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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Nigeria was 232,679,478 in 2024 vs 69,226,000 people in the United Kingdom in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nigeria's population is 243,824,469 people compared to 70,154,914 in the United Kingdom.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 3.48 times bigger than the United Kingdom's.
  • Nigeria is ranked the 6th most populous country in the world, while the United Kingdom is the 22nd.
  • The countries together account for 3.79% of the world: 2.94% for Nigeria vs 0.85% for the United Kingdom.
  • For the last 10 years, Nigeria has had an average growth rate of +2.31% per year vs +0.7% in the United Kingdom.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nigeria has increased from 149M people to 244M (63.6% growth), while the United Kingdom has grown from 60.8M to 70.2M (15.3% growth).

Nigeria vs United Kingdom: population by year and forecast

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nigeria United Kingdom
2100 481,678,166 74,700,585
2099 481,494,914 74,831,175
2098 481,219,866 74,950,267
2097 480,876,108 75,064,397
2096 480,460,381 75,176,691
2095 479,976,454 75,287,063
2094 479,432,855 75,383,856
2093 478,807,152 75,482,205
2092 478,097,591 75,575,769
2091 477,274,569 75,666,091
2090 476,367,086 75,753,129
2089 475,363,859 75,835,723
2088 474,268,867 75,907,614
2087 473,072,894 75,978,712
2086 471,769,229 76,046,742
2085 470,365,292 76,105,680
2084 468,843,169 76,156,223
2083 467,224,322 76,205,894
2082 465,509,151 76,246,844
2081 463,679,779 76,274,040
2080 461,741,930 76,306,205
2079 459,680,797 76,334,949
2078 457,513,367 76,353,484
2077 455,254,796 76,371,123
2076 452,885,729 76,373,520
2075 450,402,898 76,386,071
2074 447,825,224 76,397,426
2073 445,152,156 76,406,554
2072 442,375,349 76,398,941
2071 439,499,004 76,388,223
2070 436,539,777 76,378,505
2069 433,472,204 76,371,827
2068 430,320,190 76,370,973
2067 427,066,199 76,363,548
2066 423,736,078 76,356,638
2065 420,318,527 76,355,841
2064 416,811,285 76,352,770
2063 413,231,409 76,353,175
2062 409,583,480 76,346,535
2061 405,859,509 76,344,206
2060 402,073,494 76,344,725
2059 398,228,736 76,345,215
2058 394,315,883 76,326,961
2057 390,341,867 76,307,006
2056 386,298,064 76,274,247
2055 382,193,151 76,235,304
2054 378,030,342 76,167,710
2053 373,799,276 76,094,051
2052 369,501,634 76,001,979
2051 365,149,555 75,895,690
2050 360,734,783 75,777,445
2049 356,271,401 75,646,044
2048 351,752,501 75,499,380
2047 347,169,674 75,338,951
2046 342,532,578 75,171,300
2045 337,834,528 74,993,186
2044 333,076,416 74,807,530
2043 328,256,555 74,607,485
2042 323,388,886 74,407,783
2041 318,469,120 74,203,292
2040 313,492,800 73,994,525
2039 308,474,350 73,782,112
2038 303,423,786 73,559,085
2037 298,351,344 73,335,723
2036 293,250,795 73,101,646
2035 288,138,368 72,850,722
2034 283,018,151 72,597,177
2033 277,897,810 72,322,802
2032 272,769,123 72,046,316
2031 267,666,779 71,757,868
2030 262,583,487 71,442,811
2029 257,504,936 71,123,782
2028 252,465,743 70,783,199
2027 247,457,208 70,421,923
2026 242,477,499 70,055,911
2025 237,546,527 69,658,188
2024 232,679,478 69,226,000
2023 227,882,945 68,492,000
2022 223,150,896 67,604,000
2021 218,529,286 66,984,000
2020 213,996,181 66,744,000
2019 209,485,641 66,631,000
2018 204,938,755 66,289,000
2017 200,254,579 65,966,000
2016 195,443,700 65,607,000
2015 190,671,878 65,088,000
2014 185,896,915 64,620,000
2013 181,049,443 64,139,000
2012 176,200,625 63,711,000
2011 171,379,598 63,258,810
2010 166,642,886 62,766,365
2009 162,049,464 62,276,270
2008 157,595,014 61,806,995
2007 153,267,261 61,322,463
2006 149,077,334 60,846,820
2005 145,017,253 60,401,206
2004 141,057,045 59,987,905
2003 137,202,644 59,647,577
2002 133,471,989 59,370,479
2001 129,862,595 59,119,673
2000 126,382,494 58,892,514
1999 123,047,320 58,682,466
1998 119,846,254 58,487,141
1997 116,754,792 58,316,954
1996 113,754,779 58,166,950
1995 110,819,428 58,019,030
1994 107,935,714 57,865,745
1993 105,122,069 57,718,614
1992 102,372,770 57,580,402
1991 99,720,162 57,424,897
1990 97,120,925 57,247,586
1989 94,531,014 57,076,711
1988 92,020,090 56,928,327
1987 89,591,716 56,802,050
1986 87,235,953 56,681,396
1985 84,897,973 56,550,268
1984 82,526,443 56,422,072
1983 80,438,260 56,332,848
1982 78,378,701 56,313,641
1981 76,068,103 56,333,829
1980 73,764,641 56,314,216
1979 71,498,242 56,246,951
1978 69,326,532 56,196,504
1977 67,234,590 56,193,492
1976 65,258,009 56,211,968
1975 63,410,815 56,225,800
1974 61,679,144 56,229,974
1973 60,082,139 56,194,527
1972 58,601,748 56,086,065
1971 57,214,684 55,896,223
1970 55,893,838 55,663,250
1969 54,631,914 55,441,750
1968 53,432,783 55,211,700
1967 52,293,065 54,943,600
1966 51,188,234 54,648,500
1965 50,086,764 54,348,050
1964 49,012,016 54,000,000
1963 47,973,575 53,650,000
1962 46,965,292 53,250,000
1961 45,989,310 52,800,000
1960 45,053,782 52,400,000

