Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Nigeria was 237,527,782 in 2025 vs 12,188,788 people in South Sudan in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nigeria's population is 245,016,045 people compared to 12,565,048 in South Sudan.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 19.5 times bigger than South Sudan's.
  • Nigeria is ranked the 6th most populous country in the world, while South Sudan is the 80th.
  • The countries together account for 3.1% of the world: 2.95% for Nigeria vs 0.15% for South Sudan.
  • For the last 10 years, Nigeria has had an average growth rate of +2.25% per year vs +0.78% in South Sudan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nigeria has increased from 149M people to 245M (64.4% growth), while South Sudan has grown from 7.98M to 12.6M (57.5% growth).

Nigeria vs South Sudan: population by year and forecast

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nigeria South Sudan
2100 481,640,156 24,078,379
2099 481,456,918 24,072,957
2098 481,181,892 24,054,947
2097 480,838,161 24,056,753
2096 480,422,467 24,045,972
2095 479,938,579 24,037,837
2094 479,395,022 24,039,267
2093 478,769,369 24,030,512
2092 478,059,864 24,010,555
2091 477,236,907 23,991,816
2090 476,329,495 23,970,012
2089 475,326,347 23,929,017
2088 474,231,442 23,883,712
2087 473,035,563 23,848,809
2086 471,732,001 23,794,890
2085 470,328,175 23,750,772
2084 468,806,172 23,678,728
2083 467,187,453 23,609,290
2082 465,472,417 23,532,790
2081 463,643,190 23,458,146
2080 461,705,493 23,383,482
2079 459,644,523 23,286,011
2078 457,477,264 23,188,860
2077 455,218,871 23,078,416
2076 452,849,991 22,979,198
2075 450,367,356 22,860,496
2074 447,789,885 22,718,148
2073 445,117,028 22,575,682
2072 442,340,440 22,431,004
2071 439,464,323 22,280,140
2070 436,505,329 22,143,813
2069 433,437,998 21,995,874
2068 430,286,232 21,822,076
2067 427,032,499 21,654,546
2066 423,702,640 21,489,275
2065 420,285,359 21,309,913
2064 416,778,394 21,134,522
2063 413,198,800 20,957,705
2062 409,551,159 20,777,701
2061 405,827,482 20,601,672
2060 402,041,765 20,423,629
2059 398,197,311 20,227,862
2058 394,284,767 20,041,880
2057 390,311,065 19,846,671
2056 386,267,580 19,652,407
2055 382,162,992 19,457,411
2054 378,000,511 19,250,667
2053 373,769,779 19,053,773
2052 369,472,476 18,833,795
2051 365,120,741 18,626,605
2050 360,706,317 18,427,690
2049 356,243,287 18,224,430
