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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Nigeria was 237,527,782 in 2025 vs 143,513,328 people in Russia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nigeria's population is 245,016,045 people compared to 142,643,173 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 4.67% of the world: 2.95% for Nigeria vs 1.72% for Russia.
  • For the last 10 years, Nigeria has had an average growth rate of +2.25% per year vs -0.05% in Russia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nigeria has increased from 149M people to 245M (64.4% growth), while Russia has declined from 143M to 143M (0.28% decline).

Nigeria vs Russia: population by year and forecast

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
Russia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nigeria Russia
2100 481,640,156 125,631,984
2099 481,456,918 125,735,285
2098 481,181,892 125,835,990
2097 480,838,161 125,914,480
2096 480,422,467 126,004,709
2095 479,938,579 126,072,890
2094 479,395,022 126,125,529
2093 478,769,369 126,181,074
2092 478,059,864 126,256,091
2091 477,236,907 126,304,823
2090 476,329,495 126,360,262
2089 475,326,347 126,412,664
2088 474,231,442 126,463,022
2087 473,035,563 126,511,263
2086 471,732,001 126,579,534
2085 470,328,175 126,655,806
2084 468,806,172 126,730,694
2083 467,187,453 126,805,713
2082 465,472,417 126,889,471
2081 463,643,190 126,973,300
2080 461,705,493 127,070,546
2079 459,644,523 127,191,346
2078 457,477,264 127,331,975
2077 455,218,871 127,489,152
2076 452,849,991 127,641,749
2075 450,367,356 127,825,235
2074 447,789,885 128,023,096
2073 445,117,028 128,238,922
2072 442,340,440 128,465,870
2071 439,464,323 128,745,681
2070 436,505,329 129,020,076
2069 433,437,998 129,309,803
2068 430,286,232 129,589,275
2067 427,032,499 129,873,991
2066 423,702,640 130,184,092
2065 420,285,359 130,515,828
2064 416,778,394 130,852,649
2063 413,198,800 131,199,458
2062 409,551,159 131,530,725
2061 405,827,482 131,881,030
2060 402,041,765 132,209,377
2059 398,197,311 132,568,882
2058 394,284,767 132,933,515
2057 390,311,065 133,272,997
2056 386,267,580 133,615,325
2055 382,162,992 133,963,055
2054 378,000,511 134,288,366
2053 373,769,779 134,609,198
2052 369,472,476 134,876,558
2051 365,120,741 135,141,211
2050 360,706,317 135,386,454
2049 356,243,287 135,609,441
2048 351,724,743 135,818,840
2047 347,142,279 136,013,698
2046 342,505,549 136,185,098
2045 337,807,869 136,368,416
2044 333,050,132 136,568,234
2043 328,230,652 136,791,498
2042 323,363,366 137,015,033
2041 318,443,989 137,266,491
2040 313,468,061 137,531,851
2039 308,450,008 137,833,822
2038 303,399,842 138,146,863
2037 298,327,800 138,485,780
2036 293,227,654 138,835,731
2035 288,115,630 139,197,452
2034 282,995,818 139,573,272
2033 277,875,880 139,960,175
2032 272,747,599 140,359,785
2031 267,645,657 140,785,026
2030 262,562,767 141,182,418
2029 257,484,616 141,571,268
2028 252,445,821 141,946,979
2027 247,437,680 142,315,155
2026 242,458,365 142,643,173
2025 237,527,782 143,513,328
2024 232,679,478 143,669,648
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 49,572,345 people (a 25.4% growth), while Russia's population decreased by 2,372,287 people (a 1.64% 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 47.2% to 360,706,317 people with a rank change from 6th to 5th. The population of Russia will decrease by 5.09% to 135,386,454 people and rank change from 9th to 13th.

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 126M 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 2.08% -0.11%
2024 2.1% -0.11%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/nigeria/russia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Nigeria grew by 2.08%, while Russia's population declined by 0.11%.

Live population counters

Nigeria Russia
Current population
245016045
142643173
Population rank 6/197 9/197
Percent of world population 2.95% 1.72%
One net population change
6.52 seconds
3.37 minutes
One birth every
4.17 seconds
26.1 seconds
One death every
11.6 seconds
17.7 seconds
Daily growth/decline +13,283 -428
Annual growth/decline +4,848,304 -156,320
Annual growth/decline rate +2.08% -0.11%
Population growth rate rank 45/197 166/197
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 4,851,833 -35,202 -574,678 -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 2026-07-08).

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 47,153,031 people) and 0.81% is from migration (a loss of 383,929 people). In Russia 55.9% is from natural causes (a loss of 4,019,903 people) and 44.1% is from migration (a gain of 3,169,086 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 2.56M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M
Owerri 908K
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 (1960–2025, 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/russia | 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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