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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Nigeria was 232,679,478 in 2024 vs 341,784,857 people in the United States in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nigeria's population is 243,824,469 people compared to 344,023,146 in the United States.

Population statistics:

  • The United States' population is 1.41 times bigger than Nigeria's.
  • Nigeria is ranked the 6th most populous country in the world, while the United States is the 3rd.
  • The countries together account for 7.09% of the world: 2.94% for Nigeria vs 4.15% for the United States.
  • For the last 10 years, Nigeria has had an average growth rate of +2.31% per year vs +0.65% in the United States.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nigeria has increased from 149M people to 244M (63.6% growth), while the United States has grown from 298M to 344M (15.3% growth).

Nigeria vs United States: population by year and forecast

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
United States
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nigeria United States
2100 481,678,166 415,429,771
2099 481,494,914 414,829,167
2098 481,219,866 414,231,720
2097 480,876,108 413,576,381
2096 480,460,381 412,927,393
2095 479,976,454 412,225,379
2094 479,432,855 411,498,749
2093 478,807,152 410,785,729
2092 478,097,591 410,051,921
2091 477,274,569 409,320,183
2090 476,367,086 408,613,732
2089 475,363,859 407,885,645
2088 474,268,867 407,129,733
2087 473,072,894 406,421,298
2086 471,769,229 405,715,343
2085 470,365,292 405,059,379
2084 468,843,169 404,343,130
2083 467,224,322 403,612,785
2082 465,509,151 402,871,293
2081 463,679,779 402,054,554
2080 461,741,930 401,319,194
2079 459,680,797 400,554,914
2078 457,513,367 399,737,968
2077 455,254,796 398,906,565
2076 452,885,729 398,035,750
2075 450,402,898 397,109,170
2074 447,825,224 396,226,412
2073 445,152,156 395,307,725
2072 442,375,349 394,393,561
2071 439,499,004 393,415,363
2070 436,539,777 392,469,727
2069 433,472,204 391,479,981
2068 430,320,190 390,517,695
2067 427,066,199 389,543,856
2066 423,736,078 388,597,719
2065 420,318,527 387,685,327
2064 416,811,285 386,805,026
2063 413,231,409 385,911,917
2062 409,583,480 385,032,627
2061 405,859,509 384,170,837
2060 402,073,494 383,361,269
2059 398,228,736 382,542,030
2058 394,315,883 381,704,804
2057 390,341,867 380,907,023
2056 386,298,064 380,159,777
2055 382,193,151 379,430,756
2054 378,030,342 378,682,851
2053 373,799,276 377,878,421
2052 369,501,634 377,073,303
2051 365,149,555 376,229,840
2050 360,734,783 375,373,155
2049 356,271,401 374,493,150
2048 351,752,501 373,590,762
2047 347,169,674 372,626,259
2046 342,532,578 371,644,809
2045 337,834,528 370,602,914
2044 333,076,416 369,518,897
2043 328,256,555 368,375,680
2042 323,388,886 367,158,772
2041 318,469,120 365,937,822
2040 313,492,800 364,671,837
2039 308,474,350 363,367,337
2038 303,423,786 361,997,023
2037 298,351,344 360,606,236
2036 293,250,795 359,193,245
2035 288,138,368 357,750,686
2034 283,018,151 356,266,726
2033 277,897,810 354,775,032
2032 272,769,123 353,259,037
2031 267,666,779 351,721,511
2030 262,583,487 350,155,042
2029 257,504,936 348,564,667
2028 252,465,743 346,906,294
2027 247,457,208 345,257,605
2026 242,477,499 343,565,426
2025 237,546,527 341,784,857
2024 232,679,478 340,110,988
2023 227,882,945 334,914,895
2022 223,150,896 333,271,411
2021 218,529,286 331,893,745
2020 213,996,181 331,526,933
2019 209,485,641 328,329,953
2018 204,938,755 326,838,199
2017 200,254,579 325,122,128
2016 195,443,700 323,071,755
2015 190,671,878 320,738,994
2014 185,896,915 318,386,329
2013 181,049,443 316,059,947
2012 176,200,625 313,877,662
2011 171,379,598 311,583,481
2010 166,642,886 309,327,143
2009 162,049,464 306,771,529
2008 157,595,014 304,093,966
2007 153,267,261 301,231,207
2006 149,077,334 298,379,912
2005 145,017,253 295,516,599
2004 141,057,045 292,805,298
2003 137,202,644 290,107,933
2002 133,471,989 287,625,193
2001 129,862,595 284,968,955
2000 126,382,494 282,162,411
1999 123,047,320 279,294,713
1998 119,846,254 276,115,288
1997 116,754,792 272,911,760
1996 113,754,779 269,667,391
1995 110,819,428 266,557,091
1994 107,935,714 263,435,673
1993 105,122,069 260,255,352
1992 102,372,770 256,894,189
1991 99,720,162 253,492,503
1990 97,120,925 250,131,894
1989 94,531,014 246,819,222
1988 92,020,090 244,499,004
1987 89,591,716 242,288,936
1986 87,235,953 240,132,831
1985 84,897,973 237,923,734
1984 82,526,443 235,824,908
1983 80,438,260 233,792,014
1982 78,378,701 231,664,432
1981 76,068,103 229,465,744
1980 73,764,641 226,542,250
1979 71,498,242 225,055,487
1978 69,326,532 222,584,545
1977 67,234,590 220,239,425
1976 65,258,009 218,035,164
1975 63,410,815 215,973,199
1974 61,679,144 213,853,928
1973 60,082,139 211,908,788
1972 58,601,748 209,896,021
1971 57,214,684 207,660,677
1970 55,893,838 205,052,174
1969 54,631,914 202,676,946
1968 53,432,783 200,706,052
1967 52,293,065 198,712,056
1966 51,188,234 196,560,338
1965 50,086,764 194,302,963
1964 49,012,016 191,888,791
1963 47,973,575 189,241,798
1962 46,965,292 186,537,737
1961 45,989,310 183,691,481
1960 45,053,782 180,671,158

