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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Nigeria was 237,527,782 in 2025 vs 51,684,564 people in South Korea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nigeria's population is 245,016,045 people compared to 51,624,449 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 4.75 times bigger than South Korea's.
  • Nigeria is ranked the 6th most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 3.57% of the world: 2.95% for Nigeria vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Nigeria has had an average growth rate of +2.25% per year vs +0.17% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nigeria has increased from 149M people to 245M (64.4% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.58% growth).

Nigeria vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nigeria South Korea
2100 481,640,156 22,001,649
2099 481,456,918 22,324,514
2098 481,181,892 22,657,541
2097 480,838,161 22,998,315
2096 480,422,467 23,348,632
2095 479,938,579 23,711,049
2094 479,395,022 24,081,510
2093 478,769,369 24,460,970
2092 478,059,864 24,848,715
2091 477,236,907 25,242,926
2090 476,329,495 25,642,926
2089 475,326,347 26,048,094
2088 474,231,442 26,457,020
2087 473,035,563 26,871,556
2086 471,732,001 27,288,450
2085 470,328,175 27,710,065
2084 468,806,172 28,133,600
2083 467,187,453 28,564,090
2082 465,472,417 28,998,646
2081 463,643,190 29,441,497
2080 461,705,493 29,887,135
2079 459,644,523 30,337,095
2078 457,477,264 30,793,984
2077 455,218,871 31,258,278
2076 452,849,991 31,728,826
2075 450,367,356 32,205,338
2074 447,789,885 32,689,892
2073 445,117,028 33,180,187
2072 442,340,440 33,679,874
2071 439,464,323 34,187,068
2070 436,505,329 34,702,204
2069 433,437,998 35,224,472
2068 430,286,232 35,745,164
2067 427,032,499 36,274,411
2066 423,702,640 36,808,495
2065 420,285,359 37,349,660
2064 416,778,394 37,897,742
2063 413,198,800 38,450,082
2062 409,551,159 39,009,227
2061 405,827,482 39,565,102
2060 402,041,765 40,130,032
2059 398,197,311 40,692,438
2058 394,284,767 41,256,780
2057 390,311,065 41,813,259
2056 386,267,580 42,356,530
2055 382,162,992 42,888,143
2054 378,000,511 43,405,840
2053 373,769,779 43,917,075
2052 369,472,476 44,419,192
2051 365,120,741 44,901,452
2050 360,706,317 45,362,931
2049 356,243,287 45,809,553
2048 351,724,743 46,235,718
2047 347,142,279 46,645,885
2046 342,505,549 47,033,200
2045 337,807,869 47,409,815
2044 333,050,132 47,773,842
2043 328,230,652 48,120,989
2042 323,363,366 48,455,085
2041 318,443,989 48,782,206
2040 313,468,061 49,091,438
2039 308,450,008 49,388,464
2038 303,399,842 49,669,835
2037 298,327,800 49,932,869
2036 293,227,654 50,175,947
2035 288,115,630 50,401,135
2034 282,995,818 50,607,994
2033 277,875,880 50,796,030
2032 272,747,599 50,961,878
2031 267,645,657 51,109,725
2030 262,562,767 51,242,628
2029 257,484,616 51,360,529
2028 252,445,821 51,461,403
2027 247,437,680 51,551,313
2026 242,458,365 51,624,449
2025 237,527,782 51,684,564
2024 232,679,478 51,751,065
2023 227,882,945 51,712,619
2022 223,150,896 51,672,569
2021 218,529,286 51,769,539
2020 213,996,181 51,836,239
2019 209,485,641 51,764,822
2018 204,938,755 51,585,058
2017 200,254,579 51,361,911
2016 195,443,700 51,217,803
2015 190,671,878 51,014,947
2014 185,896,915 50,746,659
2013 181,049,443 50,428,893
2012 176,200,625 50,199,853
2011 171,379,598 49,936,638
2010 166,642,886 49,554,112
2009 162,049,464 49,307,835
2008 157,595,014 49,054,708
2007 153,267,261 48,683,638
2006 149,077,334 48,438,292
2005 145,017,253 48,184,561
2004 141,057,045 48,082,519
2003 137,202,644 47,892,330
2002 133,471,989 47,644,736
2001 129,862,595 47,370,164
2000 126,382,494 47,008,111
1999 123,047,320 46,616,677
1998 119,846,254 46,286,503
1997 116,754,792 45,953,580
1996 113,754,779 45,524,681
1995 110,819,428 45,092,991
1994 107,935,714 44,641,540
1993 105,122,069 44,194,628
1992 102,372,770 43,747,962
1991 99,720,162 43,295,704
1990 97,120,925 42,869,283
1989 94,531,014 42,449,038
1988 92,020,090 42,031,247
1987 89,591,716 41,621,690
1986 87,235,953 41,213,674
1985 84,897,973 40,805,744
1984 82,526,443 40,405,956
1983 80,438,260 39,910,403
1982 78,378,701 39,326,352
1981 76,068,103 38,723,248
1980 73,764,641 38,123,775
1979 71,498,242 37,534,236
1978 69,326,532 36,969,185
1977 67,234,590 36,411,795
1976 65,258,009 35,848,523
1975 63,410,815 35,280,725
1974 61,679,144 34,692,266
1973 60,082,139 34,103,149
1972 58,601,748 33,505,406
1971 57,214,684 32,882,704
1970 55,893,838 32,240,827
1969 54,631,914 31,544,266
1968 53,432,783 30,838,302
1967 52,293,065 30,130,983
1966 51,188,234 29,435,571
1965 50,086,764 28,704,674
1964 49,012,016 27,984,155
1963 47,973,575 27,261,747
1962 46,965,292 26,513,030
1961 45,989,310 25,765,673
1960 45,053,782 25,012,374

