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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Nigeria was 237,527,782 in 2025 vs 25,620,427 people in Syria in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nigeria's population is 245,016,045 people compared to 26,956,472 in Syria.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 9.09 times bigger than Syria's.
  • Nigeria is ranked the 6th most populous country in the world, while Syria is the 56th.
  • The countries together account for 3.27% of the world: 2.95% for Nigeria vs 0.32% for Syria.
  • For the last 10 years, Nigeria has had an average growth rate of +2.25% per year vs +2.19% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nigeria has increased from 149M people to 245M (64.4% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 27M (37.3% growth).

Nigeria vs Syria: population by year and forecast

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nigeria Syria
2100 481,640,156 44,500,028
2099 481,456,918 44,570,009
2098 481,181,892 44,629,837
2097 480,838,161 44,692,566
2096 480,422,467 44,747,012
2095 479,938,579 44,774,686
2094 479,395,022 44,824,294
2093 478,769,369 44,853,295
2092 478,059,864 44,882,700
2091 477,236,907 44,895,349
2090 476,329,495 44,926,869
2089 475,326,347 44,925,891
2088 474,231,442 44,920,667
2087 473,035,563 44,928,298
2086 471,732,001 44,947,658
2085 470,328,175 44,913,669
2084 468,806,172 44,878,845
2083 467,187,453 44,850,592
2082 465,472,417 44,790,014
2081 463,643,190 44,723,244
2080 461,705,493 44,624,321
2079 459,644,523 44,567,127
2078 457,477,264 44,529,618
2077 455,218,871 44,484,155
2076 452,849,991 44,400,339
2075 450,367,356 44,306,882
2074 447,789,885 44,209,517
2073 445,117,028 44,102,028
2072 442,340,440 43,965,642
2071 439,464,323 43,821,617
2070 436,505,329 43,678,154
2069 433,437,998 43,530,683
2068 430,286,232 43,348,487
2067 427,032,499 43,154,741
2066 423,702,640 42,944,885
2065 420,285,359 42,695,249
2064 416,778,394 42,445,036
2063 413,198,800 42,198,056
2062 409,551,159 41,949,014
2061 405,827,482 41,695,586
2060 402,041,765 41,410,547
2059 398,197,311 41,097,942
2058 394,284,767 40,815,606
2057 390,311,065 40,534,091
2056 386,267,580 40,224,053
2055 382,162,992 39,918,930
2054 378,000,511 39,584,624
2053 373,769,779 39,242,144
2052 369,472,476 38,940,206
2051 365,120,741 38,629,604
2050 360,706,317 38,307,069
2049 356,243,287 37,986,965
