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Population in Nigeria compared to Zambia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Nigeria was 237,527,782 in 2025 vs 21,913,874 people in Zambia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nigeria's population is 245,016,045 people compared to 22,844,606 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 10.7 times bigger than Zambia's.
  • Nigeria is ranked the 6th most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 3.22% of the world: 2.95% for Nigeria vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, Nigeria has had an average growth rate of +2.25% per year vs +2.96% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nigeria has increased from 149M people to 245M (64.4% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.8M (88.3% growth).

Nigeria vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nigeria Zambia
2100 481,640,156 65,204,593
2099 481,456,918 64,858,778
2098 481,181,892 64,503,193
2097 480,838,161 64,136,110
2096 480,422,467 63,764,760
2095 479,938,579 63,380,692
2094 479,395,022 62,980,254
2093 478,769,369 62,578,008
2092 478,059,864 62,163,693
2091 477,236,907 61,738,437
2090 476,329,495 61,309,330
2089 475,326,347 60,868,166
2088 474,231,442 60,422,781
2087 473,035,563 59,958,303
2086 471,732,001 59,487,524
2085 470,328,175 59,011,423
2084 468,806,172 58,524,337
2083 467,187,453 58,029,088
2082 465,472,417 57,527,347
2081 463,643,190 57,016,267
2080 461,705,493 56,495,299
2079 459,644,523 55,972,223
2078 457,477,264 55,438,864
2077 455,218,871 54,895,964
2076 452,849,991 54,350,375
2075 450,367,356 53,796,265
2074 447,789,885 53,236,297
2073 445,117,028 52,666,980
2072 442,340,440 52,090,884
2071 439,464,323 51,509,551
2070 436,505,329 50,921,590
2069 433,437,998 50,324,793
2068 430,286,232 49,727,689
2067 427,032,499 49,125,817
2066 423,702,640 48,520,891
2065 420,285,359 47,909,160
2064 416,778,394 47,290,430
2063 413,198,800 46,668,252
2062 409,551,159 46,039,755
2061 405,827,482 45,407,718
2060 402,041,765 44,768,534
2059 398,197,311 44,128,619
2058 394,284,767 43,485,891
2057 390,311,065 42,843,489
2056 386,267,580 42,198,591
2055 382,162,992 41,550,105
2054 378,000,511 40,898,440
2053 373,769,779 40,247,706
2052 369,472,476 39,596,094
2051 365,120,741 38,942,292
2050 360,706,317 38,287,070
2049 356,243,287 37,626,787
2048 351,724,743 36,964,032
2047 347,142,279 36,302,603
2046 342,505,549 35,638,852
2045 337,807,869 34,974,927
2044 333,050,132 34,310,227
2043 328,230,652 33,645,797
2042 323,363,366 32,984,164
2041 318,443,989 32,323,084
2040 313,468,061 31,658,029
2039 308,450,008 30,995,204
2038 303,399,842 30,329,691
2037 298,327,800 29,662,721
2036 293,227,654 28,994,556
2035 288,115,630 28,327,922
2034 282,995,818 27,665,749
2033 277,875,880 27,006,658
2032 272,747,599 26,351,393
2031 267,645,657 25,697,754
2030 262,562,767 25,050,285
2029 257,484,616 24,409,600
2028 252,445,821 23,776,128
2027 247,437,680 23,146,922
2026 242,458,365 22,525,308
2025 237,527,782 21,913,874
2024 232,679,478 21,314,956
2023 227,882,945 20,723,965
2022 223,150,896 20,152,938
2021 218,529,286 19,603,607
2020 213,996,181 19,059,395
2019 209,485,641 18,513,839
2018 204,938,755 17,973,569
2017 200,254,579 17,441,320
2016 195,443,700 16,914,423
2015 190,671,878 16,399,089
2014 185,896,915 15,895,315
2013 181,049,443 15,398,997
2012 176,200,625 14,913,629
2011 171,379,598 14,437,796
2010 166,642,886 13,965,594
2009 162,049,464 13,490,389
2008 157,595,014 13,021,324
2007 153,267,261 12,565,085
2006 149,077,334 12,129,553
2005 145,017,253 11,718,819
2004 141,057,045 11,338,198
2003 137,202,644 10,983,595
2002 133,471,989 10,647,949
2001 129,862,595 10,325,185
2000 126,382,494 10,017,631
1999 123,047,320 9,740,005
1998 119,846,254 9,482,408
1997 116,754,792 9,237,063
1996 113,754,779 9,004,053
1995 110,819,428 8,785,763
1994 107,935,714 8,576,269
1993 105,122,069 8,373,921
1992 102,372,770 8,176,680
1991 99,720,162 7,981,650
1990 97,120,925 7,786,169
1989 94,531,014 7,589,216
1988 92,020,090 7,391,440
1987 89,591,716 7,191,282
1986 87,235,953 6,986,471
1985 84,897,973 6,780,953
1984 82,526,443 6,580,490
1983 80,438,260 6,381,038
1982 78,378,701 6,178,637
1981 76,068,103 5,983,289
1980 73,764,641 5,802,833
1979 71,498,242 5,631,728
1978 69,326,532 5,465,374
1977 67,234,590 5,302,480
1976 65,258,009 5,143,842
1975 63,410,815 4,990,086
1974 61,679,144 4,842,746
1973 60,082,139 4,702,693
1972 58,601,748 4,569,309
1971 57,214,684 4,442,525
1970 55,893,838 4,321,718
1969 54,631,914 4,197,116
1968 53,432,783 4,065,593
1967 52,293,065 3,936,343
1966 51,188,234 3,812,003
1965 50,086,764 3,692,086
1964 49,012,016 3,577,017
1963 47,973,575 3,465,907
1962 46,965,292 3,358,099
1961 45,989,310 3,254,086
1960 45,053,782 3,153,729

