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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Nigeria was 237,527,782 in 2025 vs 21,756,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nigeria's population is 245,016,045 people compared to 21,926,160 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 11.2 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: 2.95% for Nigeria vs 0.26% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, Nigeria has had an average growth rate of +2.25% per year vs +0.42% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nigeria has increased from 149M people to 245M (64.4% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 21.9M (7.73% growth).

Nigeria vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nigeria Sri Lanka
2100 481,640,156 20,009,380
2099 481,456,918 20,121,095
2098 481,181,892 20,234,513
2097 480,838,161 20,345,619
2096 480,422,467 20,456,607
2095 479,938,579 20,566,246
2094 479,395,022 20,674,019
2093 478,769,369 20,780,946
2092 478,059,864 20,886,274
2091 477,236,907 20,990,047
2090 476,329,495 21,095,968
2089 475,326,347 21,198,788
2088 474,231,442 21,299,229
2087 473,035,563 21,398,269
2086 471,732,001 21,496,892
2085 470,328,175 21,594,661
2084 468,806,172 21,687,323
2083 467,187,453 21,778,597
2082 465,472,417 21,866,395
2081 463,643,190 21,954,337
2080 461,705,493 22,038,953
2079 459,644,523 22,122,744
2078 457,477,264 22,200,069
2077 455,218,871 22,274,355
2076 452,849,991 22,345,857
2075 450,367,356 22,414,609
2074 447,789,885 22,485,066
2073 445,117,028 22,550,427
2072 442,340,440 22,610,645
2071 439,464,323 22,669,042
2070 436,505,329 22,725,948
2069 433,437,998 22,779,050
2068 430,286,232 22,831,596
2067 427,032,499 22,885,941
2066 423,702,640 22,935,123
2065 420,285,359 22,985,942
2064 416,778,394 23,030,844
2063 413,198,800 23,071,114
2062 409,551,159 23,107,970
2061 405,827,482 23,139,924
2060 402,041,765 23,171,649
2059 398,197,311 23,199,387
2058 394,284,767 23,224,997
2057 390,311,065 23,247,211
2056 386,267,580 23,267,292
2055 382,162,992 23,278,653
2054 378,000,511 23,287,520
2053 373,769,779 23,297,347
2052 369,472,476 23,301,287
2051 365,120,741 23,302,108
2050 360,706,317 23,299,282
2049 356,243,287 23,293,630
2048 351,724,743 23,283,465
2047 347,142,279 23,267,251
2046 342,505,549 23,244,081
2045 337,807,869 23,212,221
2044 333,050,132 23,181,041
2043 328,230,652 23,144,217
2042 323,363,366 23,103,489
2041 318,443,989 23,056,478
2040 313,468,061 23,005,928
2039 308,450,008 22,948,866
2038 303,399,842 22,888,821
2037 298,327,800 22,822,943
2036 293,227,654 22,756,462
2035 288,115,630 22,685,766
2034 282,995,818 22,611,514
2033 277,875,880 22,532,374
2032 272,747,599 22,449,310
2031 267,645,657 22,364,063
2030 262,562,767 22,273,377
2029 257,484,616 22,181,300
2028 252,445,821 22,082,826
2027 247,437,680 21,979,196
2026 242,458,365 21,870,145
2025 237,527,782 21,756,000
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 49,572,345 people (a 25.4% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 717,160 people (a 3.38% 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 47.2% to 360,706,317 people with a rank change from 6th to 5th. The population of Sri Lanka will increase by 6.26% to 23,299,282 people and rank change from 63rd to 71st.

Nigeria is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 482M people compared to the peak of 23.3M 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 2.08% -0.73%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/nigeria/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Nigeria grew by 2.08%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.73%.

Live population counters

Nigeria Sri Lanka
Current population
245016045
21926160
Population rank 6/197 63/197
Percent of world population 2.95% 0.26%
One net population change
6.52 seconds
3.29 minutes
One birth every
4.17 seconds
2.37 minutes
One death every
11.6 seconds
3.07 minutes
Daily growth/decline +13,283 -438
Annual growth/decline +4,848,304 -160,000
Annual growth/decline rate +2.08% -0.73%
Population growth rate rank 45/197 190/197
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 4,851,833 -35,202 50,407 -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 2026-07-08).

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 47,153,031 people) and 0.81% is from migration (a loss of 383,929 people). In Sri Lanka 84.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,444,615 people) and 15.7% is from migration (a loss of 269,694 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 2.56M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M
Owerri 908K
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 (1960–2025, 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/sri-lanka | 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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