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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Nigeria was 237,527,782 in 2025 vs 19,654,739 people in Somalia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nigeria's population is 245,016,045 people compared to 20,653,532 in Somalia.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 11.9 times bigger than Somalia's.
  • Nigeria is ranked the 6th most populous country in the world, while Somalia is the 66th.
  • The countries together account for 3.2% of the world: 2.95% for Nigeria vs 0.25% for Somalia.
  • For the last 10 years, Nigeria has had an average growth rate of +2.25% per year vs +3.59% in Somalia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nigeria has increased from 149M people to 245M (64.4% growth), while Somalia has grown from 11M to 20.7M (88.2% growth).

Nigeria vs Somalia: population by year and forecast

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nigeria Somalia
2100 481,640,156 68,341,587
2099 481,456,918 67,997,987
2098 481,181,892 67,660,056
2097 480,838,161 67,320,374
2096 480,422,467 66,931,214
2095 479,938,579 66,544,181
2094 479,395,022 66,138,594
2093 478,769,369 65,719,626
2092 478,059,864 65,283,569
2091 477,236,907 64,812,444
2090 476,329,495 64,322,633
2089 475,326,347 63,882,977
2088 474,231,442 63,424,502
2087 473,035,563 62,947,792
2086 471,732,001 62,408,129
2085 470,328,175 61,835,054
2084 468,806,172 61,280,718
2083 467,187,453 60,723,949
2082 465,472,417 60,150,487
2081 463,643,190 59,639,547
2080 461,705,493 59,064,099
2079 459,644,523 58,441,001
2078 457,477,264 57,816,490
2077 455,218,871 57,176,183
2076 452,849,991 56,567,204
2075 450,367,356 55,970,712
2074 447,789,885 55,295,699
2073 445,117,028 54,617,874
2072 442,340,440 53,944,923
2071 439,464,323 53,250,824
2070 436,505,329 52,540,460
2069 433,437,998 51,845,897
2068 430,286,232 51,165,760
2067 427,032,499 50,461,574
2066 423,702,640 49,748,163
2065 420,285,359 48,994,126
2064 416,778,394 48,235,809
2063 413,198,800 47,492,758
2062 409,551,159 46,756,776
2061 405,827,482 46,008,848
2060 402,041,765 45,192,338
2059 398,197,311 44,370,279
2058 394,284,767 43,631,825
2057 390,311,065 42,870,700
2056 386,267,580 42,095,303
2055 382,162,992 41,292,441
2054 378,000,511 40,487,904
2053 373,769,779 39,720,236
2052 369,472,476 38,967,888
2051 365,120,741 38,205,058
2050 360,706,317 37,448,393
2049 356,243,287 36,717,019
2048 351,724,743 35,962,583
2047 347,142,279 35,196,924
2046 342,505,549 34,440,935
2045 337,807,869 33,696,593
2044 333,050,132 32,957,131
2043 328,230,652 32,227,622
2042 323,363,366 31,517,627
2041 318,443,989 30,775,671
2040 313,468,061 30,013,616
2039 308,450,008 29,294,623
2038 303,399,842 28,565,580
2037 298,327,800 27,821,304
2036 293,227,654 27,097,563
2035 288,115,630 26,368,985
2034 282,995,818 25,671,628
2033 277,875,880 25,002,924
2032 272,747,599 24,323,435
2031 267,645,657 23,642,617
2030 262,562,767 22,951,436
2029 257,484,616 22,285,719
2028 252,445,821 21,638,095
2027 247,437,680 20,978,784
2026 242,458,365 20,310,008
2025 237,527,782 19,654,739
2024 232,679,478 19,009,151
2023 227,882,945 18,358,615
2022 223,150,896 17,801,897
2021 218,529,286 17,271,431
2020 213,996,181 16,651,191
2019 209,485,641 16,030,971
2018 204,938,755 15,452,487
2017 200,254,579 14,916,629
2016 195,443,700 14,348,740
2015 190,671,878 13,806,963
2014 185,896,915 13,339,491
2013 181,049,443 12,869,594
2012 176,200,625 12,461,160
2011 171,379,598 12,348,830
2010 166,642,886 12,261,756
2009 162,049,464 11,961,201
2008 157,595,014 11,663,084
2007 153,267,261 11,322,582
2006 149,077,334 10,975,502
2005 145,017,253 10,644,228
2004 141,057,045 10,280,998
2003 137,202,644 9,909,157
2002 133,471,989 9,550,063
2001 129,862,595 9,198,493
2000 126,382,494 8,838,713
1999 123,047,320 8,492,059
1998 119,846,254 8,155,417
1997 116,754,792 7,824,525
1996 113,754,779 7,554,474
1995 110,819,428 7,285,007
1994 107,935,714 7,026,797
1993 105,122,069 6,681,399
1992 102,372,770 6,495,107
1991 99,720,162 6,813,760
1990 97,120,925 7,082,811
1989 94,531,014 7,114,817
1988 92,020,090 7,235,360
1987 89,591,716 7,228,302
1986 87,235,953 6,974,788
1985 84,897,973 6,693,289
1984 82,526,443 6,428,389
1983 80,438,260 6,198,430
1982 78,378,701 6,003,840
1981 76,068,103 5,982,849
1980 73,764,641 5,936,154
1979 71,498,242 5,449,117
1978 69,326,532 4,814,892
1977 67,234,590 4,484,050
1976 65,258,009 4,365,812
1975 63,410,815 4,257,535
1974 61,679,144 4,151,842
1973 60,082,139 4,045,592
1972 58,601,748 3,939,436
1971 57,214,684 3,837,691
1970 55,893,838 3,738,448
1969 54,631,914 3,641,015
1968 53,432,783 3,546,590
1967 52,293,065 3,454,537
1966 51,188,234 3,365,106
1965 50,086,764 3,277,874
1964 49,012,016 3,192,796
1963 47,973,575 3,110,361
1962 46,965,292 3,030,091
1961 45,989,310 2,952,054
1960 45,053,782 2,876,331

