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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Nigeria was 232,679,478 in 2024 vs 14,256,567 people in Rwanda in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nigeria's population is 243,824,469 people compared to 14,975,051 in Rwanda.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 16.3 times bigger than Rwanda's.
  • Nigeria is ranked the 6th most populous country in the world, while Rwanda is the 77th.
  • The countries together account for 3.12% of the world: 2.94% for Nigeria vs 0.18% for Rwanda.
  • For the last 10 years, Nigeria has had an average growth rate of +2.31% per year vs +2.31% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nigeria has increased from 149M people to 244M (63.6% growth), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15M (61% growth).

Nigeria vs Rwanda: population by year and forecast

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nigeria Rwanda
2100 481,678,166 33,092,520
2099 481,494,914 32,987,847
2098 481,219,866 32,907,335
2097 480,876,108 32,832,706
2096 480,460,381 32,747,490
2095 479,976,454 32,615,044
2094 479,432,855 32,529,590
2093 478,807,152 32,396,544
2092 478,097,591 32,274,083
2091 477,274,569 32,171,077
2090 476,367,086 32,068,626
2089 475,363,859 31,872,593
2088 474,268,867 31,726,882
2087 473,072,894 31,533,364
2086 471,769,229 31,379,315
2085 470,365,292 31,235,000
2084 468,843,169 31,092,940
2083 467,224,322 30,917,707
2082 465,509,151 30,733,578
2081 463,679,779 30,557,819
2080 461,741,930 30,367,298
2079 459,680,797 30,176,627
2078 457,513,367 29,997,866
2077 455,254,796 29,800,561
2076 452,885,729 29,627,021
2075 450,402,898 29,423,503
2074 447,825,224 29,225,643
2073 445,152,156 29,007,777
2072 442,375,349 28,780,763
2071 439,499,004 28,560,382
2070 436,539,777 28,316,533
2069 433,472,204 28,103,541
2068 430,320,190 27,854,906
2067 427,066,199 27,591,747
2066 423,736,078 27,355,659
2065 420,318,527 27,084,704
2064 416,811,285 26,821,315
2063 413,231,409 26,543,184
2062 409,583,480 26,296,132
2061 405,859,509 25,985,356
2060 402,073,494 25,712,904
2059 398,228,736 25,437,446
2058 394,315,883 25,106,242
2057 390,341,867 24,837,928
2056 386,298,064 24,566,784
2055 382,193,151 24,266,669
2054 378,030,342 23,976,914
2053 373,799,276 23,690,426
2052 369,501,634 23,406,346
2051 365,149,555 23,099,207
2050 360,734,783 22,800,250
2049 356,271,401 22,484,698