2048 351,724,743 37,682,780
2047 347,142,279 37,391,752
2046 342,505,549 37,081,479
2045 337,807,869 36,744,441
2044 333,050,132 36,428,225
2043 328,230,652 36,090,851
2042 323,363,366 35,729,021
2041 318,443,989 35,352,033
2040 313,468,061 34,947,817
2039 308,450,008 34,533,772
2038 303,399,842 34,091,760
2037 298,327,800 33,612,993
2036 293,227,654 33,134,445
2035 288,115,630 32,608,669
2034 282,995,818 32,062,309
2033 277,875,880 31,477,500
2032 272,747,599 30,883,996
2031 267,645,657 30,248,264
2030 262,562,767 29,592,787
2029 257,484,616 28,871,638
2028 252,445,821 28,141,821
2027 247,437,680 27,355,002
2026 242,458,365 26,535,554
2025 237,527,782 25,620,427
2024 232,679,478 24,672,760
2023 227,882,945 23,594,623
2022 223,150,896 22,462,173
2021 218,529,286 21,628,839
2020 213,996,181 21,049,429
2019 209,485,641 20,353,534
2018 204,938,755 19,577,845
2017 200,254,579 19,224,668
2016 195,443,700 19,193,834
2015 190,671,878 19,424,618
2014 185,896,915 20,273,659
2013 181,049,443 21,666,917
2012 176,200,625 22,759,763
2011 171,379,598 22,878,098
2010 166,642,886 22,482,421
2009 162,049,464 21,976,969
2008 157,595,014 21,636,564
2007 153,267,261 20,884,125
2006 149,077,334 19,637,022
2005 145,017,253 18,814,091
2004 141,057,045 18,336,875
2003 137,202,644 17,889,296
2002 133,471,989 17,468,332
2001 129,862,595 17,051,338
2000 126,382,494 16,637,888
1999 123,047,320 16,228,061
1998 119,846,254 15,820,413
1997 116,754,792 15,417,542
1996 113,754,779 15,018,104
1995 110,819,428 14,616,801
1994 107,935,714 14,208,583
1993 105,122,069 13,795,686
1992 102,372,770 13,385,571
1991 99,720,162 12,980,821
1990 97,120,925 12,579,208
1989 94,531,014 12,179,060
1988 92,020,090 11,782,264
1987 89,591,716 11,388,923
1986 87,235,953 11,002,844
1985 84,897,973 10,625,672
1984 82,526,443 10,258,398
1983 80,438,260 9,904,809
1982 78,378,701 9,572,511
1981 76,068,103 9,260,189
1980 73,764,641 8,957,663
1979 71,498,242 8,661,909
1978 69,326,532 8,372,759
1977 67,234,590 8,090,501
1976 65,258,009 7,817,320
1975 63,410,815 7,554,364
1974 61,679,144 7,302,160
1973 60,082,139 7,060,321
1972 58,601,748 6,826,024
1971 57,214,684 6,598,094
1970 55,893,838 6,380,609
1969 54,631,914 6,175,166
1968 53,432,783 5,978,742
1967 52,293,065 5,790,198
1966 51,188,234 5,609,047
1965 50,086,764 5,435,267
1964 49,012,016 5,269,087
1963 47,973,575 5,110,467
1962 46,965,292 4,959,340
1961 45,989,310 4,815,466
1960 45,053,782 4,673,500

