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Population in Nigeria compared to Sri Lanka: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Nigeria was 232,679,478 in 2024 vs 21,916,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nigeria's population is 243,824,469 people compared to 22,185,425 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 11 times bigger than Sri Lanka's.
  • Nigeria is ranked the 6th most populous country in the world, while Sri Lanka is the 63rd.
  • The countries together account for 3.21% of the world: 2.94% for Nigeria vs 0.27% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, Nigeria has had an average growth rate of +2.31% per year vs +0.57% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nigeria has increased from 149M people to 244M (63.6% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 22.2M (9.01% growth).

Nigeria vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nigeria Sri Lanka
2100 481,678,166 20,270,496
2099 481,494,914 20,383,669
2098 481,219,866 20,498,567
2097 480,876,108 20,611,123
2096 480,460,381 20,723,560
2095 479,976,454 20,834,629
2094 479,432,855 20,943,809
2093 478,807,152 21,052,131
2092 478,097,591 21,158,833
2091 477,274,569 21,263,961
2090 476,367,086 21,371,263
2089 475,363,859 21,475,426
2088 474,268,867 21,577,177
2087 473,072,894 21,677,510
2086 471,769,229 21,777,420
2085 470,365,292 21,876,464
2084 468,843,169 21,970,336
2083 467,224,322 22,062,801
2082 465,509,151 22,151,745
2081 463,679,779 22,240,834
2080 461,741,930 22,326,555
2079 459,680,797 22,411,438
2078 457,513,367 22,489,772
2077 455,254,796 22,565,028
2076 452,885,729 22,637,463
2075 450,402,898 22,707,112
2074 447,825,224 22,778,489
2073 445,152,156 22,844,703
2072 442,375,349 22,905,707
2071 439,499,004 22,964,866
2070 436,539,777 23,022,515
2069 433,472,204 23,076,310
2068 430,320,190 23,129,541
2067 427,066,199 23,184,596
2066 423,736,078 23,234,419
2065 420,318,527 23,285,901
2064 416,811,285 23,331,390
2063 413,231,409 23,372,184
2062 409,583,480 23,409,522
2061 405,859,509 23,441,893
2060 402,073,494 23,474,032
2059 398,228,736 23,502,132
2058 394,315,883 23,528,076
2057 390,341,867 23,550,580
2056 386,298,064 23,570,923
2055 382,193,151 23,582,432
2054 378,030,342 23,591,414
2053 373,799,276 23,601,371
2052 369,501,634 23,605,361
2051 365,149,555 23,606,194
2050 360,734,783 23,603,330
2049 356,271,401 23,597,604
2048 351,752,501 23,587,307