2048 351,724,743 18,014,650
2047 347,142,279 17,799,982
2046 342,505,549 17,572,953
2045 337,807,869 17,348,901
2044 333,050,132 17,115,914
2043 328,230,652 16,882,303
2042 323,363,366 16,639,465
2041 318,443,989 16,390,966
2040 313,468,061 16,137,104
2039 308,450,008 15,884,330
2038 303,399,842 15,622,514
2037 298,327,800 15,358,539
2036 293,227,654 15,085,936
2035 288,115,630 14,810,066
2034 282,995,818 14,538,365
2033 277,875,880 14,273,128
2032 272,747,599 14,002,178
2031 267,645,657 13,725,779
2030 262,562,767 13,460,850
2029 257,484,616 13,201,804
2028 252,445,821 12,942,501
2027 247,437,680 12,688,278
2026 242,458,365 12,434,895
2025 237,527,782 12,188,788
2024 232,679,478 11,943,408
2023 227,882,945 11,483,374
2022 223,150,896 11,021,177
2021 218,529,286 10,865,780
2020 213,996,181 10,698,467
2019 209,485,641 10,423,384
2018 204,938,755 10,122,977
2017 200,254,579 10,259,154
2016 195,443,700 10,830,102
2015 190,671,878 11,107,561
2014 185,896,915 11,235,073
2013 181,049,443 11,166,275
2012 176,200,625 10,756,240
2011 171,379,598 10,288,109
2010 166,642,886 9,745,953
2009 162,049,464 9,243,556
2008 157,595,014 8,817,647
2007 153,267,261 8,388,788
2006 149,077,334 7,976,526
2005 145,017,253 7,590,143
2004 141,057,045 7,233,041
2003 137,202,644 6,903,127
2002 133,471,989 6,596,806
2001 129,862,595 6,308,391
2000 126,382,494 6,032,267
1999 123,047,320 5,771,628
1998 119,846,254 5,620,068
1997 116,754,792 5,509,136
1996 113,754,779 5,356,925
1995 110,819,428 5,225,836
1994 107,935,714 5,071,184
1993 105,122,069 4,956,002
1992 102,372,770 4,909,749
1991 99,720,162 4,836,677
1990 97,120,925 4,737,633
1989 94,531,014 4,713,229
1988 92,020,090 4,848,029
1987 89,591,716 4,962,395
1986 87,235,953 4,921,240
1985 84,897,973 4,834,296
1984 82,526,443 4,750,627
1983 80,438,260 4,661,574
1982 78,378,701 4,557,686
1981 76,068,103 4,447,272
1980 73,764,641 4,339,030
1979 71,498,242 4,232,605
1978 69,326,532 4,127,657
1977 67,234,590 4,024,032
1976 65,258,009 3,921,910
1975 63,410,815 3,821,494
1974 61,679,144 3,723,259
1973 60,082,139 3,627,383
1972 58,601,748 3,542,497
1971 57,214,684 3,468,646
1970 55,893,838 3,409,614
1969 54,631,914 3,365,533
1968 53,432,783 3,321,528
1967 52,293,065 3,277,648
1966 51,188,234 3,236,423
1965 50,086,764 3,189,835
1964 49,012,016 3,129,918
1963 47,973,575 3,072,669
1962 46,965,292 3,024,308
1961 45,989,310 2,976,724
1960 45,053,782 2,931,559