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/syria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Nigeria increased by 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth), while Syria lost 443,188 people (a 2.26% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Nigeria gained 49,572,345 people (a 25.4% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,762,638 people (a 40.4% growth).

Nigeria was ranked 7th most populous country in 2006 and is 6th in 2026. Syria was ranked 58th in 2006 and ranked 56th 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 Syria will increase by 42.1% to 38,307,069 people and rank change from 56th to 53rd.

Nigeria is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 482M people compared to the peak of 44.9M people in 2086 for Syria.

Population growth rate by year

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Nigeria Syria
2100 0.04% -0.16%
2099 0.06% -0.13%
2098 0.07% -0.14%
2097 0.09% -0.12%
2096 0.1% -0.06%
2095 0.11% -0.11%
2094 0.13% -0.06%
2093 0.15% -0.07%
2092 0.17% -0.03%
2091 0.19% -0.07%
2090 0.21% 0.002%
2089 0.23% 0.01%
2088 0.25% -0.02%
2087 0.28% -0.04%
2086 0.3% 0.08%
2085 0.32% 0.08%
2084 0.35% 0.06%
2083 0.37% 0.14%
2082 0.39% 0.15%
2081 0.42% 0.22%
2080 0.45% 0.13%
2079 0.47% 0.08%
2078 0.5% 0.1%
2077 0.52% 0.19%
2076 0.55% 0.21%
2075 0.58% 0.22%
2074 0.6% 0.24%
2073 0.63% 0.31%
2072 0.65% 0.33%
2071 0.68% 0.33%
2070 0.71% 0.34%
2069 0.73% 0.42%
2068 0.76% 0.45%
2067 0.79% 0.49%
2066 0.81% 0.58%
2065 0.84% 0.59%
2064 0.87% 0.59%
2063 0.89% 0.59%
2062 0.92% 0.61%
2061 0.94% 0.69%
2060 0.97% 0.76%
2059 0.99% 0.69%
2058 1.02% 0.69%
2057 1.05% 0.77%
2056 1.07% 0.76%
2055 1.1% 0.84%
2054 1.13% 0.87%
2053 1.16% 0.78%
2052 1.19% 0.8%
2051 1.22% 0.84%
2050 1.25% 0.84%
2049 1.28% 0.81%
2048 1.32% 0.78%
2047 1.35% 0.84%
2046 1.39% 0.92%
2045 1.43% 0.87%
2044 1.47% 0.93%
2043 1.51% 1.01%
2042 1.54% 1.07%
2041 1.59% 1.16%
2040 1.63% 1.2%
2039 1.66% 1.3%
2038 1.7% 1.42%
2037 1.74% 1.44%
2036 1.77% 1.61%
2035 1.81% 1.7%
2034 1.84% 1.86%
2033 1.88% 1.92%
2032 1.91% 2.1%
2031 1.94% 2.21%
2030 1.97% 2.5%
2029 2% 2.59%
2028 2.02% 2.88%
2027 2.05% 3.09%
2026 2.08% 3.57%
2025 2.08% 3.84%
2024 2.1% 4.57%
2023 2.12% 5.04%
2022 2.11% 3.85%
2021 2.12% 2.75%
2020 2.15% 3.42%
2019 2.22% 3.96%
2018 2.34% 1.84%
2017 2.46% 0.16%
2016 2.5% -1.19%
2015 2.57% -4.19%
2014 2.68% -6.43%
2013 2.75% -4.8%
2012 2.81% -0.52%
2011 2.84% 1.76%
2010 2.83% 2.3%
2009 2.83% 1.57%
2008 2.82% 3.6%
2007 2.81% 6.35%
2006 2.8% 4.37%
2005 2.81% 2.6%
2004 2.81% 2.5%
2003 2.8% 2.41%
2002 2.78% 2.45%
2001 2.75% 2.48%
2000 2.71% 2.53%
1999 2.67% 2.58%
1998 2.65% 2.61%
1997 2.64% 2.66%
1996 2.65% 2.75%
1995 2.67% 2.87%
1994 2.68% 2.99%
1993 2.69% 3.06%
1992 2.66% 3.12%
1991 2.68% 3.19%
1990 2.74% 3.29%
1989 2.73% 3.37%
1988 2.71% 3.45%
1987 2.7% 3.51%
1986 2.75% 3.55%
1985 2.87% 3.58%
1984 2.6% 3.57%
1983 2.63% 3.47%
1982 3.04% 3.37%
1981 3.12% 3.38%
1980 3.17% 3.41%
1979 3.13% 3.45%
1978 3.11% 3.49%
1977 3.03% 3.49%
1976 2.91% 3.48%
1975 2.81% 3.45%
1974 2.66% 3.43%
1973 2.53% 3.43%
1972 2.42% 3.45%
1971 2.36% 3.41%
1970 2.31% 3.33%
1969 2.24% 3.29%
1968 2.18% 3.26%
1967 2.16% 3.23%
1966 2.2% 3.2%
1965 2.19% 3.15%
1964 2.16% 3.1%
1963 2.15% 3.05%
1962 2.12% 2.99%
1961 2.08% 3.04%

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/syria | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Nigeria grew by 2.08%, while Syria's population grew by 3.84%.

Live population counters

Nigeria Syria
Current population
245016045
26956472
Population rank 6/197 56/197
Percent of world population 2.95% 0.32%
One net population change
6.52 seconds
33.4 seconds
One birth every
4.17 seconds
55.2 seconds
One death every
11.6 seconds
4.32 minutes
Daily growth/decline +13,283 +2,596
Annual growth/decline +4,848,304 +947,667
Annual growth/decline rate +2.08% +3.84%
Population growth rate rank 45/197 5/197
One migration net change every
34.5 minutes
1.25 minutes
Annual migration change -15,258 +421,693
Net migration rank 145/196 3/196
Foreign-born residents 1,403,281 896,042
Foreign-born residents rank 49/195 64/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 173/195 110/195