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/somalia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Nigeria increased by 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth), while Somalia gained 3,373,238 people (a 30.7% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Nigeria gained 49,572,345 people (a 25.4% growth), while Somalia's population increased by 6,304,792 people (a 43.9% growth).

Nigeria was ranked 7th most populous country in 2006 and is 6th in 2026. Somalia was ranked 75th in 2006 and ranked 66th 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 Somalia will increase by 81.3% to 37,448,393 people and rank change from 66th to 57th.

Nigeria is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 482M people compared to the peak of 68.3M people in 2100 for Somalia.

Population growth rate by year

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Nigeria Somalia
2100 0.04% 0.51%
2099 0.06% 0.5%
2098 0.07% 0.5%
2097 0.09% 0.58%
2096 0.1% 0.58%
2095 0.11% 0.61%
2094 0.13% 0.64%
2093 0.15% 0.67%
2092 0.17% 0.73%
2091 0.19% 0.76%
2090 0.21% 0.69%
2089 0.23% 0.72%
2088 0.25% 0.76%
2087 0.28% 0.86%
2086 0.3% 0.93%
2085 0.32% 0.9%
2084 0.35% 0.92%
2083 0.37% 0.95%
2082 0.39% 0.86%
2081 0.42% 0.97%
2080 0.45% 1.07%
2079 0.47% 1.08%
2078 0.5% 1.12%
2077 0.52% 1.08%
2076 0.55% 1.07%
2075 0.58% 1.22%
2074 0.6% 1.24%
2073 0.63% 1.25%
2072 0.65% 1.3%
2071 0.68% 1.35%
2070 0.71% 1.34%
2069 0.73% 1.33%
2068 0.76% 1.4%
2067 0.79% 1.43%
2066 0.81% 1.54%
2065 0.84% 1.57%
2064 0.87% 1.56%
2063 0.89% 1.57%
2062 0.92% 1.63%
2061 0.94% 1.81%
2060 0.97% 1.85%
2059 0.99% 1.69%
2058 1.02% 1.78%
2057 1.05% 1.84%
2056 1.07% 1.94%
2055 1.1% 1.99%
2054 1.13% 1.93%
2053 1.16% 1.93%
2052 1.19% 2%
2051 1.22% 2.02%
2050 1.25% 1.99%
2049 1.28% 2.1%
2048 1.32% 2.18%
2047 1.35% 2.2%
2046 1.39% 2.21%
2045 1.43% 2.24%
2044 1.47% 2.26%
2043 1.51% 2.25%
2042 1.54% 2.41%
2041 1.59% 2.54%
2040 1.63% 2.45%
2039 1.66% 2.55%
2038 1.7% 2.68%
2037 1.74% 2.67%
2036 1.77% 2.76%
2035 1.81% 2.72%
2034 1.84% 2.67%
2033 1.88% 2.79%
2032 1.91% 2.88%
2031 1.94% 3.01%
2030 1.97% 2.99%