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-kingdom | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Nigeria increased by 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth), while the United Kingdom gained 4,760,180 people (a 7.82% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Nigeria gained 48,380,769 people (a 24.8% growth), while the United Kingdom's population increased by 4,547,914 people (a 6.93% growth).

Nigeria was ranked 7th most populous country in 2006 and is 6th in 2026. The United Kingdom was ranked 21st in 2006 and ranked 22nd 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 Kingdom will increase by 8.01% to 75,777,445 people and rank change from 22nd to 26th.

Nigeria is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 482M people compared to the peak of 76.4M people in 2073 for the United Kingdom.

Population growth rate by year

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Nigeria United Kingdom
2100 0.04% -0.17%
2099 0.06% -0.16%
2098 0.07% -0.15%
2097 0.09% -0.15%
2096 0.1% -0.15%
2095 0.11% -0.13%
2094 0.13% -0.13%
2093 0.15% -0.12%
2092 0.17% -0.12%
2091 0.19% -0.11%
2090 0.21% -0.11%
2089 0.23% -0.09%
2088 0.25% -0.09%
2087 0.28% -0.09%
2086 0.3% -0.08%
2085 0.32% -0.07%
2084 0.35% -0.07%
2083 0.37% -0.05%
2082 0.39% -0.04%
2081 0.42% -0.04%
2080 0.45% -0.04%
2079 0.47% -0.02%
2078 0.5% -0.02%
2077 0.52% -0.003%
2076 0.55% -0.02%
2075 0.58% -0.01%
2074 0.6% -0.01%
2073 0.63% 0.01%
2072 0.65% 0.01%
2071 0.68% 0.01%
2070 0.71% 0.009%
2069 0.73% 0.001%
2068 0.76% 0.01%
2067 0.79% 0.009%
2066 0.81% 0.001%
2065 0.84% 0.004%
2064 0.87% -0%
2063 0.89% 0.009%
2062 0.92% 0.003%
2061 0.94% -0.001%
2060 0.97% -0.001%
2059 0.99% 0.02%
2058 1.02% 0.03%
2057 1.05% 0.04%
2056 1.07% 0.05%
2055 1.1% 0.09%
2054 1.13% 0.1%
2053 1.16% 0.12%
2052 1.19% 0.14%
2051 1.22% 0.16%
2050 1.25% 0.17%
2049 1.28% 0.19%
2048 1.32% 0.21%
2047 1.35% 0.22%
2046 1.39% 0.24%
2045 1.43% 0.25%
2044 1.47% 0.27%
2043 1.51% 0.27%
2042 1.54% 0.28%
2041 1.59% 0.28%
2040 1.63% 0.29%
2039 1.66% 0.3%
2038 1.7% 0.3%
2037 1.74% 0.32%
2036 1.77% 0.34%
2035 1.81% 0.35%
2034 1.84% 0.38%
2033 1.88% 0.38%
