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Population in Nigeria compared to the Vatican: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Nigeria was 237,527,782 in 2025 vs 1,000 people in the Vatican in 2019. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nigeria's population is 245,016,045 people compared to 939 in the Vatican.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 260,933 times bigger than the Vatican's.
  • Nigeria is ranked the 6th most populous country in the world, while the Vatican is the 197th.
  • The countries together account for 2.95% of the world: 2.95% for Nigeria vs 0.00001% for the Vatican.
  • For the last 10 years, Nigeria has had an average growth rate of +2.25% per year vs +1.9% in the Vatican.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nigeria has increased from 149M people to 245M (64.4% growth), while the Vatican has grown from 932 to 939 (0.75% growth).

Nigeria vs Vatican: population by year and forecast

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
Vatican
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nigeria Vatican
2100 481,640,156 2,521
2099 481,456,918 2,506
2098 481,181,892 2,497
2097 480,838,161 2,482
2096 480,422,467 2,469
2095 479,938,579 2,452
2094 479,395,022 2,435
2093 478,769,369 2,421
2092 478,059,864 2,400
2091 477,236,907 2,384
2090 476,329,495 2,359
2089 475,326,347 2,337
2088 474,231,442 2,319
2087 473,035,563 2,291
2086 471,732,001 2,269
2085 470,328,175 2,248
2084 468,806,172 2,217
2083 467,187,453 2,183
2082 465,472,417 2,159
2081 463,643,190 2,129
2080 461,705,493 2,105
2079 459,644,523 2,089
2078 457,477,264 2,068
2077 455,218,871 2,050
2076 452,849,991 2,025
2075 450,367,356 2,001
2074 447,789,885 1,970
2073 445,117,028 1,944
2072 442,340,440 1,912
2071 439,464,323 1,866
2070 436,505,329 1,829
2069 433,437,998 1,795
2068 430,286,232 1,777
2067 427,032,499 1,755
2066 423,702,640 1,729
2065 420,285,359 1,701
2064 416,778,394 1,679
2063 413,198,800 1,651
2062 409,551,159 1,623
2061 405,827,482 1,595
2060 402,041,765 1,556
2059 398,197,311 1,530
2058 394,284,767 1,512
2057 390,311,065 1,493
2056 386,267,580 1,469
2055 382,162,992 1,441
2054 378,000,511 1,419
2053 373,769,779 1,382
2052 369,472,476 1,358
2051 365,120,741 1,335
2050 360,706,317 1,311
2049 356,243,287 1,283
2048 351,724,743 1,256
2047 347,142,279 1,237
2046 342,505,549 1,215
2045 337,807,869 1,192
2044 333,050,132 1,174
2043 328,230,652 1,152
2042 323,363,366 1,135
2041 318,443,989 1,105
2040 313,468,061 1,070
2039 308,450,008 1,033
2038 303,399,842 1,001
2037 298,327,800 996
2036 293,227,654 1,001
2035 288,115,630 988
2034 282,995,818 988
2033 277,875,880 974
2032 272,747,599 964
2031 267,645,657 977
2030 262,562,767 979
2029 257,484,616 985
2028 252,445,821 983
2027 247,437,680 946
2026 242,458,365 933
2025 237,527,782 927
2024 232,679,478 910
2023 227,882,945 927
2022 223,150,896 951
2021 218,529,286 972
2020 213,996,181 987
2019 209,485,641 1,000
2018 204,938,755 -
2017 200,254,579 1,000
2016 195,443,700 -
2015 190,671,878 1,000
2014 185,896,915 842
2013 181,049,443 839
2012 176,200,625 836
2011 171,379,598 832
2010 166,642,886 829
2009 162,049,464 826
2008 157,595,014 824
2007 153,267,261 821
2006 149,077,334 932
2005 145,017,253 921
2004 141,057,045 921
2003 137,202,644 911
2002 133,471,989 900
2001 129,862,595 890
2000 126,382,494 880
1999 123,047,320 -
1998 119,846,254 -
1997 116,754,792 -
1996 113,754,779 -
1995 110,819,428 -
1994 107,935,714 -
1993 105,122,069 -
1992 102,372,770 -
1991 99,720,162 -
1990 97,120,925 -
1989 94,531,014 -
1988 92,020,090 -
1987 89,591,716 -
1986 87,235,953 -
1985 84,897,973 -
1984 82,526,443 -
1983 80,438,260 -
1982 78,378,701 -
1981 76,068,103 -
1980 73,764,641 -
1979 71,498,242 -
1978 69,326,532 -
1977 67,234,590 -
1976 65,258,009 -
1975 63,410,815 -
1974 61,679,144 -
1973 60,082,139 -
1972 58,601,748 -
1971 57,214,684 -
1970 55,893,838 -
1969 54,631,914 -
1968 53,432,783 -
1967 52,293,065 -
1966 51,188,234 -
1965 50,086,764 -
1964 49,012,016 -
1963 47,973,575 -
1962 46,965,292 -
1961 45,989,310 -
1960 45,053,782 -