2029 2% 2.99%
2028 2.02% 3.14%
2027 2.05% 3.29%
2026 2.08% 3.33%
2025 2.08% 3.4%
2024 2.1% 3.54%
2023 2.12% 3.13%
2022 2.11% 3.07%
2021 2.12% 3.72%
2020 2.15% 3.87%
2019 2.22% 3.74%
2018 2.34% 3.59%
2017 2.46% 3.96%
2016 2.5% 3.92%
2015 2.57% 3.5%
2014 2.68% 3.65%
2013 2.75% 3.28%
2012 2.81% 0.91%
2011 2.84% 0.71%
2010 2.83% 2.51%
2009 2.83% 2.56%
2008 2.82% 3.01%
2007 2.81% 3.16%
2006 2.8% 3.11%
2005 2.81% 3.53%
2004 2.81% 3.75%
2003 2.8% 3.76%
2002 2.78% 3.82%
2001 2.75% 4.07%
2000 2.71% 4.08%
1999 2.67% 4.13%
1998 2.65% 4.23%
1997 2.64% 3.57%
1996 2.65% 3.7%
1995 2.67% 3.67%
1994 2.68% 5.17%
1993 2.69% 2.87%
1992 2.66% -4.68%
1991 2.68% -3.8%
1990 2.74% -0.45%
1989 2.73% -1.67%
1988 2.71% 0.1%
1987 2.7% 3.63%
1986 2.75% 4.21%
1985 2.87% 4.12%
1984 2.6% 3.71%
1983 2.63% 3.24%
1982 3.04% 0.35%
1981 3.12% 0.79%
1980 3.17% 8.94%
1979 3.13% 13.2%
1978 3.11% 7.38%
1977 3.03% 2.71%
1976 2.91% 2.54%
1975 2.81% 2.55%
1974 2.66% 2.63%
1973 2.53% 2.69%
1972 2.42% 2.65%
1971 2.36% 2.65%
1970 2.31% 2.68%
1969 2.24% 2.66%
1968 2.18% 2.66%
1967 2.16% 2.66%
1966 2.2% 2.66%
1965 2.19% 2.66%
1964 2.16% 2.65%
1963 2.15% 2.65%
1962 2.12% 2.64%
1961 2.08% 2.63%

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/somalia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Nigeria grew by 2.08%, while Somalia's population grew by 3.4%.

Live population counters

Nigeria Somalia
Current population
245016045
20653532
Population rank 6/197 66/197
Percent of world population 2.95% 0.25%
One net population change
6.52 seconds
49 seconds
One birth every
4.17 seconds
39.2 seconds
One death every
11.6 seconds
2.84 minutes
Daily growth/decline +13,283 +1,769
Annual growth/decline +4,848,304 +645,588
Annual growth/decline rate +2.08% +3.4%
Population growth rate rank 45/197 8/197
One migration net change every
34.5 minutes
43.6 minutes
Annual migration change -15,258 +12,077
Net migration rank 145/196 40/196
Foreign-born residents 1,403,281 77,972
Foreign-born residents rank 49/195 140/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 0.4%
Foreign-born share rank 173/195 180/195