2032 1.91% 0.4%
2031 1.94% 0.44%
2030 1.97% 0.45%
2029 2% 0.48%
2028 2.02% 0.51%
2027 2.05% 0.52%
2026 2.08% 0.57%
2025 2.09% 0.62%
2024 2.1% 1.07%
2023 2.12% 1.31%
2022 2.11% 0.93%
2021 2.12% 0.36%
2020 2.15% 0.17%
2019 2.22% 0.52%
2018 2.34% 0.49%
2017 2.46% 0.55%
2016 2.5% 0.8%
2015 2.57% 0.72%
2014 2.68% 0.75%
2013 2.75% 0.67%
2012 2.81% 0.71%
2011 2.84% 0.78%
2010 2.83% 0.79%
2009 2.83% 0.76%
2008 2.82% 0.79%
2007 2.81% 0.78%
2006 2.8% 0.74%
2005 2.81% 0.69%
2004 2.81% 0.57%
2003 2.8% 0.47%
2002 2.78% 0.42%
2001 2.75% 0.39%
2000 2.71% 0.36%
1999 2.67% 0.33%
1998 2.65% 0.29%
1997 2.64% 0.26%
1996 2.65% 0.25%
1995 2.67% 0.26%
1994 2.68% 0.25%
1993 2.69% 0.24%
1992 2.66% 0.27%
1991 2.68% 0.31%
1990 2.74% 0.3%
1989 2.73% 0.26%
1988 2.71% 0.22%
1987 2.7% 0.21%
1986 2.75% 0.23%
1985 2.87% 0.23%
1984 2.6% 0.16%
1983 2.63% 0.03%
1982 3.04% -0.04%
1981 3.12% 0.03%
1980 3.17% 0.12%
1979 3.13% 0.09%
1978 3.11% 0.005%
1977 3.03% -0.03%
1976 2.91% -0.02%
1975 2.81% -0.007%
1974 2.66% 0.06%
1973 2.53% 0.19%
1972 2.42% 0.34%
1971 2.36% 0.42%
1970 2.31% 0.4%
1969 2.24% 0.42%
1968 2.18% 0.49%
1967 2.16% 0.54%
1966 2.2% 0.55%
1965 2.19% 0.64%
1964 2.16% 0.65%
1963 2.15% 0.75%
1962 2.12% 0.85%
1961 2.08% 0.76%

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-kingdom | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Nigeria grew by 2.1%, while the United Kingdom's population grew by 1.07%.

Live population counters

Nigeria United Kingdom
Current population
243824469
70154914
Population rank 6/197 22/197
Percent of world population 2.94% 0.85%
One net population change
6.58 seconds
43 seconds
One birth every
4.2 seconds
45.9 seconds
One death every
11.8 seconds
48.4 seconds
Daily growth/decline +13,141 +2,011
Annual growth/decline +4,796,533 +734,000
Annual growth/decline rate +2.1% +1.07%
Population growth rate rank 48/197 97/197
One migration net change every
34.5 minutes
1.35 minutes
Annual migration change -15,258 +389,911
Net migration rank 145/196 4/196
Foreign-born residents 1,403,281 11,845,479
Foreign-born residents rank 49/195 4/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 17.1%
Foreign-born share rank 173/195 36/195