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/nigeria/united-states | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Nigeria increased by 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth), while the United States gained 24,691,843 people (a 8.28% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Nigeria gained 48,380,769 people (a 24.8% growth), while the United States' population increased by 20,951,391 people (a 6.49% growth).

Nigeria was ranked 7th most populous country in 2006 and is 6th in 2026. The United States was ranked 3rd in 2006 and still ranked 3rd 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 States will increase by 9.11% to 375,373,155 people and will still be ranked 3rd.

Nigeria is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 482M people compared to the peak of 415M people in 2100 for the United States.

Population growth rate by year

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
United States
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Nigeria United States
2100 0.04% 0.14%
2099 0.06% 0.14%
2098 0.07% 0.16%
2097 0.09% 0.16%
2096 0.1% 0.17%
2095 0.11% 0.18%
2094 0.13% 0.17%
2093 0.15% 0.18%
2092 0.17% 0.18%
2091 0.19% 0.17%
2090 0.21% 0.18%
2089 0.23% 0.19%
2088 0.25% 0.17%
2087 0.28% 0.17%
2086 0.3% 0.16%
2085 0.32% 0.18%
2084 0.35% 0.18%
2083 0.37% 0.18%
2082 0.39% 0.2%
2081 0.42% 0.18%
2080 0.45% 0.19%
2079 0.47% 0.2%
2078 0.5% 0.21%
2077 0.52% 0.22%
2076 0.55% 0.23%
2075 0.58% 0.22%
2074 0.6% 0.23%
2073 0.63% 0.23%
2072 0.65% 0.25%
2071 0.68% 0.24%
2070 0.71% 0.25%
2069 0.73% 0.25%
2068 0.76% 0.25%
2067 0.79% 0.24%
2066 0.81% 0.24%
2065 0.84% 0.23%
2064 0.87% 0.23%
2063 0.89% 0.23%
2062 0.92% 0.22%
2061 0.94% 0.21%
2060 0.97% 0.21%
2059 0.99% 0.22%
2058 1.02% 0.21%
2057 1.05% 0.2%
2056 1.07% 0.19%
2055 1.1% 0.2%
2054 1.13% 0.21%
2053 1.16% 0.21%
2052 1.19% 0.22%
2051 1.22% 0.23%
2050 1.25% 0.23%
2049 1.28% 0.24%
2048 1.32% 0.26%
2047 1.35% 0.26%
2046 1.39% 0.28%
2045 1.43% 0.29%
2044 1.47% 0.31%
2043 1.51% 0.33%
2042 1.54% 0.33%
2041 1.59% 0.35%
2040 1.63% 0.36%
2039 1.66% 0.38%
2038 1.7% 0.39%
2037 1.74% 0.39%
2036 1.77% 0.4%
2035 1.81% 0.42%
2034 1.84% 0.42%
2033 1.88% 0.43%
