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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Nigeria was 237,527,782 in 2025 vs 49,355,143 people in Spain in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nigeria's population is 245,016,045 people compared to 49,323,658 in Spain.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 4.97 times bigger than Spain's.
  • Nigeria is ranked the 6th most populous country in the world, while Spain is the 32nd.
  • The countries together account for 3.54% of the world: 2.95% for Nigeria vs 0.59% for Spain.
  • For the last 10 years, Nigeria has had an average growth rate of +2.25% per year vs +0.55% in Spain.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nigeria has increased from 149M people to 245M (64.4% growth), while Spain has grown from 44.4M to 49.3M (11.1% growth).

Nigeria vs Spain: population by year and forecast

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nigeria Spain
2100 481,640,156 34,221,514
2099 481,456,918 34,400,373
2098 481,181,892 34,577,450
2097 480,838,161 34,751,199
2096 480,422,467 34,917,831
2095 479,938,579 35,087,012
2094 479,395,022 35,251,362
2093 478,769,369 35,415,082
2092 478,059,864 35,577,396
2091 477,236,907 35,741,351
2090 476,329,495 35,912,083
2089 475,326,347 36,086,009
2088 474,231,442 36,257,546
2087 473,035,563 36,424,826
2086 471,732,001 36,594,101
2085 470,328,175 36,771,456
2084 468,806,172 36,951,760
2083 467,187,453 37,138,777
2082 465,472,417 37,327,720
2081 463,643,190 37,527,142
2080 461,705,493 37,732,838
2079 459,644,523 37,949,144
2078 457,477,264 38,171,047
2077 455,218,871 38,405,329
2076 452,849,991 38,654,221
2075 450,367,356 38,913,733
2074 447,789,885 39,188,284
2073 445,117,028 39,469,767
2072 442,340,440 39,765,059
2071 439,464,323 40,062,070
2070 436,505,329 40,372,388
2069 433,437,998 40,682,818
2068 430,286,232 41,005,148
2067 427,032,499 41,326,772
2066 423,702,640 41,654,672
2065 420,285,359 41,983,104
2064 416,778,394 42,321,736
2063 413,198,800 42,655,212
2062 409,551,159 42,993,328
2061 405,827,482 43,328,037
2060 402,041,765 43,648,753
2059 398,197,311 43,967,376
2058 394,284,767 44,273,756
2057 390,311,065 44,579,723
2056 386,267,580 44,885,952
2055 382,162,992 45,164,935
2054 378,000,511 45,434,986
2053 373,769,779 45,702,038
2052 369,472,476 45,951,973
2051 365,120,741 46,179,119
2050 360,706,317 46,397,620
2049 356,243,287 46,616,167
2048 351,724,743 46,812,693
