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Population in Nigeria compared to Saudi Arabia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Nigeria was 232,679,478 in 2024 vs 35,300,280 people in Saudi Arabia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nigeria's population is 243,824,469 people compared to 36,734,925 in Saudi Arabia.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 6.64 times bigger than Saudi Arabia's.
  • Nigeria is ranked the 6th most populous country in the world, while Saudi Arabia is the 44th.
  • The countries together account for 3.39% of the world: 2.94% for Nigeria vs 0.44% for Saudi Arabia.
  • For the last 10 years, Nigeria has had an average growth rate of +2.31% per year vs +2.3% in Saudi Arabia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nigeria has increased from 149M people to 244M (63.6% growth), while Saudi Arabia has grown from 21.5M to 36.7M (71.2% growth).

Nigeria vs Saudi Arabia: population by year and forecast

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nigeria Saudi Arabia
2100 481,678,166 74,230,118
2099 481,494,914 73,760,045
2098 481,219,866 73,287,526
2097 480,876,108 72,813,125
2096 480,460,381 72,336,039
2095 479,976,454 71,858,206
2094 479,432,855 71,379,928
2093 478,807,152 70,900,460
2092 478,097,591 70,420,464
2091 477,274,569 69,940,749
2090 476,367,086 69,462,214
2089 475,363,859 68,985,976
2088 474,268,867 68,510,277
2087 473,072,894 68,035,545
2086 471,769,229 67,562,521
2085 470,365,292 67,091,615
2084 468,843,169 66,621,667
2083 467,224,322 66,152,653
2082 465,509,151 65,684,321
2081 463,679,779 65,216,102
2080 461,741,930 64,749,128
2079 459,680,797 64,282,393
2078 457,513,367 63,815,918
2077 455,254,796 63,348,712
2076 452,885,729 62,880,120
2075 450,402,898 62,409,793
2074 447,825,224 61,937,628
2073 445,152,156 61,462,662
2072 442,375,349 60,984,202
2071 439,499,004 60,502,791
2070 436,539,777 60,018,216
2069 433,472,204 59,529,456
2068 430,320,190 59,036,086
2067 427,066,199 58,539,487
2066 423,736,078 58,039,687
2065 420,318,527 57,537,106
2064 416,811,285 57,032,172
2063 413,231,409 56,524,331
2062 409,583,480 56,014,549
2061 405,859,509 55,501,467
2060 402,073,494 54,986,901
2059 398,228,736 54,469,809
2058 394,315,883 53,950,469
2057 390,341,867 53,430,639
2056 386,298,064 52,909,061
2055 382,193,151 52,386,571
2054 378,030,342 51,862,312
2053 373,799,276 51,336,335
2052 369,501,634 50,809,100
2051 365,149,555 50,280,719
