988 1,059,335 -138,078
1964 1,028,272 26,411 1,233,520 -148,595
1963 995,116 27,115 1,436,077 -168,649
1962 966,452 27,906 1,573,701 -177,358
1961 932,111 25,515 1,810,538 -204,349
1960 901,301 12,131 1,962,834 -234,895

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

GeoRank.org/population/nigeria/russia | 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 Russia 48.6% is from natural causes (a loss of 3,416,377 people) and 51.4% is from migration (a gain of 3,611,826 people).

As of 2024, 1,403,281 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Nigeria, compared to 7,605,774 people or 5.3% in Russia.

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
Russia
City Population
Moscow 13.3M
Saint Petersburg 5.65M
Novosibirsk 1.64M
Yekaterinburg 1.47M
Kazan 1.33M
Nizhny Novgorod 1.2M
Chelyabinsk 1.18M
Krasnodar 1.15M
Samara 1.15M
Ufa 1.14M

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/russia | 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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