2047 347,142,279 47,002,591
2046 342,505,549 47,182,235
2045 337,807,869 47,354,908
2044 333,050,132 47,514,076
2043 328,230,652 47,657,627
2042 323,363,366 47,801,904
2041 318,443,989 47,936,819
2040 313,468,061 48,066,825
2039 308,450,008 48,190,225
2038 303,399,842 48,304,880
2037 298,327,800 48,418,168
2036 293,227,654 48,528,778
2035 288,115,630 48,633,960
2034 282,995,818 48,730,594
2033 277,875,880 48,823,356
2032 272,747,599 48,914,944
2031 267,645,657 49,008,735
2030 262,562,767 49,094,273
2029 257,484,616 49,163,780
2028 252,445,821 49,223,677
2027 247,437,680 49,274,441
2026 242,458,365 49,323,658
2025 237,527,782 49,355,143
2024 232,679,478 48,848,840
2023 227,882,945 48,352,528
2022 223,150,896 47,786,102
2021 218,529,286 47,443,821
2020 213,996,181 47,359,424
2019 209,485,641 47,118,501
2018 204,938,755 46,782,011
2017 200,254,579 46,571,232
2016 195,443,700 46,458,139
2015 190,671,878 46,422,303
2014 185,896,915 46,460,733
2013 181,049,443 46,604,197
2012 176,200,625 46,773,055
2011 171,379,598 46,742,697
2010 166,642,886 46,576,897
2009 162,049,464 46,362,946
2008 157,595,014 45,954,106
2007 153,267,261 45,226,803
2006 149,077,334 44,397,319
2005 145,017,253 43,653,155
2004 141,057,045 42,921,895
2003 137,202,644 42,187,645
2002 133,471,989 41,431,558
2001 129,862,595 40,850,412
2000 126,382,494 40,567,864
1999 123,047,320 40,386,875
1998 119,846,254 40,223,509
1997 116,754,792 40,057,389
1996 113,754,779 39,889,852
1995 110,819,428 39,724,050
1994 107,935,714 39,549,108
1993 105,122,069 39,361,262
1992 102,372,770 39,157,685
1991 99,720,162 38,966,376
1990 97,120,925 38,867,322
1989 94,531,014 38,827,764
1988 92,020,090 38,766,939
1987 89,591,716 38,684,815
1986 87,235,953 38,584,624
1985 84,897,973 38,469,512
1984 82,526,443 38,330,364
1983 80,438,260 38,171,525
1982 78,378,701 37,986,012
1981 76,068,103 37,758,631
1980 73,764,641 37,491,165
1979 71,498,242 37,191,330
1978 69,326,532 36,864,898
1977 67,234,590 36,511,638
1976 65,258,009 36,137,812
1975 63,410,815 35,757,900
1974 61,679,144 35,373,335
1973 60,082,139 34,988,947
1972 58,601,748 34,604,469
1971 57,214,684 34,224,490
1970 55,893,838 33,814,531
1969 54,631,914 33,441,054
1968 53,432,783 33,113,134
1967 52,293,065 32,682,947
1966 51,188,234 32,283,194
1965 50,086,764 31,954,292
1964 49,012,016 31,609,195
1963 47,973,575 31,296,651
1962 46,965,292 31,023,366
1961 45,989,310 30,739,250
1960 45,053,782 30,455,000