2032 1.91% 0.44%
2031 1.94% 0.45%
2030 1.97% 0.46%
2029 2% 0.48%
2028 2.02% 0.48%
2027 2.05% 0.49%
2026 2.08% 0.52%
2025 2.09% 0.49%
2024 2.1% 1.55%
2023 2.12% 0.49%
2022 2.11% 0.42%
2021 2.12% 0.11%
2020 2.15% 0.97%
2019 2.22% 0.46%
2018 2.34% 0.53%
2017 2.46% 0.63%
2016 2.5% 0.73%
2015 2.57% 0.74%
2014 2.68% 0.74%
2013 2.75% 0.7%
2012 2.81% 0.74%
2011 2.84% 0.73%
2010 2.83% 0.83%
2009 2.83% 0.88%
2008 2.82% 0.95%
2007 2.81% 0.96%
2006 2.8% 0.97%
2005 2.81% 0.93%
2004 2.81% 0.93%
2003 2.8% 0.86%
2002 2.78% 0.93%
2001 2.75% 0.99%
2000 2.71% 1.03%
1999 2.67% 1.15%
1998 2.65% 1.17%
1997 2.64% 1.2%
1996 2.65% 1.17%
1995 2.67% 1.18%
1994 2.68% 1.22%
1993 2.69% 1.31%
1992 2.66% 1.34%
1991 2.68% 1.34%
1990 2.74% 1.34%
1989 2.73% 0.95%
1988 2.71% 0.91%
1987 2.7% 0.9%
1986 2.75% 0.93%
1985 2.87% 0.89%
1984 2.6% 0.87%
1983 2.63% 0.92%
1982 3.04% 0.96%
1981 3.12% 1.29%
1980 3.17% 0.66%
1979 3.13% 1.11%
1978 3.11% 1.06%
1977 3.03% 1.01%
1976 2.91% 0.95%
1975 2.81% 0.99%
1974 2.66% 0.92%
1973 2.53% 0.96%
1972 2.42% 1.08%
1971 2.36% 1.27%
1970 2.31% 1.17%
1969 2.24% 0.98%
1968 2.18% 1%
1967 2.16% 1.09%
1966 2.2% 1.16%
1965 2.19% 1.26%
1964 2.16% 1.4%
1963 2.15% 1.45%
1962 2.12% 1.55%
1961 2.08% 1.67%
1960 - 1.6%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/nigeria/united-states | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Nigeria grew by 2.1%, while the United States' population grew by 0.49%.

Live population counters

Nigeria United States
Current population
243824469
344023146
Population rank 6/197 3/197
Percent of world population 2.94% 4.15%
One net population change
6.58 seconds
18.9 seconds
One birth every
4.2 seconds
8.8 seconds
One death every
11.8 seconds
10.2 seconds
Daily growth/decline +13,141 +4,586
Annual growth/decline +4,796,533 +1,673,869
Annual growth/decline rate +2.1% +0.49%
Population growth rate rank 48/197 134/197
One migration net change every
34.5 minutes
25.7 seconds
Annual migration change -15,258 +1,230,663
Net migration rank 145/196 2/196
Foreign-born residents 1,403,281 52,375,047
Foreign-born residents rank 49/195 1/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 15.2%
Foreign-born share rank 173/195 41/195

