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Population in Nigeria compared to South Africa: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Nigeria was 232,679,478 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nigeria's population is 243,824,469 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 3.71 times bigger than South Africa's.
  • Nigeria is ranked the 6th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 3.73% of the world: 2.94% for Nigeria vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Nigeria has had an average growth rate of +2.31% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nigeria has increased from 149M people to 244M (63.6% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Nigeria vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nigeria South Africa
2100 481,678,166 94,767,727
2099 481,494,914 94,556,931
2098 481,219,866 94,349,546
2097 480,876,108 94,158,472
2096 480,460,381 93,960,605
2095 479,976,454 93,752,736
2094 479,432,855 93,527,902
2093 478,807,152 93,300,398
2092 478,097,591 93,074,837
2091 477,274,569 92,826,204
2090 476,367,086 92,594,033
2089 475,363,859 92,355,184
2088 474,268,867 92,112,914
2087 473,072,894 91,866,024
2086 471,769,229 91,614,165
2085 470,365,292 91,385,350
2084 468,843,169 91,139,318
2083 467,224,322 90,877,425
2082 465,509,151 90,615,359
2081 463,679,779 90,345,492
2080 461,741,930 90,071,835
2079 459,680,797 89,801,998
2078 457,513,367 89,526,224
2077 455,254,796 89,249,206
2076 452,885,729 88,986,114
2075 450,402,898 88,713,215
2074 447,825,224 88,428,616
2073 445,152,156 88,149,885
2072 442,375,349 87,866,246
2071 439,499,004 87,540,177
2070 436,539,777 87,209,425
2069 433,472,204 86,901,512
2068 430,320,190 86,588,742
2067 427,066,199 86,268,392
2066 423,736,078 85,935,310
2065 420,318,527 85,604,376
2064 416,811,285 85,244,950
2063 413,231,409 84,875,503
2062 409,583,480 84,503,237
2061 405,859,509 84,132,885
2060 402,073,494 83,748,999
2059 398,228,736 83,354,923
2058 394,315,883 82,947,675
2057 390,341,867 82,538,045
2056 386,298,064 82,127,477
2055 382,193,151 81,698,196
2054 378,030,342 81,255,867
2053 373,799,276 80,818,632
2052 369,501,634 80,367,409
2051 365,149,555 79,886,672
2050 360,734,783 79,411,977
2049 356,271,401 78,925,493
2048 351,752,501 78,437,677
2047 347,169,674 77,922,211
2046 342,532,578 77,397,298
2045 337,834,528 76,879,838
2044 333,076,416 76,357,155
2043 328,256,555 75,827,709
2042 323,388,886 75,291,615
2041 318,469,120 74,748,408
2040 313,492,800 74,205,530
2039 308,474,350 73,663,047
2038 303,423,786 73,105,930
2037 298,351,344 72,532,742
2036 293,250,795 71,956,247
2035 288,138,368 71,362,555
2034 283,018,151 70,762,815
2033 277,897,810 70,153,205
2032 272,769,123 69,527,410
2031 267,666,779 68,890,002
2030 262,583,487 68,245,372
2029 257,504,936 67,573,179
2028 252,465,743 66,884,377
2027 247,457,208 66,190,258
2026 242,477,499 65,496,277
2025 237,546,527 64,770,314
2024 232,679,478 64,007,187
2023 227,882,945 63,212,384
2022 223,150,896 62,378,410
2021 218,529,286 61,502,603
2020 213,996,181 60,562,381
2019 209,485,641 59,587,885
2018 204,938,755 58,613,001
2017 200,254,579 57,635,162
2016 195,443,700 57,259,551
2015 190,671,878 56,723,537
2014 185,896,915 55,594,838
2013 181,049,443 54,678,791
2012 176,200,625 53,782,567
2011 171,379,598 52,995,205
2010 166,642,886 52,344,051
2009 162,049,464 51,728,516
2008 157,595,014 51,114,599
2007 153,267,261 50,528,584
2006 149,077,334 49,998,277
2005 145,017,253 49,490,033
2004 141,057,045 48,991,421
2003 137,202,644 48,500,348
2002 133,471,989 48,019,415
2001 129,862,595 47,566,800
2000 126,382,494 47,159,719
1999 123,047,320 46,730,335
1998 119,846,254 46,223,880
1997 116,754,792 45,666,838
1996 113,754,779 45,123,018
1995 110,819,428 44,541,554
1994 107,935,714 44,004,139
1993 105,122,069 43,297,156
1992 102,372,770 42,443,509
1991 99,720,162 41,687,898
1990 97,120,925 40,746,268
1989 94,531,014 39,628,575
1988 92,020,090 38,480,649
1987 89,591,716 37,326,190
1986 87,235,953 36,180,515
1985 84,897,973 35,042,093
1984 82,526,443 33,892,788
1983 80,438,260 32,739,304
1982 78,378,701 31,615,339
1981 76,068,103 30,541,044
1980 73,764,641 29,518,857
1979 71,498,242 28,634,162
1978 69,326,532 27,869,507
1977 67,234,590 27,118,952
1976 65,258,009 26,395,450
1975 63,410,815 25,690,940
1974 61,679,144 24,989,108
1973 60,082,139 24,294,263
1972 58,601,748 23,609,456
1971 57,214,684 22,942,143
1970 55,893,838 22,279,984
1969 54,631,914 21,614,676
1968 53,432,783 20,957,287
1967 52,293,065 20,314,066
1966 51,188,234 19,690,087
1965 50,086,764 19,089,380
1964 49,012,016 18,511,361
1963 47,973,575 17,954,564
1962 46,965,292 17,418,522
1961 45,989,310 16,908,035
1960 45,053,782 16,440,172