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/south-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Nigeria increased by 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Nigeria gained 49,572,345 people (a 25.4% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 406,646 people (a 0.79% growth).

Nigeria was ranked 7th most populous country in 2006 and is 6th in 2026. South Korea was ranked 25th in 2006 and ranked 31st 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 South Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,362,931 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

Nigeria is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 482M people, while South Korea's population already peaked in 2020 at 51.8M people and is projected to decrease to 22M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Nigeria South Korea
2100 0.04% -1.45%
2099 0.06% -1.47%
2098 0.07% -1.48%
2097 0.09% -1.5%
2096 0.1% -1.53%
2095 0.11% -1.54%
2094 0.13% -1.55%
2093 0.15% -1.56%
2092 0.17% -1.56%
2091 0.19% -1.56%
2090 0.21% -1.56%
2089 0.23% -1.55%
2088 0.25% -1.54%
2087 0.28% -1.53%
2086 0.3% -1.52%
2085 0.32% -1.51%
2084 0.35% -1.51%
2083 0.37% -1.5%
2082 0.39% -1.5%
2081 0.42% -1.49%
2080 0.45% -1.48%
2079 0.47% -1.48%
2078 0.5% -1.49%
2077 0.52% -1.48%
2076 0.55% -1.48%
2075 0.58% -1.48%
2074 0.6% -1.48%
2073 0.63% -1.48%
2072 0.65% -1.48%
2071 0.68% -1.48%
2070 0.71% -1.48%
2069 0.73% -1.46%
2068 0.76% -1.46%
2067 0.79% -1.45%
2066 0.81% -1.45%
2065 0.84% -1.45%
2064 0.87% -1.44%
2063 0.89% -1.43%
2062 0.92% -1.4%
2061 0.94% -1.41%
2060 0.97% -1.38%
2059 0.99% -1.37%
2058 1.02% -1.33%
2057 1.05% -1.28%
2056 1.07% -1.24%
2055 1.1% -1.19%
2054 1.13% -1.16%
2053 1.16% -1.13%
2052 1.19% -1.07%
2051 1.22% -1.02%
2050 1.25% -0.97%
2049 1.28% -0.92%
2048 1.32% -0.88%
2047 1.35% -0.82%
2046 1.39% -0.79%
2045 1.43% -0.76%
2044 1.47% -0.72%
2043 1.51% -0.69%
2042 1.54% -0.67%
2041 1.59% -0.63%
2040 1.63% -0.6%
2039 1.66% -0.57%
2038 1.7% -0.53%
2037 1.74% -0.48%
2036 1.77% -0.45%
2035 1.81% -0.41%
2034 1.84% -0.37%
2033 1.88% -0.33%
2032 1.91% -0.29%
2031 1.94% -0.26%
