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Population in Nigeria compared to the United Arab Emirates: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Nigeria was 232,679,478 in 2024 vs 10,986,400 people in the United Arab Emirates in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nigeria's population is 243,824,469 people compared to 11,686,438 in the United Arab Emirates.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 20.9 times bigger than the United Arab Emirates'.
  • Nigeria is ranked the 6th most populous country in the world, while the United Arab Emirates is the 84th.
  • The countries together account for 3.08% of the world: 2.94% for Nigeria vs 0.14% for the United Arab Emirates.
  • For the last 10 years, Nigeria has had an average growth rate of +2.31% per year vs +3.31% in the United Arab Emirates.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nigeria has increased from 149M people to 244M (63.6% growth), while the United Arab Emirates has grown from 5.01M to 11.7M (133.3% growth).

Nigeria vs United Arab Emirates: population by year and forecast

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nigeria UAE
2100 481,678,166 26,368,750
2099 481,494,914 26,130,374
2098 481,219,866 25,894,010
2097 480,876,108 25,660,062
2096 480,460,381 25,427,961
2095 479,976,454 25,197,670
2094 479,432,855 24,968,891
2093 478,807,152 24,741,434
2092 478,097,591 24,515,086
2091 477,274,569 24,289,496
2090 476,367,086 24,064,404
2089 475,363,859 23,839,033
2088 474,268,867 23,613,963
2087 473,072,894 23,388,786
2086 471,769,229 23,163,641
2085 470,365,292 22,938,169
2084 468,843,169 22,711,804
2083 467,224,322 22,484,154
2082 465,509,151 22,255,625
2081 463,679,779 22,026,183
2080 461,741,930 21,796,073
2079 459,680,797 21,565,118
2078 457,513,367 21,333,574
2077 455,254,796 21,101,274
2076 452,885,729 20,868,733
2075 450,402,898 20,636,203
2074 447,825,224 20,404,044
2073 445,152,156 20,171,659
2072 442,375,349 19,940,853
2071 439,499,004 19,710,934
2070 436,539,777 19,483,026
2069 433,472,204 19,256,572
2068 430,320,190 19,032,681
2067 427,066,199 18,811,331
2066 423,736,078 18,593,017
2065 420,318,527 18,377,364
2064 416,811,285 18,164,584
2063 413,231,409 17,955,352
2062 409,583,480 17,749,596
2061 405,859,509 17,547,827
2060 402,073,494 17,349,620
2059 398,228,736 17,153,273
2058 394,315,883 16,959,263
2057 390,341,867 16,767,893
2056 386,298,064 16,579,195
2055 382,193,151 16,392,558
2054 378,030,342 16,207,309