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/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Nigeria increased by 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Nigeria gained 48,380,769 people (a 24.8% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Nigeria was ranked 7th most populous country in 2006 and is 6th in 2026. South Africa was ranked 24th in 2006 and still ranked 24th 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 South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Nigeria is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 482M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Nigeria South Africa
2100 0.04% 0.22%
2099 0.06% 0.22%
2098 0.07% 0.2%
2097 0.09% 0.21%
2096 0.1% 0.22%
2095 0.11% 0.24%
2094 0.13% 0.24%
2093 0.15% 0.24%
2092 0.17% 0.27%
2091 0.19% 0.25%
2090 0.21% 0.26%
2089 0.23% 0.26%
2088 0.25% 0.27%
2087 0.28% 0.27%
2086 0.3% 0.25%
2085 0.32% 0.27%
2084 0.35% 0.29%
2083 0.37% 0.29%
2082 0.39% 0.3%
2081 0.42% 0.3%
2080 0.45% 0.3%
2079 0.47% 0.31%
2078 0.5% 0.31%
2077 0.52% 0.3%
2076 0.55% 0.31%
2075 0.58% 0.32%
2074 0.6% 0.32%
2073 0.63% 0.32%
2072 0.65% 0.37%
2071 0.68% 0.38%
2070 0.71% 0.35%
2069 0.73% 0.36%
2068 0.76% 0.37%
2067 0.79% 0.39%
2066 0.81% 0.39%
2065 0.84% 0.42%
2064 0.87% 0.44%
2063 0.89% 0.44%
2062 0.92% 0.44%
2061 0.94% 0.46%
2060 0.97% 0.47%
2059 0.99% 0.49%
2058 1.02% 0.5%
2057 1.05% 0.5%
2056 1.07% 0.53%
2055 1.1% 0.54%
2054 1.13% 0.54%
2053 1.16% 0.56%
2052 1.19% 0.6%
2051 1.22% 0.6%
2050 1.25% 0.62%
2049 1.28% 0.62%
2048 1.32% 0.66%
2047 1.35% 0.68%
2046 1.39% 0.67%
2045 1.43% 0.68%
2044 1.47% 0.7%
2043 1.51% 0.71%
2042 1.54% 0.73%
2041 1.59% 0.73%
2040 1.63% 0.74%
2039 1.66% 0.76%
2038 1.7% 0.79%
2037 1.74% 0.8%
2036 1.77% 0.83%
2035 1.81% 0.85%
2034 1.84% 0.87%
2033 1.88% 0.9%
2032 1.91% 0.93%
2031 1.94% 0.94%
2030 1.97% 0.99%
2029 2% 1.03%
2028 2.02% 1.05%
2027 2.05% 1.06%
2026 2.08% 1.12%
2025 2.09% 1.19%
2024 2.1% 1.26%
2023 2.12% 1.34%
2022 2.11% 1.42%
2021 2.12% 1.55%
2020 2.15% 1.64%
2019 2.22% 1.66%
2018 2.34% 1.7%
2017 2.46% 0.66%
2016 2.5% 0.94%
2015 2.57% 2.03%
2014 2.68% 1.68%
2013 2.75% 1.67%
2012 2.81% 1.49%
2011 2.84% 1.24%
2010 2.83% 1.19%
2009 2.83% 1.2%
2008 2.82% 1.16%
2007 2.81% 1.06%
2006 2.8% 1.03%
2005 2.81% 1.02%
2004 2.81% 1.01%
2003 2.8% 1%
2002 2.78% 0.95%
2001 2.75% 0.86%
2000 2.71% 0.92%
1999 2.67% 1.1%
1998 2.65% 1.22%
1997 2.64% 1.21%
1996 2.65% 1.31%
1995 2.67% 1.22%
1994 2.68% 1.63%
1993 2.69% 2.01%
1992 2.66% 1.81%
1991 2.68% 2.31%
1990 2.74% 2.82%
1989 2.73% 2.98%
1988 2.71% 3.09%
1987 2.7% 3.17%
1986 2.75% 3.25%
1985 2.87% 3.39%
1984 2.6% 3.52%
1983 2.63% 3.56%
1982 3.04% 3.52%
1981 3.12% 3.46%
1980 3.17% 3.09%
1979 3.13% 2.74%
1978 3.11% 2.77%
1977 3.03% 2.74%
1976 2.91% 2.74%
1975 2.81% 2.81%
1974 2.66% 2.86%
1973 2.53% 2.9%
1972 2.42% 2.91%
1971 2.36% 2.97%
1970 2.31% 3.08%
1969 2.24% 3.14%
1968 2.18% 3.17%
1967 2.16% 3.17%
1966 2.2% 3.15%
1965 2.19% 3.12%
1964 2.16% 3.1%
1963 2.15% 3.08%
1962 2.12% 3.02%
1961 2.08% 2.85%