2047 347,169,674 23,570,881
2046 342,532,578 23,547,409
2045 337,834,528 23,515,133
2044 333,076,416 23,483,546
2043 328,256,555 23,446,242
2042 323,388,886 23,404,983
2041 318,469,120 23,357,358
2040 313,492,800 23,306,148
2039 308,474,350 23,248,341
2038 303,423,786 23,187,512
2037 298,351,344 23,120,775
2036 293,250,795 23,053,427
2035 288,138,368 22,981,808
2034 283,018,151 22,906,587
2033 277,897,810 22,826,414
2032 272,769,123 22,742,267
2031 267,666,779 22,655,907
2030 262,583,487 22,564,038
2029 257,504,936 22,470,759
2028 252,465,743 22,370,999
2027 247,457,208 22,266,017
2026 242,477,499 22,155,543
2025 237,546,527 22,039,908
2024 232,679,478 21,916,000
2023 227,882,945 22,037,000
2022 223,150,896 22,181,000
2021 218,529,286 22,156,000
2020 213,996,181 21,919,000
2019 209,485,641 21,803,000
2018 204,938,755 21,670,000
2017 200,254,579 21,453,000
2016 195,443,700 21,209,000
2015 190,671,878 20,970,000
2014 185,896,915 20,778,000
2013 181,049,443 20,585,000
2012 176,200,625 21,169,458
2011 171,379,598 21,009,048
2010 166,642,886 20,879,089
2009 162,049,464 20,756,435
2008 157,595,014 20,629,378
2007 153,267,261 20,492,545
2006 149,077,334 20,352,411
2005 145,017,253 20,216,524
2004 141,057,045 20,087,605
2003 137,202,644 19,951,521
2002 133,471,989 19,805,752
2001 129,862,595 19,600,362
2000 126,382,494 19,293,054
1999 123,047,320 18,944,731
1998 119,846,254 18,596,003
1997 116,754,792 18,248,200
1996 113,754,779 17,905,018
1995 110,819,428 17,564,068
1994 107,935,714 17,275,773
1993 105,122,069 17,025,918
1992 102,372,770 16,739,284
1991 99,720,162 16,475,354
1990 97,120,925 16,352,458
1989 94,531,014 16,248,557
1988 92,020,090 16,078,621
1987 89,591,716 15,916,576
1986 87,235,953 15,731,256
1985 84,897,973 15,544,154
1984 82,526,443 15,441,860
1983 80,438,260 15,388,794
1982 78,378,701 15,286,567
1981 76,068,103 15,099,414
1980 73,764,641 14,847,974
1979 71,498,242 14,579,614
1978 69,326,532 14,310,128
1977 67,234,590 14,049,371
1976 65,258,009 13,796,770
1975 63,410,815 13,548,984
1974 61,679,144 13,305,693
1973 60,082,139 13,060,916
1972 58,601,748 12,809,205
1971 57,214,684 12,551,910
1970 55,893,838 12,287,110
1969 54,631,914 12,013,858
1968 53,432,783 11,736,088
1967 52,293,065 11,457,328
1966 51,188,234 11,183,928
1965 50,086,764 10,916,965
1964 49,012,016 10,653,397
1963 47,973,575 10,395,040
1962 46,965,292 10,143,754
1961 45,989,310 9,899,372
1960 45,053,782 9,661,389