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2020–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/nigeria/vatican | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Nigeria increased by 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth), while the Vatican gained 68 people (a 7.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Nigeria gained 49,572,345 people (a 25.4% growth), while the Vatican's population decreased by 61 people (a 6.1% decline).

Nigeria was ranked 7th most populous country in 2006 and is 6th in 2026. The Vatican was ranked 197th in 2006 and still ranked 197th 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 Vatican will increase by 39.6% to 1,311 people and will still be ranked 197th.

Nigeria is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 482M people compared to the peak of 2.52K people in 2100 for the Vatican.

Population growth rate by year

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
Vatican
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Nigeria Vatican
2100 0.04% 0.59%
2099 0.06% 0.37%
2098 0.07% 0.6%
2097 0.09% 0.53%
2096 0.1% 0.68%
2095 0.11% 0.69%
2094 0.13% 0.61%
2093 0.15% 0.85%
2092 0.17% 0.7%
2091 0.19% 1.02%
2090 0.21% 0.95%
2089 0.23% 0.8%
2088 0.25% 1.21%
2087 0.28% 0.98%
2086 0.3% 0.91%
2085 0.32% 1.42%
2084 0.35% 1.53%
2083 0.37% 1.12%
2082 0.39% 1.39%
2081 0.42% 1.15%
2080 0.45% 0.8%
2079 0.47% 0.99%
2078 0.5% 0.9%
2077 0.52% 1.19%
2076 0.55% 1.2%
2075 0.58% 1.6%
2074 0.6% 1.34%
2073 0.63% 1.65%
2072 0.65% 2.49%
2071 0.68% 2.03%
2070 0.71% 1.86%
2069 0.73% 1.04%
2068 0.76% 1.27%
2067 0.79% 1.5%
2066 0.81% 1.64%
2065 0.84% 1.33%
2064 0.87% 1.69%
2063 0.89% 1.71%
2062 0.92% 1.74%
2061 0.94% 2.5%
2060 0.97% 1.7%
2059 0.99% 1.23%
2058 1.02% 1.24%
2057 1.05% 1.64%
2056 1.07% 1.93%
2055 1.1% 1.57%
2054 1.13% 2.68%
2053 1.16% 1.78%
2052 1.19% 1.67%
2051 1.22% 1.84%
2050 1.25% 2.17%
2049 1.28% 2.22%
2048 1.32% 1.5%
2047 1.35% 1.83%
2046 1.39% 1.87%
2045 1.43% 1.58%
2044 1.47% 1.93%
2043 1.51% 1.47%
2042 1.54% 2.68%
2041 1.59% 3.29%
2040 1.63% 3.59%
2039 1.66% 3.15%
2038 1.7% 0.56%
2037 1.74% -0.56%
2036 1.77% 1.31%
2035 1.81% 0%
2034 1.84% 1.52%
2033 1.88% 0.96%
2032 1.91% -1.33%
2031 1.94% -0.19%
2030 1.97% -0.56%
2029 2% 0.19%
2028 2.02% 3.92%
2027 2.05% 1.39%
2026 2.08% 0.6%
2025 2.08% 1.83%
2024 2.1% -1.8%
2023 2.12% -2.53%
2022 2.11% -2.1%
2021 2.12% -1.5%
2020 2.15% -1.3%
2019 2.22% 0%
2018 2.34% 0%
2017 2.46% 0%
2016 2.5% 0%
2015 2.57% 18.8%
2014 2.68% 0.36%
2013 2.75% 0.36%
2012 2.81% 0.48%
2011 2.84% 0.36%
2010 2.83% 0.36%
2009 2.83% 0.24%
2008 2.82% 0.37%
2007 2.81% -11.9%
2006 2.8% 1.19%
2005 2.81% 0%
2004 2.81% 1.1%
2003 2.8% 1.22%
2002 2.78% 1.12%
2001 2.75% 1.14%
2000 2.71% -
1999 2.67% -
1998 2.65% -
1997 2.64% -
1996 2.65% -
1995 2.67% -
1994 2.68% -
1993 2.69% -
1992 2.66% -
1991 2.68% -
1990 2.74% -
1989 2.73% -
1988 2.71% -
1987 2.7% -
1986 2.75% -
1985 2.87% -
1984 2.6% -
1983 2.63% -
1982 3.04% -
1981 3.12% -
1980 3.17% -
1979 3.13% -
1978 3.11% -
1977 3.03% -
1976 2.91% -
1975 2.81% -
1974 2.66% -
1973 2.53% -
1972 2.42% -
1971 2.36% -
1970 2.31% -
1969 2.24% -
1968 2.18% -
1967 2.16% -
1966 2.2% -
1965 2.19% -
1964 2.16% -
1963 2.15% -
1962 2.12% -
1961 2.08% -

