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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Nigeria was 237,527,782 in 2025 vs 11,513,149 people in the United Arab Emirates in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nigeria's population is 245,016,045 people compared to 11,885,001 in the United Arab Emirates.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 20.6 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 3.09% of the world: 2.95% for Nigeria vs 0.14% for the United Arab Emirates.
  • For the last 10 years, Nigeria has had an average growth rate of +2.25% per year vs +3.31% in the United Arab Emirates.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nigeria has increased from 149M people to 245M (64.4% growth), while the United Arab Emirates has grown from 5.01M to 11.9M (137.3% 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 481,640,156 26,706,595
2099 481,456,918 26,465,166
2098 481,181,892 26,225,773
2097 480,838,161 25,988,828
2096 480,422,467 25,753,753
2095 479,938,579 25,520,511
2094 479,395,022 25,288,801
2093 478,769,369 25,058,430
2092 478,059,864 24,829,182
2091 477,236,907 24,600,702
2090 476,329,495 24,372,725
2089 475,326,347 24,144,467
2088 474,231,442 23,916,513
2087 473,035,563 23,688,452
2086 471,732,001 23,460,422
2085 470,328,175 23,232,061
2084 468,806,172 23,002,795
2083 467,187,453 22,772,229
2082 465,472,417 22,540,771
2081 463,643,190 22,308,390
2080 461,705,493 22,075,331
2079 459,644,523 21,841,417
2078 457,477,264 21,606,907
2077 455,218,871 21,371,631
2076 452,849,991 21,136,110
2075 450,367,356 20,900,601
2074 447,789,885 20,665,468
2073 445,117,028 20,430,105
2072 442,340,440 20,196,342
2071 439,464,323 19,963,477
2070 436,505,329 19,732,649
2069 433,437,998 19,503,294
2068 430,286,232 19,276,535
2067 427,032,499 19,052,348
2066 423,702,640 18,831,237
2065 420,285,359 18,612,821
2064 416,778,394 18,397,315
2063 413,198,800 18,185,402
2062 409,551,159 17,977,010
2061 405,827,482 17,772,656
2060 402,041,765 17,571,910
2059 398,197,311 17,373,047
2058 394,284,767 17,176,551
2057 390,311,065 16,982,730
2056 386,267,580 16,791,613
2055 382,162,992 16,602,585
2054 378,000,511 16,414,963
2053 373,769,779 16,230,105
2052 369,472,476 16,047,360
2051 365,120,741 15,866,073
2050 360,706,317 15,685,433
2049 356,243,287 15,505,176
2048 351,724,743 15,326,671
2047 347,142,279 15,149,859
2046 342,505,549 14,977,516
2045 337,807,869 14,808,230
2044 333,050,132 14,639,661
2043 328,230,652 14,472,097
2042 323,363,366 14,305,483
2041 318,443,989 14,139,883
2040 313,468,061 13,975,444
2039 308,450,008 13,812,227
2038 303,399,842 13,650,128
2037 298,327,800 13,489,998
2036 293,227,654 13,331,723
2035 288,115,630 13,175,838
2034 282,995,818 13,022,467
2033 277,875,880 12,872,359
2032 272,747,599 12,725,892
2031 267,645,657 12,583,470
2030 262,562,767 12,445,626
2029 257,484,616 12,304,314
2028 252,445,821 12,153,292
2027 247,437,680 11,982,666
2026 242,458,365 11,781,850
2025 237,527,782 11,513,149
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 49,572,345 people (a 25.4% growth), while the United Arab Emirates' population increased by 2,949,906 people (a 33% 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 47.2% to 360,706,317 people with a rank change from 6th to 5th. The population of the United Arab Emirates will increase by 32% to 15,685,433 people and rank change from 84th to 82nd.

Nigeria is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 482M people compared to the peak of 26.7M 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 2.08% 4.79%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/nigeria/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Nigeria grew by 2.08%, while the United Arab Emirates' population grew by 4.79%.

Live population counters

Nigeria UAE
Current population
245016045
11885001
Population rank 6/197 84/197
Percent of world population 2.95% 0.14%
One net population change
6.52 seconds
1 minute
One birth every
4.17 seconds
4.87 minutes
One death every
11.6 seconds
49.2 minutes
Daily growth/decline +13,283 +1,443
Annual growth/decline +4,848,304 +526,749
Annual growth/decline rate +2.08% +4.79%
Population growth rate rank 45/197 1/197
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 4,851,833 -35,202 97,197 278,439
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 2026-07-08).

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 47,153,031 people) and 0.81% is from migration (a loss of 383,929 people). In the United Arab Emirates 31.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 870,916 people) and 68.3% is from migration (a gain of 1,876,785 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 2.56M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M
Owerri 908K
UAE
City Population
Dubai 3.94M
Abu Dhabi 1.57M
Sharjah 1.25M
Al Ain 767K
Ajman 490K
Fujairah 119K
Ras al-Khaimah 116K
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 (1960–2025, 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/united-arab-emirates | 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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