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/spain | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Nigeria increased by 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth), while Spain gained 2,060,820 people (a 4.64% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Nigeria gained 49,572,345 people (a 25.4% growth), while Spain's population increased by 2,865,519 people (a 6.17% growth).

Nigeria was ranked 7th most populous country in 2006 and is 6th in 2026. Spain was ranked 28th in 2006 and ranked 32nd 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 Spain will decrease by 5.93% to 46,397,620 people and rank change from 32nd to 46th.

Nigeria is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 482M people, while Spain's population already peaked in 2025 at 49.4M people and is projected to decrease to 34.2M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Nigeria Spain
2100 0.04% -0.52%
2099 0.06% -0.51%
2098 0.07% -0.5%
2097 0.09% -0.48%
2096 0.1% -0.48%
2095 0.11% -0.47%
2094 0.13% -0.46%
2093 0.15% -0.46%
2092 0.17% -0.46%
2091 0.19% -0.48%
2090 0.21% -0.48%
2089 0.23% -0.47%
2088 0.25% -0.46%
2087 0.28% -0.46%
2086 0.3% -0.48%
2085 0.32% -0.49%
2084 0.35% -0.5%
2083 0.37% -0.51%
2082 0.39% -0.53%
2081 0.42% -0.55%
2080 0.45% -0.57%
2079 0.47% -0.58%
2078 0.5% -0.61%
2077 0.52% -0.64%
2076 0.55% -0.67%
2075 0.58% -0.7%
2074 0.6% -0.71%
2073 0.63% -0.74%
2072 0.65% -0.74%
2071 0.68% -0.77%
2070 0.71% -0.76%
2069 0.73% -0.79%
2068 0.76% -0.78%
2067 0.79% -0.79%
2066 0.81% -0.78%
2065 0.84% -0.8%
2064 0.87% -0.78%
2063 0.89% -0.79%
2062 0.92% -0.77%
2061 0.94% -0.73%
2060 0.97% -0.72%
2059 0.99% -0.69%
2058 1.02% -0.69%
2057 1.05% -0.68%
2056 1.07% -0.62%
2055 1.1% -0.59%
2054 1.13% -0.58%
2053 1.16% -0.54%
2052 1.19% -0.49%
2051 1.22% -0.47%
2050 1.25% -0.47%
2049 1.28% -0.42%
2048 1.32% -0.4%
2047 1.35% -0.38%
2046 1.39% -0.36%
2045 1.43% -0.33%
2044 1.47% -0.3%
2043 1.51% -0.3%
2042 1.54% -0.28%
2041 1.59% -0.27%
2040 1.63% -0.26%
2039 1.66% -0.24%
2038 1.7% -0.23%
2037 1.74% -0.23%
2036 1.77% -0.22%
2035 1.81% -0.2%
2034 1.84% -0.19%
2033 1.88% -0.19%
2032 1.91% -0.19%
2031 1.94% -0.17%
2030 1.97% -0.14%
2029 2% -0.12%
2028 2.02% -0.1%
2027 2.05% -0.1%
2026 2.08% -0.06%
2025 2.08% 1.04%
2024 2.1% 1.03%
2023 2.12% 1.19%
2022 2.11% 0.72%
2021 2.12% 0.18%
2020 2.15% 0.51%
2019 2.22% 0.72%
2018 2.34% 0.45%
2017 2.46% 0.24%
2016 2.5% 0.08%
2015 2.57% -0.08%
2014 2.68% -0.31%
2013 2.75% -0.36%
2012 2.81% 0.06%
2011 2.84% 0.36%
2010 2.83% 0.46%
2009 2.83% 0.89%
2008 2.82% 1.61%
2007 2.81% 1.87%
2006 2.8% 1.7%
2005 2.81% 1.7%
2004 2.81% 1.74%
2003 2.8% 1.82%
2002 2.78% 1.42%
2001 2.75% 0.7%
2000 2.71% 0.45%
1999 2.67% 0.41%
1998 2.65% 0.41%
1997 2.64% 0.42%
1996 2.65% 0.42%
1995 2.67% 0.44%
1994 2.68% 0.48%
1993 2.69% 0.52%
1992 2.66% 0.49%
1991 2.68% 0.25%
1990 2.74% 0.1%
1989 2.73% 0.16%
1988 2.71% 0.21%
1987 2.7% 0.26%
1986 2.75% 0.3%
1985 2.87% 0.36%
1984 2.6% 0.42%
1983 2.63% 0.49%
1982 3.04% 0.6%
1981 3.12% 0.71%
1980 3.17% 0.81%
1979 3.13% 0.89%
1978 3.11% 0.97%
1977 3.03% 1.03%
1976 2.91% 1.06%
1975 2.81% 1.09%
1974 2.66% 1.1%
1973 2.53% 1.11%
1972 2.42% 1.11%
1971 2.36% 1.21%
1970 2.31% 1.12%
1969 2.24% 0.99%
1968 2.18% 1.32%
1967 2.16% 1.24%
1966 2.2% 1.03%
1965 2.19% 1.09%
1964 2.16% 1%
1963 2.15% 0.88%
1962 2.12% 0.92%
1961 2.08% 0.93%

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/spain | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Nigeria grew by 2.08%, while Spain's population grew by 1.04%.

Live population counters

Nigeria Spain
Current population
245016045
49323658
Population rank 6/197 32/197
Percent of world population 2.95% 0.59%
One net population change
6.52 seconds
1.04 minutes
One birth every
4.17 seconds
1.66 minutes
One death every
11.6 seconds
1.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +13,283 +1,387
Annual growth/decline +4,848,304 +506,303
Annual growth/decline rate +2.08% +1.04%
Population growth rate rank 45/197 98/197
One migration net change every
34.5 minutes
5.45 minutes
Annual migration change -15,258 +96,630
Net migration rank 145/196 17/196
Foreign-born residents 1,403,281 8,870,527
Foreign-born residents rank 49/195 6/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 18.5%
Foreign-born share rank 173/195 32/195