2030 1.97% -0.23%
2029 2% -0.2%
2028 2.02% -0.17%
2027 2.05% -0.14%
2026 2.08% -0.12%
2025 2.08% -0.13%
2024 2.1% 0.07%
2023 2.12% 0.08%
2022 2.11% -0.19%
2021 2.12% -0.13%
2020 2.15% 0.14%
2019 2.22% 0.35%
2018 2.34% 0.43%
2017 2.46% 0.28%
2016 2.5% 0.4%
2015 2.57% 0.53%
2014 2.68% 0.63%
2013 2.75% 0.46%
2012 2.81% 0.53%
2011 2.84% 0.77%
2010 2.83% 0.5%
2009 2.83% 0.52%
2008 2.82% 0.76%
2007 2.81% 0.51%
2006 2.8% 0.53%
2005 2.81% 0.21%
2004 2.81% 0.4%
2003 2.8% 0.52%
2002 2.78% 0.58%
2001 2.75% 0.77%
2000 2.71% 0.84%
1999 2.67% 0.71%
1998 2.65% 0.72%
1997 2.64% 0.94%
1996 2.65% 0.96%
1995 2.67% 1.01%
1994 2.68% 1.01%
1993 2.69% 1.02%
1992 2.66% 1.04%
1991 2.68% 0.99%
1990 2.74% 0.99%
1989 2.73% 0.99%
1988 2.71% 0.98%
1987 2.7% 0.99%
1986 2.75% 1%
1985 2.87% 0.99%
1984 2.6% 1.24%
1983 2.63% 1.49%
1982 3.04% 1.56%
1981 3.12% 1.57%
1980 3.17% 1.57%
1979 3.13% 1.53%
1978 3.11% 1.53%
1977 3.03% 1.57%
1976 2.91% 1.61%
1975 2.81% 1.7%
1974 2.66% 1.73%
1973 2.53% 1.78%
1972 2.42% 1.89%
1971 2.36% 1.99%
1970 2.31% 2.21%
1969 2.24% 2.29%
1968 2.18% 2.35%
1967 2.16% 2.36%
1966 2.2% 2.55%
1965 2.19% 2.57%
1964 2.16% 2.65%
1963 2.15% 2.82%
1962 2.12% 2.9%
1961 2.08% 3.01%

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/south-korea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Nigeria grew by 2.08%, while South Korea's population declined by 0.13%.

Live population counters

Nigeria South Korea
Current population
245016045
51624449
Population rank 6/197 31/197
Percent of world population 2.95% 0.62%
One net population change
6.52 seconds
7.93 minutes
One birth every
4.17 seconds
2.16 minutes
One death every
11.6 seconds
1.45 minutes
Daily growth/decline +13,283 -182
Annual growth/decline +4,848,304 -66,501
Annual growth/decline rate +2.08% -0.13%
Population growth rate rank 45/197 169/197
One migration net change every
34.5 minutes
8.02 minutes
Annual migration change -15,258 +65,731
Net migration rank 145/196 20/196
Foreign-born residents 1,403,281 1,811,507
Foreign-born residents rank 49/195 40/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 3.5%
Foreign-born share rank 173/195 111/195