2050 360,734,783 49,751,739
2049 356,271,401 49,221,828
2048 351,752,501 48,690,143
2047 347,169,674 48,157,605
2046 342,532,578 47,623,246
2045 337,834,528 47,087,215
2044 333,076,416 46,550,306
2043 328,256,555 46,013,232
2042 323,388,886 45,475,200
2041 318,469,120 44,936,131
2040 313,492,800 44,396,093
2039 308,474,350 43,856,006
2038 303,423,786 43,314,707
2037 298,351,344 42,773,375
2036 293,250,795 42,231,639
2035 288,138,368 41,690,245
2034 283,018,151 41,150,029
2033 277,897,810 40,611,021
2032 272,769,123 40,073,144
2031 267,666,779 39,535,357
2030 262,583,487 38,998,581
2029 257,504,936 38,417,447
2028 252,465,743 37,810,902
2027 247,457,208 37,189,969
2026 242,477,499 36,566,201
2025 237,546,527 35,932,673
2024 232,679,478 35,300,280
2023 227,882,945 33,702,731
2022 223,150,896 32,175,224
2021 218,529,286 30,784,383
2020 213,996,181 31,552,510
2019 209,485,641 30,063,799
2018 204,938,755 30,196,281
2017 200,254,579 30,977,355
2016 195,443,700 30,954,198
2015 190,671,878 29,816,382
2014 185,896,915 28,309,273
2013 181,049,443 27,624,004
2012 176,200,625 26,168,861
2011 171,379,598 25,091,867
2010 166,642,886 23,978,487
2009 162,049,464 24,217,654
2008 157,595,014 23,287,877
2007 153,267,261 22,368,313
2006 149,077,334 21,459,144
2005 145,017,253 20,559,890
2004 141,057,045 19,669,480
2003 137,202,644 18,786,767
2002 133,471,989 17,910,910
2001 129,862,595 17,041,397
2000 126,382,494 16,177,722
1999 123,047,320 15,472,075
1998 119,846,254 14,922,185
1997 116,754,792 14,374,943
1996 113,754,779 13,831,009
1995 110,819,428 13,289,245
1994 107,935,714 12,750,040
1993 105,122,069 12,215,862
1992 102,372,770 11,686,676
1991 99,720,162 11,160,744
1990 97,120,925 10,640,691
1989 94,531,014 10,128,394
1988 92,020,090 9,629,165
1987 89,591,716 9,130,194
1986 87,235,953 8,628,639
1985 84,897,973 8,151,779
1984 82,526,443 7,697,307
1983 80,438,260 7,252,941
1982 78,378,701 6,824,486
1981 76,068,103 6,420,551
1980 73,764,641 6,047,997
1979 71,498,242 5,703,698
1978 69,326,532 5,381,902
1977 67,234,590 5,083,048
1976 65,258,009 4,807,933
1975 63,410,815 4,556,287
1974 61,679,144 4,323,632
1973 60,082,139 4,106,344
1972 58,601,748 3,905,722
1971 57,214,684 3,724,031
1970 55,893,838 3,562,470
1969 54,631,914 3,417,114
1968 53,432,783 3,282,711
1967 52,293,065 3,157,242
1966 51,188,234 3,039,887
1965 50,086,764 2,928,771
1964 49,012,016 2,821,968
1963 47,973,575 2,719,341
1962 46,965,292 2,620,910
1961 45,989,310 2,526,347
1960 45,053,782 2,435,403