Natural population change vs migration

Nigeria
Natural

Migration
Syria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Nigeria Syria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -15,258 - 421,693
2024 4,851,833 -35,202 449,784 546,494
2023 4,834,309 -57,936 402,713 757,309
2022 4,739,502 -51,680 369,750 735,142
2021 4,641,562 -86,115 350,560 211,220
2020 4,525,164 -14,497 327,992 269,050
2019 4,609,941 -99,722 293,762 500,985
2018 4,659,898 -76,565 242,530 514,102
2017 4,706,183 78,685 237,214 -287,501
2016 4,761,594 75,265 236,007 -124,063
2015 4,823,045 -116,162 253,977 -827,496
2014 4,862,319 -19,376 333,116 -1,457,679
2013 4,811,751 40,201 419,341 -2,081,303
2012 4,774,508 71,138 475,520 -999,267
2011 4,728,363 67,808 543,950 -256,888
2010 4,629,173 47,966 558,666 -54,359
2009 4,528,149 -18,422 559,314 -52,703
2008 4,412,976 -13,646 576,593 -402,393
2007 4,265,428 -9,162 529,162 801,514
2006 4,135,703 -12,093 480,616 682,911
2005 4,013,788 -17,146 468,960 13,382
2004 3,877,376 46,370 461,209 10,881
2003 3,751,120 33,857 457,000 -33,920
2002 3,606,814 69,594 453,967 -35,096
2001 3,478,370 64,163 451,503 -36,383
2000 3,343,196 74,535 446,211 -34,425
1999 3,155,425 97,195 439,261 -31,394
1998 3,003,946 145,575 433,447 -26,025
1997 2,936,500 96,885 429,887 -31,571
1996 2,882,205 84,448 430,765 -30,197
1995 2,830,771 73,243 430,172 -28,122
1994 2,735,198 128,134 426,996 -12,630
1993 2,673,675 90,200 420,244 -8,828
1992 2,596,173 138,412 412,878 -4,063
1991 2,527,807 42,760 410,830 -10,154
1990 2,491,928 135,959 409,177 -6,620
1989 2,452,324 99,588 406,111 -8,379
1988 2,376,419 93,510 404,285 -8,426
1987 2,322,397 64,418 399,159 -8,335
1986 2,295,003 29,682 390,821 -9,485
1985 2,289,784 61,514 379,231 -6,221
1984 2,278,060 113,758 366,768 -5,245
1983 2,292,089 -507,539 355,375 -9,729
1982 2,233,401 101,116 319,664 -721
1981 2,179,884 106,723 330,237 -24,536
1980 2,121,618 198,672 332,464 -33,114
1979 2,074,807 137,721 324,943 -32,793
1978 2,019,621 111,258 316,724 -30,567
1977 1,923,917 129,075 306,630 -28,275
1976 1,827,289 72,889 294,267 -26,268
1975 1,718,623 75,603 282,299 -24,389
1974 1,624,813 44,281 270,735 -24,242
1973 1,525,485 -618 254,687 -17,502
1972 1,448,928 -12,962 249,027 -17,610
1971 1,373,896 -35,639 239,610 -15,167
1970 1,295,507 7,953 230,117 -19,594
1969 1,213,484 6,912 219,114 -18,749
1968 1,168,254 9,615 209,454 -16,968
1967 1,082,884 18,683 199,223 -14,618
1966 1,095,582 12,513 191,122 -13,434
1965 1,061,840 32,988 182,560 -12,704
1964 1,028,272 26,411 174,549 -12,044
1963 995,116 27,115 166,555 -11,817
1962 966,452 27,906 159,155 -11,641
1961 932,111 25,515 151,485 -11,237
1960 901,301 12,131 143,687 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/nigeria/syria | 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 Syria 58% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,164,289 people) and 42% is from migration (a gain of 2,295,242 people).

As of 2024, 1,403,281 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Nigeria, compared to 896,042 people or 3.6% in Syria.

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
Syria
City Population
Damascus 2.69M
Aleppo 2M
Homs 775K
Latakia 709K
Hama 697K
Raqqa 300K
Deir ez-Zor 272K
Al-Hasakah 188K
Qamishli 184K
Idlib 165K

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/syria | 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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