Natural population change vs migration

Nigeria
Natural

Migration
South Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Nigeria South Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -15,258 - 65,731
2024 4,851,833 -35,202 -119,027 75,963
2023 4,834,309 -57,936 -124,111 87,800
2022 4,739,502 -51,680 -124,014 87,800
2021 4,641,562 -86,115 -56,947 -16,778
2020 4,525,164 -14,497 -31,101 112,631
2019 4,609,941 -99,722 10,353 128,622
2018 4,659,898 -76,565 30,951 118,220
2017 4,706,183 78,685 71,907 104,029
2016 4,761,594 75,265 122,923 91,568
2015 4,823,045 -116,162 163,248 276,427
2014 4,862,319 -19,376 167,464 308,037
2013 4,811,751 40,201 166,415 301,926
2012 4,774,508 71,138 215,859 281,866
2011 4,728,363 67,808 214,728 269,958
2010 4,629,173 47,966 213,083 52,042
2009 4,528,149 -18,422 197,231 5,308
2008 4,412,976 -13,646 215,841 -19,630
2007 4,265,428 -9,162 248,286 -42,293
2006 4,135,703 -12,093 203,441 -28,434
2005 4,013,788 -17,146 187,920 -47,821
2004 3,877,376 46,370 225,988 -42,549
2003 3,751,120 33,857 244,251 -31,994
2002 3,606,814 69,594 247,752 -18,105
2001 3,478,370 64,163 312,643 -28,006
2000 3,343,196 74,535 390,167 -84,960
1999 3,155,425 97,195 368,272 -107,448
1998 3,003,946 145,575 393,436 -98,044
1997 2,936,500 96,885 422,773 -109,130
1996 2,882,205 84,448 446,142 -115,705
1995 2,830,771 73,243 468,967 -208,491
1994 2,735,198 128,134 473,200 -208,309
1993 2,673,675 90,200 477,302 -222,802
1992 2,596,173 138,412 494,352 -265,849
1991 2,527,807 42,760 467,594 -270,754
1990 2,491,928 135,959 411,546 79,294
1989 2,452,324 99,588 403,266 186,120
1988 2,376,419 93,510 399,297 192,534
1987 2,322,397 64,418 378,758 198,057
1986 2,295,003 29,682 395,651 189,782
1985 2,289,784 61,514 416,219 97,949
1984 2,278,060 113,758 436,384 101,394
1983 2,292,089 -507,539 514,844 102,167
1982 2,233,401 101,116 605,626 48,638
1981 2,179,884 106,723 631,189 18,442
1980 2,121,618 198,672 583,294 -148,341
1979 2,074,807 137,721 623,068 -139,566
1978 2,019,621 111,258 499,084 -85,721
1977 1,923,917 129,075 578,947 -90,737
1976 1,827,289 72,889 530,558 -92,314
1975 1,718,623 75,603 603,300 -52,332
1974 1,624,813 44,281 673,030 27,005
1973 1,525,485 -618 699,115 35,779
1972 1,448,928 -12,962 740,469 25,382
1971 1,373,896 -35,639 789,185 -6,326
1970 1,295,507 7,953 747,987 -27,999
1969 1,213,484 6,912 694,227 -21,175
1968 1,168,254 9,615 684,487 -16,868
1967 1,082,884 18,683 692,169 -16,484
1966 1,095,582 12,513 623,534 -16,688
1965 1,061,840 32,988 641,090 -146,386
1964 1,028,272 26,411 655,501 -102,284
1963 995,116 27,115 685,824 -80,226
1962 966,452 27,906 712,590 -94,606
1961 932,111 25,515 730,173 -93,179
1960 901,301 12,131 728,010 47,245

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

GeoRank.org/population/nigeria/south-korea | 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 South Korea 4.97% is from natural causes (a loss of 55,818 people) and 95% is from migration (a gain of 1,066,282 people).

As of 2024, 1,403,281 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Nigeria, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.

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
South Korea
City Population
Seoul 9.67M
Busan 3.45M
Incheon 3.05M
Daegu 2.38M
Daejeon 1.48M
Gwangju 1.41M
Suwon 1.23M
Ulsan 1.13M
Yongin 1.08M
Goyang 1.06M

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

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