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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Nigeria was 232,679,478 in 2024 vs 19,009,151 people in Somalia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nigeria's population is 243,824,469 people compared to 20,503,678 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 3.19% of the world: 2.94% for Nigeria vs 0.25% for Somalia.
  • For the last 10 years, Nigeria has had an average growth rate of +2.31% per year vs +3.61% in Somalia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nigeria has increased from 149M people to 244M (63.6% growth), while Somalia has grown from 11M to 20.5M (86.8% growth).

Nigeria vs Somalia: population by year and forecast

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nigeria Somalia
2100 481,678,166 68,384,185
2099 481,494,914 68,040,371
2098 481,219,866 67,702,230
2097 480,876,108 67,362,336
2096 480,460,381 66,972,933
2095 479,976,454 66,585,659
2094 479,432,855 66,179,819
2093 478,807,152 65,760,590
2092 478,097,591 65,324,261
2091 477,274,569 64,852,843
2090 476,367,086 64,362,727
2089 475,363,859 63,922,797
2088 474,268,867 63,464,036
2087 473,072,894 62,987,028
2086 471,769,229 62,447,029
2085 470,365,292 61,873,597
2084 468,843,169 61,318,916
2083 467,224,322 60,761,800
2082 465,509,151 60,187,980
2081 463,679,779 59,676,722
2080 461,741,930 59,100,915
2079 459,680,797 58,477,428
2078 457,513,367 57,852,528
2077 455,254,796 57,211,821
2076 452,885,729 56,602,463
2075 450,402,898 56,005,600
2074 447,825,224 55,330,165
2073 445,152,156 54,651,918
2072 442,375,349 53,978,548
2071 439,499,004 53,284,016
2070 436,539,777 52,573,210
2069 433,472,204 51,878,214
2068 430,320,190 51,197,653
2067 427,066,199 50,493,028
2066 423,736,078 49,779,172
2065 420,318,527 49,024,665
2064 416,811,285 48,265,876
2063 413,231,409 47,522,361
2062 409,583,480 46,785,920
2061 405,859,509 46,037,526
2060 402,073,494 45,220,507
2059 398,228,736 44,397,936
2058 394,315,883 43,659,021
2057 390,341,867 42,897,422
2056 386,298,064 42,121,542
2055 382,193,151 41,318,179
2054 378,030,342 40,513,141
2053 373,799,276 39,744,995
2052 369,501,634 38,992,177
2051 365,149,555 38,228,872
2050 360,734,783 37,471,735
2049 356,271,401 36,739,905
2048 351,752,501 35,984,999
2047 347,169,674 35,218,863
2046 342,532,578 34,462,403
2045 337,834,528 33,717,596
2044 333,076,416 32,977,674
2043 328,256,555 32,247,710
2042 323,388,886 31,537,272
2041 318,469,120 30,794,853
2040 313,492,800 30,032,324
2039 308,474,350 29,312,883
2038 303,423,786 28,583,386
2037 298,351,344 27,838,646
2036 293,250,795 27,114,453
2035 288,138,368 26,385,421
2034 283,018,151 25,687,629
2033 277,897,810 25,018,509
2032 272,769,123 24,338,597
2031 267,666,779 23,657,353
2030 262,583,487 22,965,742
2029 257,504,936 22,299,610
2028 252,465,743 21,651,582
2027 247,457,208 20,991,860
2026 242,477,499 20,322,668
2025 237,546,527 19,666,990
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 48,380,769 people (a 24.8% growth), while Somalia's population increased by 6,154,938 people (a 42.9% 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 47.9% to 360,734,783 people with a rank change from 6th to 5th. The population of Somalia will increase by 82.8% to 37,471,735 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 68.4M 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 2.09% 3.46%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Nigeria grew by 2.1%, while Somalia's population grew by 3.54%.

Live population counters

Nigeria Somalia
Current population
243824469
20503678
Population rank 6/197 66/197
Percent of world population 2.94% 0.25%
One net population change
6.58 seconds
48.5 seconds
One birth every
4.2 seconds
40 seconds
One death every
11.8 seconds
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline +13,141 +1,782
Annual growth/decline +4,796,533 +650,536
Annual growth/decline rate +2.1% +3.54%
Population growth rate rank 48/197 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 - -35,202 - 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 2026-04-06).

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 47,163,517 people) and 0.77% is from migration (a loss of 368,103 people). In Somalia 94.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,270,105 people) and 5.58% is from migration (a gain of 311,487 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 2.55M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Maiduguri 1.2M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M
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 (1960–2024, 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/somalia | 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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