2053 373,799,276 16,024,789
2052 369,501,634 15,844,357
2051 365,149,555 15,665,362
2050 360,734,783 15,487,008
2049 356,271,401 15,309,031
2048 351,752,501 15,132,784
2047 347,169,674 14,958,209
2046 342,532,578 14,788,046
2045 337,834,528 14,620,902
2044 333,076,416 14,454,466
2043 328,256,555 14,289,021
2042 323,388,886 14,124,515
2041 318,469,120 13,961,010
2040 313,492,800 13,798,651
2039 308,474,350 13,637,499
2038 303,423,786 13,477,450
2037 298,351,344 13,319,346
2036 293,250,795 13,163,073
2035 288,138,368 13,009,160
2034 283,018,151 12,857,729
2033 277,897,810 12,709,520
2032 272,769,123 12,564,906
2031 267,666,779 12,424,286
2030 262,583,487 12,288,186
2029 257,504,936 12,148,661
2028 252,465,743 11,999,549
2027 247,457,208 11,831,082
2026 242,477,499 11,632,806
2025 237,546,527 11,367,504
2024 232,679,478 10,986,400
2023 227,882,945 10,483,751
2022 223,150,896 10,074,977
2021 218,529,286 9,575,152
2020 213,996,181 9,401,038
2019 209,485,641 9,445,785
2018 204,938,755 9,346,701
2017 200,254,579 9,223,225
2016 195,443,700 8,935,095
2015 190,671,878 8,505,237
2014 185,896,915 8,059,440
2013 181,049,443 7,693,031
2012 176,200,625 7,391,448
2011 171,379,598 7,104,538
2010 166,642,886 6,869,838
2009 162,049,464 6,707,058
2008 157,595,014 6,302,664
2007 153,267,261 5,624,635
2006 149,077,334 5,009,100
2005 145,017,253 4,664,790
2004 141,057,045 4,428,967
2003 137,202,644 4,192,457
2002 133,471,989 3,956,826
2001 129,862,595 3,723,590
2000 126,382,494 3,493,575
1999 123,047,320 3,266,009
1998 119,846,254 3,040,421
1997 116,754,792 2,817,410
1996 113,754,779 2,597,564
1995 110,819,428 2,434,662
1994 107,935,714 2,328,188
1993 105,122,069 2,222,093
1992 102,372,770 2,114,730
1991 99,720,162 2,006,626
1990 97,120,925 1,898,220
1989 94,531,014 1,789,851
1988 92,020,090 1,681,788
1987 89,591,716 1,574,244
1986 87,235,953 1,467,383
1985 84,897,973 1,377,911
1984 82,526,443 1,305,996
1983 80,438,260 1,235,305
1982 78,378,701 1,166,370
1981 76,068,103 1,099,855
1980 73,764,641 1,015,700
1979 71,498,242 912,010
1978 69,326,532 809,274
1977 67,234,590 710,209
1976 65,258,009 615,866
1975 63,410,815 542,856
1974 61,679,144 489,087
1973 60,082,139 436,399
1972 58,601,748 385,014
1971 57,214,684 335,027
1970 55,893,838 286,536
1969 54,631,914 239,660
1968 53,432,783 199,416
1967 52,293,065 179,700
1966 51,188,234 173,976
1965 50,086,764 167,103
1964 49,012,016 159,692
1963 47,973,575 152,211
1962 46,965,292 144,946
1961 45,989,310 137,989
1960 45,053,782 131,334