Natural population change vs migration

Nigeria
Natural

Migration
Somalia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Nigeria Somalia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -15,258 - 12,077
2024 4,851,833 -35,202 619,793 26,859
2023 4,834,309 -57,936 608,203 46,217
2022 4,739,502 -51,680 551,450 -92,434
2021 4,641,562 -86,115 566,399 35,506
2020 4,525,164 -14,497 561,311 77,259
2019 4,609,941 -99,722 548,756 53,124
2018 4,659,898 -76,565 514,244 40,844
2017 4,706,183 78,685 478,556 38,067
2016 4,761,594 75,265 495,132 124,017
2015 4,823,045 -116,162 481,573 -17,178
2014 4,862,319 -19,376 464,481 6,065
2013 4,811,751 40,201 448,518 20,723
2012 4,774,508 71,138 399,468 -51,833
2011 4,728,363 67,808 203,213 -326,192
2010 4,629,173 47,966 385,571 -88,448
2009 4,528,149 -18,422 405,784 -101,795
2008 4,412,976 -13,646 394,258 -102,035
2007 4,265,428 -9,162 380,303 8,476
2006 4,135,703 -12,093 372,597 -67,200
2005 4,013,788 -17,146 363,117 -5,955
2004 3,877,376 46,370 351,959 17,353
2003 3,751,120 33,857 341,192 33,174
2002 3,606,814 69,594 331,215 12,603
2001 3,478,370 64,163 319,059 40,274
2000 3,343,196 74,535 306,651 53,580
1999 3,155,425 97,195 295,523 37,548
1998 3,003,946 145,575 284,779 55,426
1997 2,936,500 96,885 271,894 49,692
1996 2,882,205 84,448 264,807 -46,291
1995 2,830,771 73,243 254,509 65,888
1994 2,735,198 128,134 246,950 -50,921
1993 2,673,675 90,200 232,960 261,815
1992 2,596,173 138,412 57,495 -179,675
1991 2,527,807 42,760 53,052 -568,166
1990 2,491,928 135,959 225,162 -248,155
1989 2,452,324 99,588 225,255 -266,281
1988 2,376,419 93,510 215,599 -415,660
1987 2,322,397 64,418 231,580 -17,391
1986 2,295,003 29,682 218,416 74,424
1985 2,289,784 61,514 207,960 62,183
1984 2,278,060 113,758 199,017 60,630
1983 2,292,089 -507,539 190,775 9,505
1982 2,233,401 101,116 182,793 6,115
1981 2,179,884 106,723 185,211 -332,129
1980 2,121,618 198,672 174,790 65,519
1979 2,074,807 137,721 151,016 582,746
1978 2,019,621 111,258 132,689 402,005
1977 1,923,917 129,075 124,818 2,170
1976 1,827,289 72,889 113,319 -3,831
1975 1,718,623 75,603 108,998 -1,934
1974 1,624,813 44,281 104,813 -495
1973 1,525,485 -618 108,038 143
1972 1,448,928 -12,962 104,493 -351
1971 1,373,896 -35,639 101,196 -1,850
1970 1,295,507 7,953 98,025 1,104
1969 1,213,484 6,912 95,045 690
1968 1,168,254 9,615 92,208 906
1967 1,082,884 18,683 89,497 1,498
1966 1,095,582 12,513 86,930 941
1965 1,061,840 32,988 84,448 2,142
1964 1,028,272 26,411 82,042 1,518
1963 995,116 27,115 79,859 1,449
1962 966,452 27,906 77,737 1,496
1961 932,111 25,515 75,513 1,336
1960 901,301 12,131 73,850 750

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

GeoRank.org/population/nigeria/somalia | 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 Somalia 94.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,425,417 people) and 5.77% is from migration (a gain of 332,281 people).

As of 2024, 1,403,281 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Nigeria, compared to 77,972 people or 0.4% in Somalia.

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
Somalia
City Population
Mogadishu 2.12M
Hargeisa 1.23M
Baidoa 1.2M
Borama 68.1K

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/somalia | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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