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-sudan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Nigeria increased by 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth), while South Sudan gained 2,853,576 people (a 35.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Nigeria gained 49,572,345 people (a 25.4% growth), while South Sudan's population increased by 1,734,946 people (a 16% growth).

Nigeria was ranked 7th most populous country in 2006 and is 6th in 2026. South Sudan was ranked 92nd in 2006 and ranked 80th 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 Sudan will increase by 46.7% to 18,427,690 people and rank change from 80th to 78th.

Nigeria is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 482M people compared to the peak of 24.1M people in 2100 for South Sudan.

Population growth rate by year

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Nigeria South Sudan
2100 0.04% 0.02%
2099 0.06% 0.07%
2098 0.07% -0.008%
2097 0.09% 0.04%
2096 0.1% 0.03%
2095 0.11% -0.006%
2094 0.13% 0.04%
2093 0.15% 0.08%
2092 0.17% 0.08%
2091 0.19% 0.09%
2090 0.21% 0.17%
2089 0.23% 0.19%
2088 0.25% 0.15%
2087 0.28% 0.23%
2086 0.3% 0.19%
2085 0.32% 0.3%
2084 0.35% 0.29%
2083 0.37% 0.33%
2082 0.39% 0.32%
2081 0.42% 0.32%
2080 0.45% 0.42%
2079 0.47% 0.42%
2078 0.5% 0.48%
2077 0.52% 0.43%
2076 0.55% 0.52%
2075 0.58% 0.63%
2074 0.6% 0.63%
2073 0.63% 0.64%
2072 0.65% 0.68%
2071 0.68% 0.62%
2070 0.71% 0.67%
2069 0.73% 0.8%
2068 0.76% 0.77%
2067 0.79% 0.77%
2066 0.81% 0.84%
2065 0.84% 0.83%
2064 0.87% 0.84%
2063 0.89% 0.87%
2062 0.92% 0.85%
2061 0.94% 0.87%
2060 0.97% 0.97%
2059 0.99% 0.93%
2058 1.02% 0.98%
2057 1.05% 0.99%
2056 1.07% 1%
2055 1.1% 1.07%
2054 1.13% 1.03%
2053 1.16% 1.17%
2052 1.19% 1.11%
2051 1.22% 1.08%
2050 1.25% 1.12%
2049 1.28% 1.16%
2048 1.32% 1.21%
2047 1.35% 1.29%
2046 1.39% 1.29%
2045 1.43% 1.36%
2044 1.47% 1.38%
2043 1.51% 1.46%
2042 1.54% 1.52%
2041 1.59% 1.57%
2040 1.63% 1.59%
2039 1.66% 1.68%
2038 1.7% 1.72%
2037 1.74% 1.81%
2036 1.77% 1.86%
2035 1.81% 1.87%
2034 1.84% 1.86%
2033 1.88% 1.94%
2032 1.91% 2.01%
2031 1.94% 1.97%
2030 1.97% 1.96%
2029 2% 2%
2028 2.02% 2%
2027 2.05% 2.04%
2026 2.08% 2.02%
2025 2.08% 2.05%
2024 2.1% 4.01%
2023 2.12% 4.19%
2022 2.11% 1.43%
2021 2.12% 1.56%
2020 2.15% 2.64%
2019 2.22% 2.97%
2018 2.34% -1.33%
2017 2.46% -5.27%
2016 2.5% -2.5%
2015 2.57% -1.13%
2014 2.68% 0.62%
2013 2.75% 3.81%
2012 2.81% 4.55%
2011 2.84% 5.56%
2010 2.83% 5.44%
2009 2.83% 4.83%
2008 2.82% 5.11%
2007 2.81% 5.17%
2006 2.8% 5.09%
2005 2.81% 4.94%
2004 2.81% 4.78%
2003 2.8% 4.64%
2002 2.78% 4.57%
2001 2.75% 4.58%
2000 2.71% 4.52%
1999 2.67% 2.7%
1998 2.65% 2.01%
1997 2.64% 2.84%
1996 2.65% 2.51%
1995 2.67% 3.05%
1994 2.68% 2.32%
1993 2.69% 0.94%
1992 2.66% 1.51%
1991 2.68% 2.09%
1990 2.74% 0.52%
1989 2.73% -2.78%
1988 2.71% -2.3%
1987 2.7% 0.84%
1986 2.75% 1.8%
1985 2.87% 1.76%
1984 2.6% 1.91%
1983 2.63% 2.28%
1982 3.04% 2.48%
1981 3.12% 2.49%
1980 3.17% 2.51%
1979 3.13% 2.54%
1978 3.11% 2.58%
1977 3.03% 2.6%
1976 2.91% 2.63%
1975 2.81% 2.64%
1974 2.66% 2.64%
1973 2.53% 2.4%
1972 2.42% 2.13%
1971 2.36% 1.73%
1970 2.31% 1.31%
1969 2.24% 1.32%
1968 2.18% 1.34%
1967 2.16% 1.27%
1966 2.2% 1.46%
1965 2.19% 1.91%
1964 2.16% 1.86%
1963 2.15% 1.6%
1962 2.12% 1.6%
1961 2.08% 1.54%

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-sudan | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Nigeria grew by 2.08%, while South Sudan's population grew by 2.05%.

Live population counters

Nigeria South Sudan
Current population
245016045
12565048
Population rank 6/197 80/197
Percent of world population 2.95% 0.15%
One net population change
6.52 seconds
2.15 minutes
One birth every
4.17 seconds
1.51 minutes
One death every
11.6 seconds
4.48 minutes
Daily growth/decline +13,283 +672
Annual growth/decline +4,848,304 +245,380
Annual growth/decline rate +2.08% +2.05%
Population growth rate rank 45/197 48/197
One migration net change every
34.5 minutes
1.43 hours
Annual migration change -15,258 +6,145
Net migration rank 145/196 50/196
Foreign-born residents 1,403,281 914,001
Foreign-born residents rank 49/195 62/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 7.7%
Foreign-born share rank 173/195 77/195