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Nigeria increased by 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth), while Saudi Arabia gained 9,495,054 people (a 44.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Nigeria gained 48,380,769 people (a 24.8% growth), while Saudi Arabia's population increased by 5,780,727 people (a 18.7% growth).

Nigeria was ranked 7th most populous country in 2006 and is 6th in 2026. Saudi Arabia was ranked 50th in 2006 and ranked 44th 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 Saudi Arabia will increase by 35.4% to 49,751,739 people and rank change from 44th to 43rd.

Nigeria is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 482M people compared to the peak of 74.2M people in 2100 for Saudi Arabia.

Population growth rate by year

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Nigeria Saudi Arabia
2100 0.04% 0.64%
2099 0.06% 0.64%
2098 0.07% 0.65%
2097 0.09% 0.66%
2096 0.1% 0.66%
2095 0.11% 0.67%
2094 0.13% 0.68%
2093 0.15% 0.68%
2092 0.17% 0.69%
2091 0.19% 0.69%
2090 0.21% 0.69%
2089 0.23% 0.69%
2088 0.25% 0.7%
2087 0.28% 0.7%
2086 0.3% 0.7%
2085 0.32% 0.71%
2084 0.35% 0.71%
2083 0.37% 0.71%
2082 0.39% 0.72%
2081 0.42% 0.72%
2080 0.45% 0.73%
2079 0.47% 0.73%
2078 0.5% 0.74%
2077 0.52% 0.75%
2076 0.55% 0.75%
2075 0.58% 0.76%
2074 0.6% 0.77%
2073 0.63% 0.78%
2072 0.65% 0.8%
2071 0.68% 0.81%
2070 0.71% 0.82%
2069 0.73% 0.84%
2068 0.76% 0.85%
2067 0.79% 0.86%
2066 0.81% 0.87%
2065 0.84% 0.89%
2064 0.87% 0.9%
2063 0.89% 0.91%
2062 0.92% 0.92%
2061 0.94% 0.94%
2060 0.97% 0.95%
2059 0.99% 0.96%
2058 1.02% 0.97%
2057 1.05% 0.99%
2056 1.07% 1%
2055 1.1% 1.01%
2054 1.13% 1.02%
2053 1.16% 1.04%
2052 1.19% 1.05%
2051 1.22% 1.06%
2050 1.25% 1.08%
2049 1.28% 1.09%
2048 1.32% 1.11%
2047 1.35% 1.12%
2046 1.39% 1.14%
2045 1.43% 1.15%
2044 1.47% 1.17%
2043 1.51% 1.18%
2042 1.54% 1.2%
2041 1.59% 1.22%
2040 1.63% 1.23%
2039 1.66% 1.25%
2038 1.7% 1.27%
2037 1.74% 1.28%
2036 1.77% 1.3%
2035 1.81% 1.31%
2034 1.84% 1.33%
2033 1.88% 1.34%
2032 1.91% 1.36%
2031 1.94% 1.38%
2030 1.97% 1.51%
2029 2% 1.6%
2028 2.02% 1.67%
2027 2.05% 1.71%
2026 2.08% 1.76%
2025 2.09% 1.79%
2024 2.1% 4.74%
2023 2.12% 4.75%
2022 2.11% 4.52%
2021 2.12% -2.43%
2020 2.15% 4.95%
2019 2.22% -0.44%
2018 2.34% -2.52%
2017 2.46% 0.07%
2016 2.5% 3.82%
2015 2.57% 5.32%
2014 2.68% 2.48%
2013 2.75% 5.56%
2012 2.81% 4.29%
2011 2.84% 4.64%
2010 2.83% -0.99%
2009 2.83% 3.99%
2008 2.82% 4.11%
2007 2.81% 4.24%
2006 2.8% 4.37%
2005 2.81% 4.53%
2004 2.81% 4.7%
2003 2.8% 4.89%
2002 2.78% 5.1%
2001 2.75% 5.34%
2000 2.71% 4.56%
1999 2.67% 3.69%
1998 2.65% 3.81%
1997 2.64% 3.93%
1996 2.65% 4.08%
1995 2.67% 4.23%
1994 2.68% 4.37%
1993 2.69% 4.53%
1992 2.66% 4.71%
1991 2.68% 4.89%
1990 2.74% 5.06%
1989 2.73% 5.18%
1988 2.71% 5.47%
1987 2.7% 5.81%
1986 2.75% 5.85%
1985 2.87% 5.9%
1984 2.6% 6.13%
1983 2.63% 6.28%
1982 3.04% 6.29%
1981 3.12% 6.16%
1980 3.17% 6.04%
1979 3.13% 5.98%
1978 3.11% 5.88%
1977 3.03% 5.72%
1976 2.91% 5.52%
1975 2.81% 5.38%
1974 2.66% 5.29%
1973 2.53% 5.14%
1972 2.42% 4.88%
1971 2.36% 4.54%
1970 2.31% 4.25%
1969 2.24% 4.09%
1968 2.18% 3.97%
1967 2.16% 3.86%
1966 2.2% 3.79%
1965 2.19% 3.78%
1964 2.16% 3.77%
1963 2.15% 3.76%
1962 2.12% 3.74%
1961 2.08% 3.73%

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Nigeria grew by 2.1%, while Saudi Arabia's population grew by 4.74%.

Live population counters

Nigeria Saudi Arabia
Current population
243824469
36734925
Population rank 6/197 44/197
Percent of world population 2.94% 0.44%
One net population change
6.58 seconds
19.7 seconds
One birth every
4.2 seconds
57 seconds
One death every
11.8 seconds
6.66 minutes
Daily growth/decline +13,141 +4,377
Annual growth/decline +4,796,533 +1,597,549
Annual growth/decline rate +2.1% +4.74%
Population growth rate rank 48/197 4/197
One migration net change every
34.5 minutes
4.4 minutes
Annual migration change -15,258 +119,738
Net migration rank 145/196 13/196
Foreign-born residents 1,403,281 13,683,841
Foreign-born residents rank 49/195 3/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 40.3%
Foreign-born share rank 173/195 14/195