2048 351,752,501 22,157,938
2047 347,169,674 21,834,786
2046 342,532,578 21,540,566
2045 337,834,528 21,215,262
2044 333,076,416 20,902,695
2043 328,256,555 20,535,605
2042 323,388,886 20,201,608
2041 318,469,120 19,832,577
2040 313,492,800 19,463,015
2039 308,474,350 19,096,860
2038 303,423,786 18,761,626
2037 298,351,344 18,421,864
2036 293,250,795 18,116,691
2035 288,138,368 17,753,910
2034 283,018,151 17,421,234
2033 277,897,810 17,089,349
2032 272,769,123 16,811,505
2031 267,666,779 16,485,559
2030 262,583,487 16,167,916
2029 257,504,936 15,858,862
2028 252,465,743 15,544,959
2027 247,457,208 15,207,733
2026 242,477,499 14,888,776
2025 237,546,527 14,560,205
2024 232,679,478 14,256,567
2023 227,882,945 13,954,471
2022 223,150,896 13,651,030
2021 218,529,286 13,355,260
2020 213,996,181 13,065,837
2019 209,485,641 12,776,103
2018 204,938,755 12,487,996
2017 200,254,579 12,202,060
2016 195,443,700 11,919,183
2015 190,671,878 11,640,022
2014 185,896,915 11,364,757
2013 181,049,443 11,093,340
2012 176,200,625 10,829,901
2011 171,379,598 10,573,733
2010 166,642,886 10,317,553
2009 162,049,464 10,060,432
2008 157,595,014 9,804,269
2007 153,267,261 9,549,933
2006 149,077,334 9,299,246
2005 145,017,253 9,054,528
2004 141,057,045 8,816,844
2003 137,202,644 8,586,875
2002 133,471,989 8,400,180
2001 129,862,595 8,287,094
2000 126,382,494 8,213,931
1999 123,047,320 8,147,912
1998 119,846,254 8,081,681
1997 116,754,792 7,755,238
1996 113,754,779 6,708,764
1995 110,819,428 5,674,118
1994 107,935,714 6,792,352
1993 105,122,069 7,981,132
1992 102,372,770 7,683,266
1991 99,720,162 7,526,966
1990 97,120,925 7,375,307
1989 94,531,014 7,184,706
1988 92,020,090 6,968,071
1987 89,591,716 6,749,493
1986 87,235,953 6,531,881
1985 84,897,973 6,317,228
1984 82,526,443 6,107,627
1983 80,438,260 5,905,311
1982 78,378,701 5,711,549
1981 76,068,103 5,527,230
1980 73,764,641 5,353,259
1979 71,498,242 5,189,541
1978 69,326,532 5,035,171
1977 67,234,590 4,888,240
1976 65,258,009 4,745,954
1975 63,410,815 4,607,728
1974 61,679,144 4,474,228
1973 60,082,139 4,345,047
1972 58,601,748 4,220,335
1971 57,214,684 4,100,044
1970 55,893,838 3,980,669
1969 54,631,914 3,861,271
1968 53,432,783 3,744,010
1967 52,293,065 3,629,577
1966 51,188,234 3,521,626
1965 50,086,764 3,423,210
1964 49,012,016 3,334,834
1963 47,973,575 3,258,890
1962 46,965,292 3,186,025
1961 45,989,310 3,106,779
1960 45,053,782 3,022,294