Natural population change vs migration

Nigeria
Natural

Migration
South Sudan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Nigeria South Sudan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -15,258 - 6,145
2024 4,851,833 -35,202 231,714 15,374
2023 4,834,309 -57,936 217,966 455,000
2022 4,739,502 -51,680 211,166 40,259
2021 4,641,562 -86,115 213,567 -154,359
2020 4,525,164 -14,497 212,332 62,935
2019 4,609,941 -99,722 209,708 65,198
2018 4,659,898 -76,565 168,497 157,408
2017 4,706,183 78,685 72,193 -670,477
2016 4,761,594 75,265 110,553 -654,225
2015 4,823,045 -116,162 148,542 -159,822
2014 4,862,319 -19,376 227,611 -471,523
2013 4,811,751 40,201 315,983 65,337
2012 4,774,508 71,138 312,974 125,771
2011 4,728,363 67,808 303,181 194,325
2010 4,629,173 47,966 287,409 299,402
2009 4,528,149 -18,422 278,859 139,129
2008 4,412,976 -13,646 268,268 165,557
2007 4,265,428 -9,162 256,546 167,350
2006 4,135,703 -12,093 246,706 153,926
2005 4,013,788 -17,146 239,272 132,869
2004 3,877,376 46,370 231,877 110,182
2003 3,751,120 33,857 225,822 91,951
2002 3,606,814 69,594 212,014 82,847
2001 3,478,370 64,163 204,108 77,856
2000 3,343,196 74,535 196,055 74,227
1999 3,155,425 97,195 180,721 70,271
1998 3,003,946 145,575 -12,157 64,285
1997 2,936,500 96,885 121,454 48,280
1996 2,882,205 84,448 116,728 17,953
1995 2,830,771 73,243 110,417 17,077
1994 2,735,198 128,134 165,407 16,407
1993 2,673,675 90,200 32,779 15,772
1992 2,596,173 138,412 28,874 15,077
1991 2,527,807 42,760 87,873 14,327
1990 2,491,928 135,959 82,900 12,988
1989 2,452,324 99,588 83,735 -130,821
1988 2,376,419 93,510 -125,447 -97,065
1987 2,322,397 64,418 5,756 -11,976
1986 2,295,003 29,682 99,502 -10,973
1985 2,289,784 61,514 95,342 -9,986
1984 2,278,060 113,758 90,970 -8,984
1983 2,292,089 -507,539 104,107 -7,986
1982 2,233,401 101,116 118,641 -6,983
1981 2,179,884 106,723 115,163 -5,994
1980 2,121,618 198,672 112,307 -4,997
1979 2,074,807 137,721 109,540 -3,997
1978 2,019,621 111,258 107,352 -2,998
1977 1,923,917 129,075 104,886 -1,997
1976 1,827,289 72,889 102,346 -995
1975 1,718,623 75,603 99,882 -395
1974 1,624,813 44,281 97,181 -192
1973 1,525,485 -618 94,765 0
1972 1,448,928 -12,962 74,803 193
1971 1,373,896 -35,639 72,308 394
1970 1,295,507 7,953 44,776 587
1969 1,213,484 6,912 42,015 786
1968 1,168,254 9,615 44,213 995
1967 1,082,884 18,683 41,357 1,194
1966 1,095,582 12,513 38,523 1,386
1965 1,061,840 32,988 51,682 1,591
1964 1,028,272 26,411 64,786 1,785
1963 995,116 27,115 46,333 1,591
1962 966,452 27,906 47,406 1,386
1961 932,111 25,515 45,186 1,194
1960 901,301 12,131 42,945 995

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

GeoRank.org/population/nigeria/south-sudan | 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 Sudan 68.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,796,238 people) and 31.9% is from migration (a loss of 842,709 people).

As of 2024, 1,403,281 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Nigeria, compared to 914,001 people or 7.7% in South Sudan.

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 Sudan
City Population
Juba 500K
Wau 321K
Bor 315K
Malakal 147K
Yambio 130K

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-sudan | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.