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Nigeria increased by 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth), while the United Arab Emirates gained 3,925,995 people (a 78.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Nigeria gained 48,380,769 people (a 24.8% growth), while the United Arab Emirates' population increased by 2,751,343 people (a 30.8% growth).

Nigeria was ranked 7th most populous country in 2006 and is 6th in 2026. The United Arab Emirates was ranked 114th in 2006 and ranked 84th 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 the United Arab Emirates will increase by 32.5% to 15,487,008 people and will still be ranked 84th.

Nigeria is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 482M people compared to the peak of 26.4M people in 2100 for the United Arab Emirates.

Population growth rate by year

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Nigeria UAE
2100 0.04% 0.91%
2099 0.06% 0.91%
2098 0.07% 0.91%
2097 0.09% 0.91%
2096 0.1% 0.91%
2095 0.11% 0.92%
2094 0.13% 0.92%
2093 0.15% 0.92%
2092 0.17% 0.93%
2091 0.19% 0.94%
2090 0.21% 0.95%
2089 0.23% 0.95%
2088 0.25% 0.96%
2087 0.28% 0.97%
2086 0.3% 0.98%
2085 0.32% 1%
2084 0.35% 1.01%
2083 0.37% 1.03%
2082 0.39% 1.04%
2081 0.42% 1.06%
2080 0.45% 1.07%
2079 0.47% 1.09%
2078 0.5% 1.1%
2077 0.52% 1.11%
2076 0.55% 1.13%
2075 0.58% 1.14%
2074 0.6% 1.15%
2073 0.63% 1.16%
2072 0.65% 1.17%
2071 0.68% 1.17%
2070 0.71% 1.18%
2069 0.73% 1.18%
2068 0.76% 1.18%
2067 0.79% 1.17%
2066 0.81% 1.17%
2065 0.84% 1.17%
2064 0.87% 1.17%
2063 0.89% 1.16%
2062 0.92% 1.15%
2061 0.94% 1.14%
2060 0.97% 1.14%
2059 0.99% 1.14%
2058 1.02% 1.14%
2057 1.05% 1.14%
2056 1.07% 1.14%
2055 1.1% 1.14%
2054 1.13% 1.14%
2053 1.16% 1.14%
2052 1.19% 1.14%
2051 1.22% 1.15%
2050 1.25% 1.16%
2049 1.28% 1.16%
2048 1.32% 1.17%
2047 1.35% 1.15%
2046 1.39% 1.14%
2045 1.43% 1.15%
2044 1.47% 1.16%
2043 1.51% 1.16%
2042 1.54% 1.17%
2041 1.59% 1.18%
2040 1.63% 1.18%
2039 1.66% 1.19%
2038 1.7% 1.19%
2037 1.74% 1.19%
2036 1.77% 1.18%
2035 1.81% 1.18%
2034 1.84% 1.17%
2033 1.88% 1.15%
2032 1.91% 1.13%
2031 1.94% 1.11%
2030 1.97% 1.15%
2029 2% 1.24%
2028 2.02% 1.42%
2027 2.05% 1.7%
2026 2.08% 2.33%
2025 2.09% 3.47%
2024 2.1% 4.79%
2023 2.12% 4.06%
2022 2.11% 5.22%
2021 2.12% 1.85%
2020 2.15% -0.47%
2019 2.22% 1.06%
2018 2.34% 1.34%
2017 2.46% 3.22%
2016 2.5% 5.05%
2015 2.57% 5.53%
2014 2.68% 4.76%
2013 2.75% 4.08%
2012 2.81% 4.04%
2011 2.84% 3.42%
2010 2.83% 2.43%
2009 2.83% 6.42%
2008 2.82% 12.1%
2007 2.81% 12.3%
2006 2.8% 7.38%
2005 2.81% 5.32%
2004 2.81% 5.64%
2003 2.8% 5.96%
2002 2.78% 6.26%
2001 2.75% 6.58%
2000 2.71% 6.97%
1999 2.67% 7.42%
1998 2.65% 7.92%
1997 2.64% 8.46%
1996 2.65% 6.69%
1995 2.67% 4.57%
1994 2.68% 4.77%
1993 2.69% 5.08%
1992 2.66% 5.39%
1991 2.68% 5.71%
1990 2.74% 6.05%
1989 2.73% 6.43%
1988 2.71% 6.83%
1987 2.7% 7.28%
1986 2.75% 6.49%
1985 2.87% 5.51%
1984 2.6% 5.72%
1983 2.63% 5.91%
1982 3.04% 6.05%
1981 3.12% 8.29%
1980 3.17% 11.4%
1979 3.13% 12.7%
1978 3.11% 13.9%
1977 3.03% 15.3%
1976 2.91% 13.4%
1975 2.81% 11%
1974 2.66% 12.1%
1973 2.53% 13.3%
1972 2.42% 14.9%
1971 2.36% 16.9%
1970 2.31% 19.6%
1969 2.24% 20.2%
1968 2.18% 11%
1967 2.16% 3.29%
1966 2.2% 4.11%
1965 2.19% 4.64%
1964 2.16% 4.91%
1963 2.15% 5.01%
1962 2.12% 5.04%
1961 2.08% 5.07%

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Nigeria grew by 2.1%, while the United Arab Emirates' population grew by 4.79%.

Live population counters

Nigeria UAE
Current population
243824469
11686438
Population rank 6/197 84/197
Percent of world population 2.94% 0.14%
One net population change
6.58 seconds
1.05 minutes
One birth every
4.2 seconds
5.13 minutes
One death every
11.8 seconds
53.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +13,141 +1,377
Annual growth/decline +4,796,533 +502,649
Annual growth/decline rate +2.1% +4.79%
Population growth rate rank 48/197 3/197
One migration net change every
34.5 minutes
3.32 minutes
Annual migration change -15,258 +158,634
Net migration rank 145/196 8/196
Foreign-born residents 1,403,281 8,157,000
Foreign-born residents rank 49/195 8/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 74%
Foreign-born share rank 173/195 2/195

