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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Nigeria was 232,679,478 in 2024 vs 68,560,157 people in Tanzania in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nigeria's population is 243,824,469 people compared to 73,145,892 in Tanzania.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 3.33 times bigger than Tanzania's.
  • Nigeria is ranked the 6th most populous country in the world, while Tanzania is the 20th.
  • The countries together account for 3.82% of the world: 2.94% for Nigeria vs 0.88% for Tanzania.
  • For the last 10 years, Nigeria has had an average growth rate of +2.31% per year vs +3.13% in Tanzania.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nigeria has increased from 149M people to 244M (63.6% growth), while Tanzania has grown from 40.3M to 73.1M (81.5% growth).

Nigeria vs Tanzania: population by year and forecast

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
Tanzania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nigeria Tanzania
2100 481,678,166 265,496,854
2099 481,494,914 263,162,785
2098 481,219,866 260,809,535
2097 480,876,108 258,412,520
2096 480,460,381 255,996,677
2095 479,976,454 253,567,416
2094 479,432,855 251,119,386
2093 478,807,152 248,628,881
2092 478,097,591 246,107,108
2091 477,274,569 243,557,182
2090 476,367,086 241,002,065
2089 475,363,859 238,416,591
2088 474,268,867 235,797,530
2087 473,072,894 233,167,455
2086 471,769,229 230,496,041
2085 470,365,292 227,800,292
2084 468,843,169 225,111,530
2083 467,224,322 222,421,279
2082 465,509,151 219,718,263
2081 463,679,779 216,995,478
2080 461,741,930 214,255,926
2079 459,680,797 211,486,253
2078 457,513,367 208,708,063
2077 455,254,796 205,918,120
2076 452,885,729 203,106,125
2075 450,402,898 200,297,474
2074 447,825,224 197,468,017
2073 445,152,156 194,642,633
2072 442,375,349 191,824,103
2071 439,499,004 188,992,017
2070 436,539,777 186,152,377
2069 433,472,204 183,311,218
2068 430,320,190 180,475,586
2067 427,066,199 177,639,469
2066 423,736,078 174,803,090
2065 420,318,527 171,913,445
2064 416,811,285 169,064,549
2063 413,231,409 166,217,933
2062 409,583,480 163,370,044
2061 405,859,509 160,537,159
2060 402,073,494 157,722,273
2059 398,228,736 154,920,005
2058 394,315,883 152,120,539
2057 390,341,867 149,325,489
2056 386,298,064 146,519,472
2055 382,193,151 143,736,540
2054 378,030,342 140,983,905
2053 373,799,276 138,262,668
2052 369,501,634 135,553,723
2051 365,149,555 132,851,383
2050 360,734,783 130,157,751
2049 356,271,401 127,495,278
2048 351,752,501 124,821,109
2047 347,169,674 122,158,290
2046 342,532,578 119,522,516
2045 337,834,528 116,914,785
2044 333,076,416 114,329,740
2043 328,256,555 111,776,234
2042 323,388,886 109,241,835
2041 318,469,120 106,748,632
2040 313,492,800 104,272,418
2039 308,474,350 101,814,304
2038 303,423,786 99,380,232
2037 298,351,344 96,983,729
2036 293,250,795 94,601,865
2035 288,138,368 92,257,269
2034 283,018,151 89,929,444
2033 277,897,810 87,654,982
2032 272,769,123 85,409,993
2031 267,666,779 83,180,507
2030 262,583,487 80,997,163
2029 257,504,936 78,838,461
2028 252,465,743 76,730,649
2027 247,457,208 74,647,063
2026 242,477,499 72,589,279
2025 237,546,527 70,552,589
2024 232,679,478 68,560,157
2023 227,882,945 66,617,606
2022 223,150,896 64,711,821
2021 218,529,286 62,830,412
2020 213,996,181 60,972,798
2019 209,485,641 59,174,891
2018 204,938,755 57,437,145
2017 200,254,579 55,652,890
2016 195,443,700 53,824,013
2015 190,671,878 52,020,962
2014 185,896,915 50,351,512
2013 181,049,443 48,824,128
2012 176,200,625 47,374,260
2011 171,379,598 46,029,367
2010 166,642,886 44,758,488
2009 162,049,464 43,633,982
2008 157,595,014 42,570,728
2007 153,267,261 41,435,512
2006 149,077,334 40,294,902
2005 145,017,253 39,182,076
2004 141,057,045 38,109,668
2003 137,202,644 37,089,555
2002 133,471,989 36,121,304
2001 129,862,595 35,198,299
2000 126,382,494 34,260,139
1999 123,047,320 33,300,330
1998 119,846,254 32,420,458
1997 116,754,792 31,578,089
1996 113,754,779 30,945,762
1995 110,819,428 30,383,497
1994 107,935,714 29,442,356
1993 105,122,069 28,332,692
1992 102,372,770 27,457,588
1991 99,720,162 26,780,436
1990 97,120,925 26,110,207
1989 94,531,014 25,438,759
1988 92,020,090 24,769,686
1987 89,591,716 24,030,378
1986 87,235,953 23,258,959
1985 84,897,973 22,501,693
1984 82,526,443 21,779,066
1983 80,438,260 21,079,874
1982 78,378,701 20,398,571
1981 76,068,103 19,784,703
1980 73,764,641 19,189,769
1979 71,498,242 18,592,038
1978 69,326,532 17,976,566
1977 67,234,590 17,352,929
1976 65,258,009 16,736,211
1975 63,410,815 16,138,361
1974 61,679,144 15,561,630
1973 60,082,139 15,010,101
1972 58,601,748 14,479,308
1971 57,214,684 13,971,451
1970 55,893,838 13,492,677
1969 54,631,914 13,036,700
1968 53,432,783 12,602,076
1967 52,293,065 12,200,109
1966 51,188,234 11,827,459
1965 50,086,764 11,470,728
1964 49,012,016 11,127,826
1963 47,973,575 10,799,528
1962 46,965,292 10,487,756
1961 45,989,310 10,187,886
1960 45,053,782 9,901,419