Natural population change vs migration

Nigeria
Natural

Migration
United Kingdom
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Nigeria United Kingdom
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -15,258 - 389,911
2024 - -35,202 - 417,114
2023 4,834,309 -57,936 34,589 445,523
2022 4,739,502 -51,680 39,751 487,029
2021 4,641,562 -86,115 30,612 462,967
2020 4,525,164 -14,497 -4,272 144,221
2019 4,609,941 -99,722 108,342 232,727
2018 4,659,898 -76,565 119,321 259,744
2017 4,706,183 78,685 145,125 272,311
2016 4,761,594 75,265 177,139 324,649
2015 4,823,045 -116,162 175,738 347,839
2014 4,862,319 -19,376 206,784 306,091
2013 4,811,751 40,201 198,830 237,272
2012 4,774,508 71,138 248,473 172,088
2011 4,728,363 67,808 259,361 228,773
2010 4,629,173 47,966 251,066 274,811
2009 4,528,149 -18,422 230,422 249,639
2008 4,412,976 -13,646 216,325 263,390
2007 4,265,428 -9,162 196,232 309,385
2006 4,135,703 -12,093 176,455 288,923
2005 4,013,788 -17,146 144,963 308,279
2004 3,877,376 46,370 131,974 276,077
2003 3,751,120 33,857 89,471 211,846
2002 3,606,814 69,594 65,308 203,577
2001 3,478,370 64,163 65,032 175,133
2000 3,343,196 74,535 70,671 153,917
1999 3,155,425 97,195 64,551 152,653
1998 3,003,946 145,575 87,730 125,541
1997 2,936,500 96,885 99,138 59,723
1996 2,882,205 84,448 98,884 54,964
1995 2,830,771 73,243 87,028 61,385
1994 2,735,198 128,134 127,304 45,339
1993 2,673,675 90,200 103,893 27,403
1992 2,596,173 138,412 149,709 17,846
1991 2,527,807 42,760 143,562 27,601
1990 2,491,928 135,959 154,569 57,132
1989 2,452,324 99,588 119,861 49,586
1988 2,376,419 93,510 136,628 13,952
1987 2,322,397 64,418 136,325 8,266
1986 2,295,003 29,682 90,690 41,836
1985 2,289,784 61,514 79,170 83,164
1984 2,278,060 113,758 84,633 71,107
1983 2,292,089 -507,539 61,966 27,063
1982 2,233,401 101,116 56,314 -61,152
1981 2,179,884 106,723 73,234 -83,876
1980 2,121,618 198,672 95,734 -25,187
1979 2,074,807 137,721 61,872 11,255
1978 2,019,621 111,258 16,859 3,783
1977 1,923,917 129,075 0 -21,636
1976 1,827,289 72,889 -5,621 -19,135
1975 1,718,623 75,603 33,735 -40,241
1974 1,624,813 44,281 67,476 -65,710
1973 1,525,485 -618 112,389 -33,840
1972 1,448,928 -12,962 162,650 -1,406
1971 1,373,896 -35,639 257,123 1,175
1970 1,295,507 7,953 244,918 -15,254
1969 1,213,484 6,912 260,577 -60,655
1968 1,168,254 9,615 292,622 -38,852
1967 1,082,884 18,683 346,145 -39,659
1966 1,095,582 12,513 333,356 -27,935
1965 1,061,840 32,988 364,132 -24,955
1964 1,028,272 26,411 405,000 -23,885
1963 995,116 27,115 337,995 8,271
1962 966,452 27,906 340,800 76,443
1961 932,111 25,515 311,519 52,295
1960 901,301 12,131 314,400 19,953

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

GeoRank.org/population/nigeria/united-kingdom | 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 Kingdom 23.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,033,129 people) and 76.1% is from migration (a gain of 3,283,101 people).

As of 2024, 1,403,281 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Nigeria, compared to 11,845,479 people or 17.1% in the United Kingdom.

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
United Kingdom
City Population
London 8.8M
Birmingham 1.14M
Glasgow 626K
Manchester 548K
Leeds 536K
Sheffield 518K
Liverpool 513K
Edinburgh 488K
Bristol 472K
Cardiff 384K

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-kingdom | 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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