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Nigeria increased by 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth), while Sri Lanka gained 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Nigeria gained 48,380,769 people (a 24.8% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 976,425 people (a 4.6% growth).

Nigeria was ranked 7th most populous country in 2006 and is 6th in 2026. Sri Lanka was ranked 55th in 2006 and ranked 63rd 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 Sri Lanka will increase by 6.39% to 23,603,330 people and rank change from 63rd to 70th.

Nigeria is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 482M people compared to the peak of 23.6M people in 2051 for Sri Lanka.

Population growth rate by year

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Nigeria Sri Lanka
2100 0.04% -0.56%
2099 0.06% -0.56%
2098 0.07% -0.55%
2097 0.09% -0.54%
2096 0.1% -0.53%
2095 0.11% -0.52%
2094 0.13% -0.51%
2093 0.15% -0.5%
2092 0.17% -0.49%
2091 0.19% -0.5%
2090 0.21% -0.49%
2089 0.23% -0.47%
2088 0.25% -0.46%
2087 0.28% -0.46%
2086 0.3% -0.45%
2085 0.32% -0.43%
2084 0.35% -0.42%
2083 0.37% -0.4%
2082 0.39% -0.4%
2081 0.42% -0.38%
2080 0.45% -0.38%
2079 0.47% -0.35%
2078 0.5% -0.33%
2077 0.52% -0.32%
2076 0.55% -0.31%
2075 0.58% -0.31%
2074 0.6% -0.29%
2073 0.63% -0.27%
2072 0.65% -0.26%
2071 0.68% -0.25%
2070 0.71% -0.23%
2069 0.73% -0.23%
2068 0.76% -0.24%
2067 0.79% -0.21%
2066 0.81% -0.22%
2065 0.84% -0.19%
2064 0.87% -0.17%
2063 0.89% -0.16%
2062 0.92% -0.14%
2061 0.94% -0.14%
2060 0.97% -0.12%
2059 0.99% -0.11%
2058 1.02% -0.1%
2057 1.05% -0.09%
2056 1.07% -0.05%
2055 1.1% -0.04%
2054 1.13% -0.04%
2053 1.16% -0.02%
2052 1.19% -0.004%
2051 1.22% 0.01%
2050 1.25% 0.02%
2049 1.28% 0.04%
2048 1.32% 0.07%
2047 1.35% 0.1%
2046 1.39% 0.14%
2045 1.43% 0.13%
2044 1.47% 0.16%
2043 1.51% 0.18%
2042 1.54% 0.2%
2041 1.59% 0.22%
2040 1.63% 0.25%
2039 1.66% 0.26%
2038 1.7% 0.29%
2037 1.74% 0.29%
2036 1.77% 0.31%
2035 1.81% 0.33%
2034 1.84% 0.35%
2033 1.88% 0.37%
2032 1.91% 0.38%
2031 1.94% 0.41%
2030 1.97% 0.42%
2029 2% 0.45%
2028 2.02% 0.47%
2027 2.05% 0.5%
2026 2.08% 0.52%
2025 2.09% 0.57%
2024 2.1% -0.55%
2023 2.12% -0.65%
2022 2.11% 0.11%
2021 2.12% 1.08%
2020 2.15% 0.53%
2019 2.22% 0.61%
2018 2.34% 1.01%
2017 2.46% 1.15%
2016 2.5% 1.14%
2015 2.57% 0.92%
2014 2.68% 0.94%
2013 2.75% -2.76%
2012 2.81% 0.76%
2011 2.84% 0.62%
2010 2.83% 0.59%
2009 2.83% 0.62%
2008 2.82% 0.67%
2007 2.81% 0.69%
2006 2.8% 0.67%
2005 2.81% 0.64%
2004 2.81% 0.68%
2003 2.8% 0.74%
2002 2.78% 1.05%
2001 2.75% 1.59%
2000 2.71% 1.84%
1999 2.67% 1.88%
1998 2.65% 1.91%
1997 2.64% 1.92%
1996 2.65% 1.94%
1995 2.67% 1.67%
1994 2.68% 1.47%
1993 2.69% 1.71%
1992 2.66% 1.6%
1991 2.68% 0.75%
1990 2.74% 0.64%
1989 2.73% 1.06%
1988 2.71% 1.02%
1987 2.7% 1.18%
1986 2.75% 1.2%
1985 2.87% 0.66%
1984 2.6% 0.34%
1983 2.63% 0.67%
1982 3.04% 1.24%
1981 3.12% 1.69%
1980 3.17% 1.84%
1979 3.13% 1.88%
1978 3.11% 1.86%
1977 3.03% 1.83%
1976 2.91% 1.83%
1975 2.81% 1.83%
1974 2.66% 1.87%
1973 2.53% 1.97%
1972 2.42% 2.05%
1971 2.36% 2.16%
1970 2.31% 2.27%
1969 2.24% 2.37%
1968 2.18% 2.43%
1967 2.16% 2.44%
1966 2.2% 2.45%
1965 2.19% 2.47%
1964 2.16% 2.49%
1963 2.15% 2.48%
1962 2.12% 2.47%
1961 2.08% 2.46%

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Nigeria grew by 2.1%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.55%.

Live population counters

Nigeria Sri Lanka
Current population
243824469
22185425
Population rank 6/197 63/197
Percent of world population 2.94% 0.27%
One net population change
6.58 seconds
4.34 minutes
One birth every
4.2 seconds
2.13 minutes
One death every
11.8 seconds
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline +13,141 -332
Annual growth/decline +4,796,533 -121,000
Annual growth/decline rate +2.1% -0.55%
Population growth rate rank 48/197 188/197
One migration net change every
34.5 minutes
17.2 minutes
Annual migration change -15,258 -30,724
Net migration rank 145/196 165/196
Foreign-born residents 1,403,281 40,698
Foreign-born residents rank 49/195 156/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 173/195 190/195