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2020–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2001–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/nigeria/vatican | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Nigeria grew by 2.08%, while the Vatican's population declined by 0%.

Live population counters

Nigeria Vatican
Current population
245016045
939
Population rank 6/197 197/197
Percent of world population 2.95% 0.00001%
One net population change
6.52 seconds
1 month
One birth every
4.17 seconds
n/a
One death every
11.6 seconds
n/a
Daily growth/decline +13,283 +0
Annual growth/decline +4,848,304 +0
Annual growth/decline rate +2.08% +0%
Population growth rate rank 45/197 158/197
One migration net change every
34.5 minutes
n/a
Annual migration change -15,258 n/a
Net migration rank 145/196
Foreign-born residents 1,403,281 n/a
Foreign-born residents rank 49/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% n/a
Foreign-born share rank 173/195

Natural population change vs migration

Nigeria
Natural

Migration
Vatican
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Nigeria Vatican
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -15,258 - -
2024 4,851,833 -35,202 - -
2023 4,834,309 -57,936 - -
2022 4,739,502 -51,680 - -
2021 4,641,562 -86,115 - -
2020 4,525,164 -14,497 - -
2019 4,609,941 -99,722 - -
2018 4,659,898 -76,565 - -
2017 4,706,183 78,685 - -
2016 4,761,594 75,265 - -
2015 4,823,045 -116,162 - -
2014 4,862,319 -19,376 - -
2013 4,811,751 40,201 - -
2012 4,774,508 71,138 - -
2011 4,728,363 67,808 - -
2010 4,629,173 47,966 - -
2009 4,528,149 -18,422 - -
2008 4,412,976 -13,646 - -
2007 4,265,428 -9,162 - -
2006 4,135,703 -12,093 - -
2005 4,013,788 -17,146 - -
2004 3,877,376 46,370 - -
2003 3,751,120 33,857 - -
2002 3,606,814 69,594 - -
2001 3,478,370 64,163 - -
2000 3,343,196 74,535 - -
1999 3,155,425 97,195 - -
1998 3,003,946 145,575 - -
1997 2,936,500 96,885 - -
1996 2,882,205 84,448 - -
1995 2,830,771 73,243 - -
1994 2,735,198 128,134 - -
1993 2,673,675 90,200 - -
1992 2,596,173 138,412 - -
1991 2,527,807 42,760 - -
1990 2,491,928 135,959 - -
1989 2,452,324 99,588 - -
1988 2,376,419 93,510 - -
1987 2,322,397 64,418 - -
1986 2,295,003 29,682 - -
1985 2,289,784 61,514 - -
1984 2,278,060 113,758 - -
1983 2,292,089 -507,539 - -
1982 2,233,401 101,116 - -
1981 2,179,884 106,723 - -
1980 2,121,618 198,672 - -
1979 2,074,807 137,721 - -
1978 2,019,621 111,258 - -
1977 1,923,917 129,075 - -
1976 1,827,289 72,889 - -
1975 1,718,623 75,603 - -
1974 1,624,813 44,281 - -
1973 1,525,485 -618 - -
1972 1,448,928 -12,962 - -
1971 1,373,896 -35,639 - -
1970 1,295,507 7,953 - -
1969 1,213,484 6,912 - -
1968 1,168,254 9,615 - -
1967 1,082,884 18,683 - -
1966 1,095,582 12,513 - -
1965 1,061,840 32,988 - -
1964 1,028,272 26,411 - -
1963 995,116 27,115 - -
1962 966,452 27,906 - -
1961 932,111 25,515 - -
1960 901,301 12,131 - -

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/nigeria/vatican | CC BY

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
Vatican
City Population
Vatican City 882

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population differences between Nigeria and the Vatican

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/vatican | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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