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/rwanda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Nigeria increased by 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth), while Rwanda gained 2,619,937 people (a 28.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Nigeria gained 48,380,769 people (a 24.8% growth), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,055,868 people (a 25.6% growth).

Nigeria was ranked 7th most populous country in 2006 and is 6th in 2026. Rwanda was ranked 86th in 2006 and ranked 77th 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 Rwanda will increase by 52.3% to 22,800,250 people and rank change from 77th to 72nd.

Nigeria is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 482M people compared to the peak of 33.1M people in 2100 for Rwanda.

Population growth rate by year

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Nigeria Rwanda
2100 0.04% 0.32%
2099 0.06% 0.24%
2098 0.07% 0.23%
2097 0.09% 0.26%
2096 0.1% 0.41%
2095 0.11% 0.26%
2094 0.13% 0.41%
2093 0.15% 0.38%
2092 0.17% 0.32%
2091 0.19% 0.32%
2090 0.21% 0.62%
2089 0.23% 0.46%
2088 0.25% 0.61%
2087 0.28% 0.49%
2086 0.3% 0.46%
2085 0.32% 0.46%
2084 0.35% 0.57%
2083 0.37% 0.6%
2082 0.39% 0.58%
2081 0.42% 0.63%
2080 0.45% 0.63%
2079 0.47% 0.6%
2078 0.5% 0.66%
2077 0.52% 0.59%
2076 0.55% 0.69%
2075 0.58% 0.68%
2074 0.6% 0.75%
2073 0.63% 0.79%
2072 0.65% 0.77%
2071 0.68% 0.86%
2070 0.71% 0.76%
2069 0.73% 0.89%
2068 0.76% 0.95%
2067 0.79% 0.86%
2066 0.81% 1%
2065 0.84% 0.98%
2064 0.87% 1.05%
2063 0.89% 0.94%
2062 0.92% 1.2%
2061 0.94% 1.06%
2060 0.97% 1.08%
2059 0.99% 1.32%
2058 1.02% 1.08%
2057 1.05% 1.1%
2056 1.07% 1.24%
2055 1.1% 1.21%
2054 1.13% 1.21%
2053 1.16% 1.21%
2052 1.19% 1.33%
2051 1.22% 1.31%
2050 1.25% 1.4%
2049 1.28% 1.47%
2048 1.32% 1.48%
2047 1.35% 1.37%
2046 1.39% 1.53%
2045 1.43% 1.5%
2044 1.47% 1.79%
2043 1.51% 1.65%
2042 1.54% 1.86%
2041 1.59% 1.9%
2040 1.63% 1.92%
2039 1.66% 1.79%
2038 1.7% 1.84%
2037 1.74% 1.68%
2036 1.77% 2.04%
2035 1.81% 1.91%
2034 1.84% 1.94%
2033 1.88% 1.65%
2032 1.91% 1.98%
2031 1.94% 1.96%
2030 1.97% 1.95%
2029 2% 2.02%
2028 2.02% 2.22%
2027 2.05% 2.14%
2026 2.08% 2.26%
2025 2.09% 2.13%
2024 2.1% 2.16%
2023 2.12% 2.22%
2022 2.11% 2.21%
2021 2.12% 2.22%
2020 2.15% 2.27%
2019 2.22% 2.31%
2018 2.34% 2.34%
2017 2.46% 2.37%
2016 2.5% 2.4%
2015 2.57% 2.42%
2014 2.68% 2.45%
2013 2.75% 2.43%
2012 2.81% 2.42%
2011 2.84% 2.48%
2010 2.83% 2.56%
2009 2.83% 2.61%
2008 2.82% 2.66%
2007 2.81% 2.7%
2006 2.8% 2.7%
2005 2.81% 2.7%
2004 2.81% 2.68%
2003 2.8% 2.22%
2002 2.78% 1.36%
2001 2.75% 0.89%
2000 2.71% 0.81%
1999 2.67% 0.82%
1998 2.65% 4.21%
1997 2.64% 15.6%
1996 2.65% 18.2%
1995 2.67% -16.5%
1994 2.68% -14.9%
1993 2.69% 3.88%
1992 2.66% 2.08%
1991 2.68% 2.06%
1990 2.74% 2.65%
1989 2.73% 3.11%
1988 2.71% 3.24%
1987 2.7% 3.33%
1986 2.75% 3.4%
1985 2.87% 3.43%
1984 2.6% 3.43%
1983 2.63% 3.39%
1982 3.04% 3.33%
1981 3.12% 3.25%
1980 3.17% 3.15%
1979 3.13% 3.07%
1978 3.11% 3.01%
1977 3.03% 3%
1976 2.91% 3%
1975 2.81% 2.98%
1974 2.66% 2.97%
1973 2.53% 2.96%
1972 2.42% 2.93%
1971 2.36% 3%
1970 2.31% 3.09%
1969 2.24% 3.13%
1968 2.18% 3.15%
1967 2.16% 3.07%
1966 2.2% 2.87%
1965 2.19% 2.65%
1964 2.16% 2.33%
1963 2.15% 2.29%
1962 2.12% 2.55%
1961 2.08% 2.8%

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/rwanda | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Nigeria grew by 2.1%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.16%.

Live population counters

Nigeria Rwanda
Current population
243824469
14975051
Population rank 6/197 77/197
Percent of world population 2.94% 0.18%
One net population change
6.58 seconds
1.74 minutes
One birth every
4.2 seconds
1.33 minutes
One death every
11.8 seconds
6.35 minutes
Daily growth/decline +13,141 +828
Annual growth/decline +4,796,533 +302,096
Annual growth/decline rate +2.1% +2.16%
Population growth rate rank 48/197 45/197
One migration net change every
34.5 minutes
1.4 hours
Annual migration change -15,258 +6,282
Net migration rank 145/196 48/196
Foreign-born residents 1,403,281 513,316
Foreign-born residents rank 49/195 80/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 173/195 109/195