Natural population change vs migration

Nigeria
Natural

Migration
Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Nigeria Sri Lanka
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -15,258 - -30,724
2024 - -35,202 - -27,245
2023 4,834,309 -57,936 66,111 -28,011
2022 4,739,502 -51,680 95,378 -27,435
2021 4,641,562 -86,115 121,858 -29,586
2020 4,525,164 -14,497 170,968 -29,875
2019 4,609,941 -99,722 172,243 -28,426
2018 4,659,898 -76,565 183,610 -28,607
2017 4,706,183 78,685 187,993 -22,324
2016 4,761,594 75,265 194,232 -18,388
2015 4,823,045 -116,162 201,815 -29,797
2014 4,862,319 -19,376 211,541 -33,672
2013 4,811,751 40,201 221,021 -37,754
2012 4,774,508 71,138 229,138 -41,955
2011 4,728,363 67,808 224,461 -90,839
2010 4,629,173 47,966 224,325 -98,060
2009 4,528,149 -18,422 200,175 -81,130
2008 4,412,976 -13,646 232,225 -97,144
2007 4,265,428 -9,162 248,287 -109,695
2006 4,135,703 -12,093 248,706 -107,045
2005 4,013,788 -17,146 248,683 -118,594
2004 3,877,376 46,370 212,527 -84,795
2003 3,751,120 33,857 252,008 -107,573
2002 3,606,814 69,594 252,840 -105,718
2001 3,478,370 64,163 244,377 19,273
2000 3,343,196 74,535 227,060 123,894
1999 3,155,425 97,195 206,876 138,799
1998 3,003,946 145,575 201,059 150,724
1997 2,936,500 96,885 208,193 135,636
1996 2,882,205 84,448 215,290 127,236
1995 2,830,771 73,243 221,957 117,416
1994 2,735,198 128,134 228,904 8,323
1993 2,673,675 90,200 226,257 36,232
1992 2,596,173 138,412 222,230 88,542
1991 2,527,807 42,760 218,117 -1,047
1990 2,491,928 135,959 224,454 -195,736
1989 2,452,324 99,588 212,401 -33,305
1988 2,376,419 93,510 219,184 -58,415
1987 2,322,397 64,418 226,414 -63,105
1986 2,295,003 29,682 233,782 -26,460
1985 2,289,784 61,514 247,836 -80,950
1984 2,278,060 113,758 263,175 -225,450
1983 2,292,089 -507,539 277,768 -209,362
1982 2,233,401 101,116 300,030 -163,987
1981 2,179,884 106,723 328,096 -89,824
1980 2,121,618 198,672 328,155 -63,541
1979 2,074,807 137,721 329,791 -57,683
1978 2,019,621 111,258 317,055 -50,189
1977 1,923,917 129,075 300,038 -45,383
1976 1,827,289 72,889 291,816 -41,258
1975 1,718,623 75,603 282,496 -37,475
1974 1,624,813 44,281 275,521 -33,979
1973 1,525,485 -618 278,577 -30,582
1972 1,448,928 -12,962 282,494 -27,071
1971 1,373,896 -35,639 281,200 -22,021
1970 1,295,507 7,953 286,719 -16,299
1969 1,213,484 6,912 286,218 -10,152
1968 1,168,254 9,615 286,642 -7,163
1967 1,082,884 18,683 284,738 -6,696
1966 1,095,582 12,513 275,549 -6,794
1965 1,061,840 32,988 272,422 -7,249
1964 1,028,272 26,411 269,584 -7,614
1963 995,116 27,115 262,880 -8,118
1962 966,452 27,906 256,719 -8,909
1961 932,111 25,515 251,087 -10,144
1960 901,301 12,131 247,631 -12,610

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

GeoRank.org/population/nigeria/sri-lanka | 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 Sri Lanka 85.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,605,749 people) and 14.7% is from migration (a loss of 276,121 people).

As of 2024, 1,403,281 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Nigeria, compared to 40,698 people or 0.2% in Sri Lanka.

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
Sri Lanka
City Population
Colombo 648K
Gampaha 191K
Beruwala 165K
Negombo 142K
Kandy 120K
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 116K
Trincomalee 99.1K
Galle 93.1K
Matara 68.2K
Anuradhapura 63.2K

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/sri-lanka | 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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