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/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Nigeria grew by 2.1%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Nigeria South Africa
Current population
243824469
65683993
Population rank 6/197 24/197
Percent of world population 2.94% 0.79%
One net population change
6.58 seconds
39.7 seconds
One birth every
4.2 seconds
26.6 seconds
One death every
11.8 seconds
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +13,141 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +4,796,533 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +2.1% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 48/197 85/197
One migration net change every
34.5 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -15,258 +146,370
Net migration rank 145/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 1,403,281 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 49/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 173/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Nigeria
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Nigeria South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -15,258 - 146,370
2024 - -35,202 - 166,972
2023 4,834,309 -57,936 602,793 228,222
2022 4,739,502 -51,680 603,636 233,284
2021 4,641,562 -86,115 456,411 458,246
2020 4,525,164 -14,497 595,873 369,901
2019 4,609,941 -99,722 652,130 331,124
2018 4,659,898 -76,565 648,319 318,260
2017 4,706,183 78,685 645,975 343,146
2016 4,761,594 75,265 641,365 -879,235
2015 4,823,045 -116,162 668,771 641,150
2014 4,862,319 -19,376 674,754 272,697
2013 4,811,751 40,201 652,427 232,230
2012 4,774,508 71,138 643,723 264,091
2011 4,728,363 67,808 601,708 65,166
2010 4,629,173 47,966 566,834 68,563
2009 4,528,149 -18,422 554,115 41,528
2008 4,412,976 -13,646 595,332 36,869
2007 4,265,428 -9,162 503,567 36,339
2006 4,135,703 -12,093 487,584 33,159
2005 4,013,788 -17,146 464,464 31,286
2004 3,877,376 46,370 442,540 58,924
2003 3,751,120 33,857 415,018 65,604
2002 3,606,814 69,594 430,926 50,313
2001 3,478,370 64,163 484,801 -60,793
2000 3,343,196 74,535 526,963 -136,794
1999 3,155,425 97,195 594,643 -126,011
1998 3,003,946 145,575 627,027 -82,722
1997 2,936,500 96,885 667,969 -98,181
1996 2,882,205 84,448 710,868 -193,007
1995 2,830,771 73,243 743,488 -98,403
1994 2,735,198 128,134 698,609 -268,849
1993 2,673,675 90,200 789,220 194,977
1992 2,596,173 138,412 794,415 -71,342
1991 2,527,807 42,760 827,296 -39,131
1990 2,491,928 135,959 835,421 259,718
1989 2,452,324 99,588 884,629 255,605
1988 2,376,419 93,510 909,221 246,382
1987 2,322,397 64,418 922,330 231,009
1986 2,295,003 29,682 903,644 234,378
1985 2,289,784 61,514 893,889 244,940
1984 2,278,060 113,758 869,011 290,789
1983 2,292,089 -507,539 837,013 310,172
1982 2,233,401 101,116 807,550 293,195
1981 2,179,884 106,723 767,833 279,985
1980 2,121,618 198,672 738,415 258,127
1979 2,074,807 137,721 716,541 56,323
1978 2,019,621 111,258 694,341 62,121
1977 1,923,917 129,075 680,929 63,739
1976 1,827,289 72,889 675,011 27,333
1975 1,718,623 75,603 667,862 38,809
1974 1,624,813 44,281 658,438 38,518
1973 1,525,485 -618 651,596 41,125
1972 1,448,928 -12,962 638,754 38,163
1971 1,373,896 -35,639 624,761 32,961
1970 1,295,507 7,953 605,102 61,514
1969 1,213,484 6,912 590,794 73,225
1968 1,168,254 9,615 571,841 78,932
1967 1,082,884 18,683 553,741 81,932
1966 1,095,582 12,513 534,862 77,417
1965 1,061,840 32,988 506,632 82,514
1964 1,028,272 26,411 490,606 76,298
1963 995,116 27,115 473,821 72,844
1962 966,452 27,906 455,634 69,771
1961 932,111 25,515 437,851 57,728
1960 901,301 12,131 421,263 18,891

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

GeoRank.org/population/nigeria/south-africa | 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 South Africa 72.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,190,027 people) and 27.2% is from migration (a gain of 2,316,795 people).

As of 2024, 1,403,281 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Nigeria, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

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
South Africa
City Population
Johannesburg 4.8M
Cape Town 3.78M
Soweto 1.27M
Pietermaritzburg 839K
Pretoria 742K
Durban 595K
Rustenburg 550K
Randburg 337K
Port Elizabeth 312K
East London 267K

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/south-africa | 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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