Natural population change vs migration

Nigeria
Natural

Migration
Rwanda
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Nigeria Rwanda
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -15,258 - 6,282
2024 - -35,202 - -15,582
2023 4,834,309 -57,936 312,762 -9,001
2022 4,739,502 -51,680 312,145 -9,001
2021 4,641,562 -86,115 309,895 -21,492
2020 4,525,164 -14,497 312,692 -22,251
2019 4,609,941 -99,722 313,525 -24,492
2018 4,659,898 -76,565 312,512 -25,323
2017 4,706,183 78,685 310,323 -25,634
2016 4,761,594 75,265 305,549 -24,474
2015 4,823,045 -116,162 299,114 -21,862
2014 4,862,319 -19,376 292,779 -19,505
2013 4,811,751 40,201 286,331 -16,779
2012 4,774,508 71,138 282,584 -25,260
2011 4,728,363 67,808 282,922 -27,915
2010 4,629,173 47,966 286,848 -29,501
2009 4,528,149 -18,422 287,034 -30,128
2008 4,412,976 -13,646 287,334 -31,913
2007 4,265,428 -9,162 285,791 -32,537
2006 4,135,703 -12,093 282,149 -34,008
2005 4,013,788 -17,146 275,121 -33,830
2004 3,877,376 46,370 265,273 -31,214
2003 3,751,120 33,857 251,243 -25,355
2002 3,606,814 69,594 239,036 -91,518
2001 3,478,370 64,163 230,845 -152,197
2000 3,343,196 74,535 221,276 -153,588
1999 3,155,425 97,195 210,518 -146,162
1998 3,003,946 145,575 197,185 -129,089
1997 2,936,500 96,885 174,687 410,106
1996 2,882,205 84,448 140,455 1,367,700
1995 2,830,771 73,243 121,137 439,995
1994 2,735,198 128,134 -719,479 -2,078,111
1993 2,673,675 90,200 183,926 236,110
1992 2,596,173 138,412 188,025 -12,334
1991 2,527,807 42,760 196,431 -59,519
1990 2,491,928 135,959 207,895 -41,483
1989 2,452,324 99,588 217,632 -2,826
1988 2,376,419 93,510 223,759 -5,285
1987 2,322,397 64,418 225,744 -7,062
1986 2,295,003 29,682 225,526 -8,982
1985 2,289,784 61,514 223,794 -11,031
1984 2,278,060 113,758 219,337 -12,899
1983 2,292,089 -507,539 212,750 -14,560
1982 2,233,401 101,116 205,147 -15,818
1981 2,179,884 106,723 195,769 -16,453
1980 2,121,618 198,672 184,988 -16,359
1979 2,074,807 137,721 174,477 -15,669
1978 2,019,621 111,258 163,779 -13,838
1977 1,923,917 129,075 155,011 -11,084
1976 1,827,289 72,889 147,665 -7,027
1975 1,718,623 75,603 140,596 -4,791
1974 1,624,813 44,281 135,743 -4,535
1973 1,525,485 -618 131,021 -3,862
1972 1,448,928 -12,962 126,403 -4,156
1971 1,373,896 -35,639 122,567 -4,230
1970 1,295,507 7,953 119,273 1,149
1969 1,213,484 6,912 115,394 2,983
1968 1,168,254 9,615 111,422 4,728
1967 1,082,884 18,683 108,053 4,655
1966 1,095,582 12,513 105,128 -1,930
1965 1,061,840 32,988 103,422 -9,774
1964 1,028,272 26,411 102,562 -19,458
1963 995,116 27,115 94,296 -25,524
1962 966,452 27,906 102,548 -25,594
1961 932,111 25,515 102,051 -20,508
1960 901,301 12,131 100,627 -13,198

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

GeoRank.org/population/nigeria/rwanda | 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 Rwanda 93.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,081,296 people) and 6.18% is from migration (a loss of 203,035 people).

As of 2024, 1,403,281 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Nigeria, compared to 513,316 people or 3.6% in Rwanda.

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
Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K
Byumba 36.4K
Cyangugu 27.4K
Nyanza 25.4K
Butare 19.9K
Kibuye 12.3K

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/rwanda | 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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