Natural population change vs migration

Nigeria
Natural

Migration
Spain
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Nigeria Spain
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -15,258 - 96,630
2024 4,851,833 -35,202 -117,237 111,674
2023 4,834,309 -57,936 -116,046 119,099
2022 4,739,502 -51,680 -133,801 299,779
2021 4,641,562 -86,115 -113,865 144,385
2020 4,525,164 -14,497 -151,551 236,854
2019 4,609,941 -99,722 -56,542 464,783
2018 4,659,898 -76,565 -56,139 337,467
2017 4,706,183 78,685 -32,600 201,135
2016 4,761,594 75,265 0 106,474
2015 4,823,045 -116,162 -4,642 -1,979
2014 4,862,319 -19,376 32,522 -97,870
2013 4,811,751 40,201 37,284 -250,741
2012 4,774,508 71,138 51,450 -153,486
2011 4,728,363 67,808 84,137 60,761
2010 4,629,173 47,966 102,469 69,406
2009 4,528,149 -18,422 106,635 129,557
2008 4,412,976 -13,646 133,267 434,135
2007 4,265,428 -9,162 108,545 772,317
2006 4,135,703 -12,093 110,994 659,720
2005 4,013,788 -17,146 78,576 629,803
2004 3,877,376 46,370 85,844 661,158
2003 3,751,120 33,857 54,844 658,428
2002 3,606,814 69,594 53,861 737,880
2001 3,478,370 64,163 44,936 181,307
2000 3,343,196 74,535 36,512 176,269
1999 3,155,425 97,195 8,077 178,559
1998 3,003,946 145,575 4,022 182,926
1997 2,936,500 96,885 20,028 165,345
1996 2,882,205 84,448 11,967 162,704
1995 2,830,771 73,243 15,889 162,434
1994 2,735,198 128,134 31,639 160,407
1993 2,673,675 90,200 47,234 160,907
1992 2,596,173 138,412 62,652 177,544
1991 2,527,807 42,760 58,450 122,841
1990 2,491,928 135,959 66,075 -30,684
1989 2,452,324 99,588 81,538 -25,892
1988 2,376,419 93,510 100,794 -17,663
1987 2,322,397 64,418 116,054 -12,681
1986 2,295,003 29,682 131,188 -13,540
1985 2,289,784 61,514 146,184 -589
1984 2,278,060 113,758 172,487 2,754
1983 2,292,089 -507,539 183,223 1,241
1982 2,233,401 101,116 231,714 -7,384
1981 2,179,884 106,723 237,879 2,563
1980 2,121,618 198,672 281,184 20,166
1979 2,074,807 137,721 312,407 -5,929
1978 2,019,621 111,258 339,157 -2,504
1977 1,923,917 129,075 361,465 -1,332
1976 1,827,289 72,889 375,834 2,804
1975 1,718,623 75,603 371,882 -218
1974 1,624,813 44,281 396,182 105,838
1973 1,525,485 -618 374,381 8,624
1972 1,448,928 -12,962 391,030 7,935
1971 1,373,896 -35,639 369,625 7,363
1970 1,295,507 7,953 378,723 -60,580
1969 1,213,484 6,912 367,851 -49,956
1968 1,168,254 9,615 387,423 -46,088
1967 1,082,884 18,683 402,001 -42,344
1966 1,095,582 12,513 397,084 -41,467
1965 1,061,840 32,988 405,819 -42,476
1964 1,028,272 26,411 429,885 -41,461
1963 995,116 27,115 394,338 -44,446
1962 966,452 27,906 384,690 -45,211
1961 932,111 25,515 396,537 -46,517
1960 901,301 12,131 398,960 -154,869

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

GeoRank.org/population/nigeria/spain | 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 Spain 27.9% is from natural causes (a loss of 782,423 people) and 72.1% is from migration (a gain of 2,019,671 people).

As of 2024, 1,403,281 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Nigeria, compared to 8,870,527 people or 18.5% in Spain.

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
Spain
City Population
Madrid 3.51M
Barcelona 1.73M
Tenerife 955K
Valencia 841K
Zaragoza 693K
Seville 689K
Malaga 599K
Palma de Mallorca 435K
Las Palmas 382K
Alicante 366K

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/spain | 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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