Natural population change vs migration

Nigeria
Natural

Migration
United States
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Nigeria United States
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -15,258 - 1,230,663
2024 - -35,202 - 1,286,132
2023 4,834,309 -57,936 502,372 1,322,668
2022 4,739,502 -51,680 399,926 1,319,009
2021 4,641,562 -86,115 199,137 674,787
2020 4,525,164 -14,497 208,862 329,769
2019 4,609,941 -99,722 887,476 1,774,500
2018 4,659,898 -76,565 955,022 1,764,961
2017 4,706,183 78,685 1,028,037 1,864,738
2016 4,761,594 75,265 1,197,627 1,889,129
2015 4,823,045 -116,162 1,270,126 1,722,127
2014 4,862,319 -19,376 1,357,281 1,672,598
2013 4,811,751 40,201 1,322,711 1,663,885
2012 4,774,508 71,138 1,411,822 1,632,007
2011 4,728,363 67,808 1,441,697 1,624,033
2010 4,629,173 47,966 1,548,182 1,594,453
2009 4,528,149 -18,422 1,717,920 1,387,306
2008 4,412,976 -13,646 1,794,154 1,416,841
2007 4,265,428 -9,162 1,897,757 1,371,353
2006 4,135,703 -12,093 1,849,955 1,347,750
2005 4,013,788 -17,146 1,684,445 1,369,224
2004 3,877,376 46,370 1,698,271 1,313,467
2003 3,751,120 33,857 1,653,615 1,331,376
2002 3,606,814 69,594 1,581,938 1,336,518
2001 3,478,370 64,163 1,595,826 1,312,455
2000 3,343,196 74,535 1,664,758 1,248,392
1999 3,155,425 97,195 1,564,050 1,156,311
1998 3,003,946 145,575 1,573,857 1,225,134
1997 2,936,500 96,885 1,501,014 1,116,922
1996 2,882,205 84,448 1,510,137 1,141,648
1995 2,830,771 73,243 1,546,031 1,173,016
1994 2,735,198 128,134 1,633,302 1,179,309
1993 2,673,675 90,200 1,717,685 1,228,478
1992 2,596,173 138,412 1,875,328 1,304,880
1991 2,527,807 42,760 1,926,543 1,202,426
1990 2,491,928 135,959 2,026,068 1,084,720
1989 2,452,324 99,588 1,875,826 400,998
1988 2,376,419 93,510 1,735,943 460,778
1987 2,322,397 64,418 1,720,252 480,815
1986 2,295,003 29,682 1,656,917 493,082
1985 2,289,784 61,514 1,689,258 598,777
1984 2,278,060 113,758 1,627,192 622,793
1983 2,292,089 -507,539 1,636,544 662,840
1982 2,233,401 101,116 1,714,317 600,149
1981 2,179,884 106,723 1,652,153 583,070
1980 2,121,618 198,672 1,608,450 595,916
1979 2,074,807 137,721 1,597,894 503,559
1978 2,019,621 111,258 1,402,283 556,521
1977 1,923,917 129,075 1,431,556 577,060
1976 1,827,289 72,889 1,264,604 635,590
1975 1,718,623 75,603 1,252,644 655,078
1974 1,624,813 44,281 1,218,968 706,978
1973 1,525,485 -618 1,165,499 783,163
1972 1,448,928 -12,962 1,301,355 833,543
1971 1,373,896 -35,639 1,640,519 833,549
1970 1,295,507 7,953 1,824,965 744,902
1969 1,213,484 6,912 1,702,487 523,740
1968 1,168,254 9,615 1,565,507 594,514
1967 1,082,884 18,683 1,669,181 585,410
1966 1,095,582 12,513 1,749,387 637,692
1965 1,061,840 32,988 1,943,030 644,902
1964 1,028,272 26,411 2,245,099 618,635
1963 995,116 27,115 2,289,826 639,495
1962 966,452 27,906 2,406,337 625,617
1961 932,111 25,515 2,571,681 580,333
1960 901,301 12,131 2,565,530 422,708

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/population/nigeria/united-states | 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 States 35.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 8,005,866 people) and 64.2% is from migration (a gain of 14,334,286 people).

As of 2024, 1,403,281 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Nigeria, compared to 52,375,047 people or 15.2% in the United States.

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 States
City Population
New York 8.8M
Los Angeles 3.9M
Chicago 2.75M
Houston 2.3M
Phoenix 1.61M
Philadelphia 1.6M
San Antonio 1.43M
San Diego 1.39M
Dallas 1.3M
San Jose 1.01M

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-states | 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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