Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Nigeria was 232,679,478 in 2024 vs 11,943,408 people in South Sudan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nigeria's population is 243,824,469 people compared to 12,507,858 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 3.09% of the world: 2.94% for Nigeria vs 0.15% for South Sudan.
  • For the last 10 years, Nigeria has had an average growth rate of +2.31% per year vs +0.65% in South Sudan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nigeria has increased from 149M people to 244M (63.6% growth), while South Sudan has grown from 7.98M to 12.5M (56.8% growth).

Nigeria vs South Sudan: population by year and forecast

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nigeria South Sudan
2100 481,678,166 24,086,901
2099 481,494,914 24,081,477
2098 481,219,866 24,063,461
2097 480,876,108 24,065,268
2096 480,460,381 24,054,483
2095 479,976,454 24,046,345
2094 479,432,855 24,047,776
2093 478,807,152 24,039,017
2092 478,097,591 24,019,054
2091 477,274,569 24,000,308
2090 476,367,086 23,978,496
2089 475,363,859 23,937,487
2088 474,268,867 23,892,166
2087 473,072,894 23,857,250
2086 471,769,229 23,803,312
2085 470,365,292 23,759,178
2084 468,843,169 23,687,109
2083 467,224,322 23,617,646
2082 465,509,151 23,541,119
2081 463,679,779 23,466,449
2080 461,741,930 23,391,758
2079 459,680,797 23,294,252
2078 457,513,367 23,197,067
2077 455,254,796 23,086,584
2076 452,885,729 22,987,331
2075 450,402,898 22,868,587
2074 447,825,224 22,726,189
2073 445,152,156 22,583,672
2072 442,375,349 22,438,943
2071 439,499,004 22,288,026
2070 436,539,777 22,151,650
2069 433,472,204 22,003,659
2068 430,320,190 21,829,800
2067 427,066,199 21,662,211
2066 423,736,078 21,496,881
2065 420,318,527 21,317,455
2064 416,811,285 21,142,002
2063 413,231,409 20,965,122
2062 409,583,480 20,785,055
2061 405,859,509 20,608,964
2060 402,073,494 20,430,857
2059 398,228,736 20,235,022
2058 394,315,883 20,048,974
2057 390,341,867 19,853,696
2056 386,298,064 19,659,362
2055 382,193,151 19,464,297
2054 378,030,342 19,257,481
2053 373,799,276 19,060,517
2052 369,501,634 18,840,461
2051 365,149,555 18,633,198
2050 360,734,783 18,434,212
2049 356,271,401 18,230,881
2048 351,752,501 18,021,026
2047 347,169,674 17,806,282
2046 342,532,578 17,579,173
2045 337,834,528 17,355,041
2044 333,076,416 17,121,972
2043 328,256,555 16,888,278
2042 323,388,886 16,645,354
2041 318,469,120 16,396,768
2040 313,492,800 16,142,816
2039 308,474,350 15,889,952
2038 303,423,786 15,628,043
2037 298,351,344 15,363,975
2036 293,250,795 15,091,275
2035 288,138,368 14,815,307
2034 283,018,151 14,543,511
2033 277,897,810 14,278,180
2032 272,769,123 14,007,134
2031 267,666,779 13,730,637
2030 262,583,487 13,465,615
2029 257,504,936 13,206,477
2028 252,465,743 12,947,082
2027 247,457,208 12,692,769
2026 242,477,499 12,439,296
2025 237,546,527 12,193,102
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 48,380,769 people (a 24.8% growth), while South Sudan's population increased by 1,677,756 people (a 15.5% 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 47.9% to 360,734,783 people with a rank change from 6th to 5th. The population of South Sudan will increase by 47.4% to 18,434,212 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 2.09% 2.09%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/nigeria/south-sudan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Nigeria grew by 2.1%, while South Sudan's population grew by 4.01%.

Live population counters

Nigeria South Sudan
Current population
243824469
12507858
Population rank 6/197 80/197
Percent of world population 2.94% 0.15%
One net population change
6.58 seconds
1.14 minutes
One birth every
4.2 seconds
1.6 minutes
One death every
11.8 seconds
4.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline +13,141 +1,260
Annual growth/decline +4,796,533 +460,034
Annual growth/decline rate +2.1% +4.01%
Population growth rate rank 48/197 7/197
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 - -35,202 - 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 2026-04-06).

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 47,163,517 people) and 0.77% is from migration (a loss of 368,103 people). In South Sudan 57.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,792,135 people) and 42.6% is from migration (a loss of 1,329,606 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 2.55M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Maiduguri 1.2M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M
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 (1960–2024, 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-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 2026-04-06)
  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)

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.