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/tanzania | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Nigeria increased by 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth), while Tanzania gained 13,529,111 people (a 33.6% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Nigeria gained 48,380,769 people (a 24.8% growth), while Tanzania's population increased by 19,321,879 people (a 35.9% growth).

Nigeria was ranked 7th most populous country in 2006 and is 6th in 2026. Tanzania was ranked 30th in 2006 and ranked 20th 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 Tanzania will increase by 77.9% to 130,157,751 people and rank change from 20th to 15th.

Nigeria is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 482M people compared to the peak of 265M people in 2100 for Tanzania.

Population growth rate by year

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
Tanzania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Nigeria Tanzania
2100 0.04% 0.89%
2099 0.06% 0.9%
2098 0.07% 0.93%
2097 0.09% 0.94%
2096 0.1% 0.96%
2095 0.11% 0.97%
2094 0.13% 1%
2093 0.15% 1.02%
2092 0.17% 1.05%
2091 0.19% 1.06%
2090 0.21% 1.08%
2089 0.23% 1.11%
2088 0.25% 1.13%
2087 0.28% 1.16%
2086 0.3% 1.18%
2085 0.32% 1.19%
2084 0.35% 1.21%
2083 0.37% 1.23%
2082 0.39% 1.25%
2081 0.42% 1.28%
2080 0.45% 1.31%
2079 0.47% 1.33%
2078 0.5% 1.35%
2077 0.52% 1.38%
2076 0.55% 1.4%
2075 0.58% 1.43%
2074 0.6% 1.45%
2073 0.63% 1.47%
2072 0.65% 1.5%
2071 0.68% 1.53%
2070 0.71% 1.55%
2069 0.73% 1.57%
2068 0.76% 1.6%
2067 0.79% 1.62%
2066 0.81% 1.68%
2065 0.84% 1.69%
2064 0.87% 1.71%
2063 0.89% 1.74%
2062 0.92% 1.76%
2061 0.94% 1.78%
2060 0.97% 1.81%
2059 0.99% 1.84%
2058 1.02% 1.87%
2057 1.05% 1.92%
2056 1.07% 1.94%
2055 1.1% 1.95%
2054 1.13% 1.97%
2053 1.16% 2%
2052 1.19% 2.03%
2051 1.22% 2.07%
2050 1.25% 2.09%
2049 1.28% 2.14%
2048 1.32% 2.18%
2047 1.35% 2.21%
2046 1.39% 2.23%
2045 1.43% 2.26%
2044 1.47% 2.28%
2043 1.51% 2.32%
2042 1.54% 2.34%
2041 1.59% 2.37%
2040 1.63% 2.41%
2039 1.66% 2.45%
2038 1.7% 2.47%
2037 1.74% 2.52%
2036 1.77% 2.54%
2035 1.81% 2.59%
2034 1.84% 2.59%
2033 1.88% 2.63%