Natural population change vs migration

Nigeria
Natural

Migration
Saudi Arabia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Nigeria Saudi Arabia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -15,258 - 119,738
2024 - -35,202 - 122,170
2023 4,834,309 -57,936 474,366 325,691
2022 4,739,502 -51,680 406,920 977,072
2021 4,641,562 -86,115 409,032 -106,287
2020 4,525,164 -14,497 447,036 -74,725
2019 4,609,941 -99,722 474,407 191,582
2018 4,659,898 -76,565 528,767 -988,751
2017 4,706,183 78,685 546,751 -920,812
2016 4,761,594 75,265 537,829 -26,997
2015 4,823,045 -116,162 511,023 465,292
2014 4,862,319 -19,376 493,431 469,144
2013 4,811,751 40,201 475,299 485,794
2012 4,774,508 71,138 465,649 479,206
2011 4,728,363 67,808 443,675 491,253
2010 4,629,173 47,966 418,641 504,955
2009 4,528,149 -18,422 438,557 496,229
2008 4,412,976 -13,646 433,457 491,337
2007 4,265,428 -9,162 425,199 489,136
2006 4,135,703 -12,093 399,333 504,661
2005 4,013,788 -17,146 375,938 518,565
2004 3,877,376 46,370 362,843 523,472
2003 3,751,120 33,857 364,520 514,606
2002 3,606,814 69,594 372,099 500,508
2001 3,478,370 64,163 382,153 484,252
2000 3,343,196 74,535 392,407 468,515
1999 3,155,425 97,195 390,112 160,263
1998 3,003,946 145,575 389,499 159,898
1997 2,936,500 96,885 385,033 160,066
1996 2,882,205 84,448 382,248 160,532
1995 2,830,771 73,243 380,231 160,512
1994 2,735,198 128,134 377,351 160,306
1993 2,673,675 90,200 372,621 158,074
1992 2,596,173 138,412 366,763 160,908
1991 2,527,807 42,760 361,329 162,857
1990 2,491,928 135,959 355,495 160,416
1989 2,452,324 99,588 349,399 159,273
1988 2,376,419 93,510 342,865 146,918
1987 2,322,397 64,418 333,088 175,075
1986 2,295,003 29,682 322,340 172,606
1985 2,289,784 61,514 310,558 148,208
1984 2,278,060 113,758 296,615 153,562
1983 2,292,089 -507,539 280,616 157,930
1982 2,233,401 101,116 264,831 153,528
1981 2,179,884 106,723 249,156 140,355
1980 2,121,618 198,672 234,372 121,220
1979 2,074,807 137,721 220,186 112,826
1978 2,019,621 111,258 205,331 105,263
1977 1,923,917 129,075 191,103 96,015
1976 1,827,289 72,889 178,024 85,083
1975 1,718,623 75,603 166,223 73,960
1974 1,624,813 44,281 155,478 69,653
1973 1,525,485 -618 145,450 63,995
1972 1,448,928 -12,962 136,360 55,439
1971 1,373,896 -35,639 127,600 43,989
1970 1,295,507 7,953 120,440 31,097
1969 1,213,484 6,912 113,859 25,312
1968 1,168,254 9,615 108,281 21,366
1967 1,082,884 18,683 103,343 17,947
1966 1,095,582 12,513 98,361 15,054
1965 1,061,840 32,988 93,820 15,000
1964 1,028,272 26,411 89,776 15,000
1963 995,116 27,115 85,480 15,000
1962 966,452 27,906 81,393 15,000
1961 932,111 25,515 77,743 15,000
1960 901,301 12,131 74,143 15,000

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

GeoRank.org/population/nigeria/saudi-arabia | 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 Saudi Arabia 93.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 4,829,562 people) and 6.05% is from migration (a gain of 311,209 people).

As of 2024, 1,403,281 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Nigeria, compared to 13,683,841 people or 40.3% in Saudi Arabia.

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
Saudi Arabia
City Population
Riyadh 7.01M
Jeddah 4.7M
Mecca 2.43M
Medina 1.41M
Dammam 903K
Tabuk 886K
Qatif 625K
Jubail 379K
Ha'il 311K
Yanbu 299K

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/saudi-arabia | 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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