Natural population change vs migration

Nigeria
Natural

Migration
United Arab Emirates
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Nigeria UAE
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -15,258 - 158,634
2024 - -35,202 - 278,439
2023 4,834,309 -57,936 92,698 300,004
2022 4,739,502 -51,680 81,758 322,773
2021 4,641,562 -86,115 76,802 421,663
2020 4,525,164 -14,497 87,871 92,541
2019 4,609,941 -99,722 86,296 -125,186
2018 4,659,898 -76,565 86,840 14,611
2017 4,706,183 78,685 89,382 34,155
2016 4,761,594 75,265 87,028 195,317
2015 4,823,045 -116,162 85,044 342,468
2014 4,862,319 -19,376 84,277 360,174
2013 4,811,751 40,201 82,977 279,269
2012 4,774,508 71,138 78,682 225,921
2011 4,728,363 67,808 73,496 215,183
2010 4,629,173 47,966 69,907 161,842
2009 4,528,149 -18,422 66,521 163,643
2008 4,412,976 -13,646 55,426 523,207
2007 4,265,428 -9,162 55,048 722,380
2006 4,135,703 -12,093 54,338 399,306
2005 4,013,788 -17,146 60,046 174,926
2004 3,877,376 46,370 60,344 176,319
2003 3,751,120 33,857 59,118 177,237
2002 3,606,814 69,594 55,922 178,988
2001 3,478,370 64,163 52,789 178,779
2000 3,343,196 74,535 49,993 178,469
1999 3,155,425 97,195 46,198 180,469
1998 3,003,946 145,575 41,176 183,329
1997 2,936,500 96,885 38,207 183,310
1996 2,882,205 84,448 37,886 180,296
1995 2,830,771 73,243 38,685 68,938
1994 2,735,198 128,134 42,976 62,352
1993 2,673,675 90,200 41,324 65,545
1992 2,596,173 138,412 42,119 65,739
1991 2,527,807 42,760 41,409 66,943
1990 2,491,928 135,959 41,339 67,118
1989 2,452,324 99,588 40,148 68,132
1988 2,376,419 93,510 38,861 68,991
1987 2,322,397 64,418 37,741 69,493
1986 2,295,003 29,682 36,829 69,655
1985 2,289,784 61,514 34,855 37,605
1984 2,278,060 113,758 33,250 38,124
1983 2,292,089 -507,539 31,480 38,536
1982 2,233,401 101,116 29,585 38,276
1981 2,179,884 106,723 27,560 37,600
1980 2,121,618 198,672 25,005 78,148
1979 2,074,807 137,721 21,987 82,238
1978 2,019,621 111,258 18,879 82,359
1977 1,923,917 129,075 15,787 81,111
1976 1,827,289 72,889 12,876 78,903
1975 1,718,623 75,603 11,859 42,380
1974 1,624,813 44,281 10,835 42,474
1973 1,525,485 -618 9,822 42,243
1972 1,448,928 -12,962 8,818 41,888
1971 1,373,896 -35,639 7,839 41,425
1970 1,295,507 7,953 6,922 40,792
1969 1,213,484 6,912 6,138 39,902
1968 1,168,254 9,615 5,588 28,866
1967 1,082,884 18,683 5,264 -283
1966 1,095,582 12,513 4,955 1,516
1965 1,061,840 32,988 4,675 2,598
1964 1,028,272 26,411 4,410 3,126
1963 995,116 27,115 4,157 3,264
1962 966,452 27,906 3,901 3,212
1961 932,111 25,515 3,657 3,141
1960 901,301 12,131 3,418 3,102

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

GeoRank.org/population/nigeria/united-arab-emirates | 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 the United Arab Emirates 30.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 857,996 people) and 69.5% is from migration (a gain of 1,958,520 people).

As of 2024, 1,403,281 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Nigeria, compared to 8,157,000 people or 74% in the United Arab Emirates.

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
UAE
City Population
Dubai 3.94M
Abu Dhabi 1.57M
Sharjah 1.25M
Al Ain 767K
Ajman 490K
Ras al-Khaimah 116K
Fujairah 93.7K
Umm al-Quwain 44.4K
Madinat Zayed 29.1K

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/united-arab-emirates | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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