2032 1.91% 2.68%
2031 1.94% 2.7%
2030 1.97% 2.74%
2029 2% 2.75%
2028 2.02% 2.79%
2027 2.05% 2.83%
2026 2.08% 2.89%
2025 2.09% 2.91%
2024 2.1% 2.92%
2023 2.12% 2.95%
2022 2.11% 2.99%
2021 2.12% 3.05%
2020 2.15% 3.04%
2019 2.22% 3.03%
2018 2.34% 3.21%
2017 2.46% 3.4%
2016 2.5% 3.47%
2015 2.57% 3.32%
2014 2.68% 3.13%
2013 2.75% 3.06%
2012 2.81% 2.92%
2011 2.84% 2.84%
2010 2.83% 2.58%
2009 2.83% 2.5%
2008 2.82% 2.74%
2007 2.81% 2.83%
2006 2.8% 2.84%
2005 2.81% 2.81%
2004 2.81% 2.75%
2003 2.8% 2.68%
2002 2.78% 2.62%
2001 2.75% 2.74%
2000 2.71% 2.88%
1999 2.67% 2.71%
1998 2.65% 2.67%
1997 2.64% 2.04%
1996 2.65% 1.85%
1995 2.67% 3.2%
1994 2.68% 3.92%
1993 2.69% 3.19%
1992 2.66% 2.53%
1991 2.68% 2.57%
1990 2.74% 2.64%
1989 2.73% 2.7%
1988 2.71% 3.08%
1987 2.7% 3.32%
1986 2.75% 3.37%
1985 2.87% 3.32%
1984 2.6% 3.32%
1983 2.63% 3.34%
1982 3.04% 3.1%
1981 3.12% 3.1%
1980 3.17% 3.21%
1979 3.13% 3.42%
1978 3.11% 3.59%
1977 3.03% 3.68%
1976 2.91% 3.7%
1975 2.81% 3.71%
1974 2.66% 3.67%
1973 2.53% 3.67%
1972 2.42% 3.63%
1971 2.36% 3.55%
1970 2.31% 3.5%
1969 2.24% 3.45%
1968 2.18% 3.29%
1967 2.16% 3.15%
1966 2.2% 3.11%
1965 2.19% 3.08%
1964 2.16% 3.04%
1963 2.15% 2.97%
1962 2.12% 2.94%
1961 2.08% 2.89%

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/tanzania | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Nigeria grew by 2.1%, while Tanzania's population grew by 2.92%.

Live population counters

Nigeria Tanzania
Current population
243824469
73145892
Population rank 6/197 20/197
Percent of world population 2.94% 0.88%
One net population change
6.58 seconds
16.2 seconds
One birth every
4.2 seconds
13.4 seconds
One death every
11.8 seconds
1.36 minutes
Daily growth/decline +13,141 +5,322
Annual growth/decline +4,796,533 +1,942,551
Annual growth/decline rate +2.1% +2.92%
Population growth rate rank 48/197 18/197
One migration net change every
34.5 minutes
41.4 minutes
Annual migration change -15,258 -12,730
Net migration rank 145/196 139/196
Foreign-born residents 1,403,281 462,371
Foreign-born residents rank 49/195 83/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 0.7%
Foreign-born share rank 173/195 167/195

Natural population change vs migration

Nigeria
Natural

Migration
Tanzania
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Nigeria Tanzania
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -15,258 - -12,730
2024 - -35,202 - -29,865
2023 4,834,309 -57,936 1,960,623 -39,388
2022 4,739,502 -51,680 1,927,960 -37,557
2021 4,641,562 -86,115 1,880,137 -7,704
2020 4,525,164 -14,497 1,861,377 -18,587
2019 4,609,941 -99,722 1,816,669 -63,602
2018 4,659,898 -76,565 1,777,852 -55,444
2017 4,706,183 78,685 1,726,909 119,142
2016 4,761,594 75,265 1,659,502 152,194
2015 4,823,045 -116,162 1,592,882 201,495
2014 4,862,319 -19,376 1,565,630 -21,083
2013 4,811,751 40,201 1,509,008 1,241
2012 4,774,508 71,138 1,439,325 -49,875
2011 4,728,363 67,808 1,384,886 -84,546
2010 4,629,173 47,966 1,363,477 -122,020
2009 4,528,149 -18,422 1,332,015 -324,478
2008 4,412,976 -13,646 1,303,728 -184,816
2007 4,265,428 -9,162 1,278,285 -126,793
2006 4,135,703 -12,093 1,257,927 -128,231
2005 4,013,788 -17,146 1,224,165 -128,251
2004 3,877,376 46,370 1,175,379 -126,490
2003 3,751,120 33,857 1,118,435 -127,101
2002 3,606,814 69,594 1,063,195 -118,047
2001 3,478,370 64,163 1,026,242 -125,375
2000 3,343,196 74,535 985,185 -9,701
1999 3,155,425 97,195 948,659 -4,489
1998 3,003,946 145,575 920,806 -105,184
1997 2,936,500 96,885 882,544 -13,400
1996 2,882,205 84,448 868,524 -473,007
1995 2,830,771 73,243 838,980 -109,971
1994 2,735,198 128,134 803,953 349,348
1993 2,673,675 90,200 778,044 288,004
1992 2,596,173 138,412 767,961 -83,825
1991 2,527,807 42,760 762,011 -91,851
1990 2,491,928 135,959 750,825 -80,529
1989 2,452,324 99,588 743,854 -71,268
1988 2,376,419 93,510 736,551 -71,012
1987 2,322,397 64,418 718,580 94,498
1986 2,295,003 29,682 705,677 24,101
1985 2,289,784 61,514 697,867 86,864
1984 2,278,060 113,758 687,435 -26,938
1983 2,292,089 -507,539 679,720 58,161
1982 2,233,401 101,116 662,627 -37,883
1981 2,179,884 106,723 645,496 -42,485
1980 2,121,618 198,672 629,444 -42,588
1979 2,074,807 137,721 613,388 -4,792
1978 2,019,621 111,258 595,024 27,307
1977 1,923,917 129,075 574,938 49,997
1976 1,827,289 72,889 553,617 54,875
1975 1,718,623 75,603 533,906 53,290
1974 1,624,813 44,281 515,152 51,127
1973 1,525,485 -618 488,429 48,363
1972 1,448,928 -12,962 467,305 57,489
1971 1,373,896 -35,639 449,014 41,900
1970 1,295,507 7,953 427,988 38,635
1969 1,213,484 6,912 408,322 37,006
1968 1,168,254 9,615 389,467 34,455
1967 1,082,884 18,683 374,763 5,265
1966 1,095,582 12,513 360,229 5,049
1965 1,061,840 32,988 343,456 4,742
1964 1,028,272 26,411 328,527 9,090
1963 995,116 27,115 314,644 4,333
1962 966,452 27,906 300,663 3,916
1961 932,111 25,515 286,839 8,338
1960 901,301 12,131 275,814 1,946

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

GeoRank.org/population/nigeria/tanzania | 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 Tanzania 98.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 17,769,541 people) and 1.27% is from migration (a gain of 229,466 people).

As of 2024, 1,403,281 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Nigeria, compared to 462,371 people or 0.7% in Tanzania.

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
Tanzania
City Population
Dar es Salaam 4.72M
Zanzibar 710K
Mwanza 706K
Mbeya 542K
Arusha 416K
Tanga 221K
Dodoma 214K
Morogoro 207K
Moshi 145K
Stone Town 18K

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/tanzania | 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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