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/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Nigeria increased by 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Nigeria gained 49,572,345 people (a 25.4% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,930,183 people (a 35.1% growth).

Nigeria was ranked 7th most populous country in 2006 and is 6th in 2026. Zambia was ranked 71st in 2006 and ranked 62nd 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 Zambia will increase by 67.6% to 38,287,070 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

Nigeria is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 482M people compared to the peak of 65.2M people in 2100 for Zambia.

Population growth rate by year

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Nigeria Zambia
2100 0.04% 0.53%
2099 0.06% 0.55%
2098 0.07% 0.57%
2097 0.09% 0.58%
2096 0.1% 0.61%
2095 0.11% 0.64%
2094 0.13% 0.64%
2093 0.15% 0.67%
2092 0.17% 0.69%
2091 0.19% 0.7%
2090 0.21% 0.72%
2089 0.23% 0.74%
2088 0.25% 0.77%
2087 0.28% 0.79%
2086 0.3% 0.81%
2085 0.32% 0.83%
2084 0.35% 0.85%
2083 0.37% 0.87%
2082 0.39% 0.9%
2081 0.42% 0.92%
2080 0.45% 0.93%
2079 0.47% 0.96%
2078 0.5% 0.99%
2077 0.52% 1%
2076 0.55% 1.03%
2075 0.58% 1.05%
2074 0.6% 1.08%
2073 0.63% 1.11%
2072 0.65% 1.13%
2071 0.68% 1.15%
2070 0.71% 1.19%
2069 0.73% 1.2%
2068 0.76% 1.23%
2067 0.79% 1.25%
2066 0.81% 1.28%
2065 0.84% 1.31%
2064 0.87% 1.33%
2063 0.89% 1.37%
2062 0.92% 1.39%
2061 0.94% 1.43%
2060 0.97% 1.45%
2059 0.99% 1.48%
2058 1.02% 1.5%
2057 1.05% 1.53%
2056 1.07% 1.56%
2055 1.1% 1.59%
2054 1.13% 1.62%
2053 1.16% 1.65%
2052 1.19% 1.68%
2051 1.22% 1.71%
2050 1.25% 1.75%
2049 1.28% 1.79%
2048 1.32% 1.82%
2047 1.35% 1.86%
2046 1.39% 1.9%
2045 1.43% 1.94%
2044 1.47% 1.97%
2043 1.51% 2.01%
2042 1.54% 2.05%
2041 1.59% 2.1%
2040 1.63% 2.14%
2039 1.66% 2.19%
2038 1.7% 2.25%
2037 1.74% 2.3%
2036 1.77% 2.35%
2035 1.81% 2.39%
2034 1.84% 2.44%
2033 1.88% 2.49%
2032 1.91% 2.54%
2031 1.94% 2.58%
2030 1.97% 2.62%
2029 2% 2.66%
2028 2.02% 2.72%
2027 2.05% 2.76%
2026 2.08% 2.79%
2025 2.08% 2.81%
2024 2.1% 2.85%
2023 2.12% 2.83%
2022 2.11% 2.8%
2021 2.12% 2.86%
2020 2.15% 2.95%
2019 2.22% 3.01%
2018 2.34% 3.05%
2017 2.46% 3.12%
2016 2.5% 3.14%
2015 2.57% 3.17%
2014 2.68% 3.22%
2013 2.75% 3.25%
2012 2.81% 3.3%
2011 2.84% 3.38%
2010 2.83% 3.52%
2009 2.83% 3.6%
2008 2.82% 3.63%
2007 2.81% 3.59%
2006 2.8% 3.5%
2005 2.81% 3.36%
2004 2.81% 3.23%
2003 2.8% 3.15%
2002 2.78% 3.13%
2001 2.75% 3.07%
2000 2.71% 2.85%
1999 2.67% 2.72%
1998 2.65% 2.66%
1997 2.64% 2.59%
1996 2.65% 2.48%
1995 2.67% 2.44%
1994 2.68% 2.42%
1993 2.69% 2.41%
1992 2.66% 2.44%
1991 2.68% 2.51%
1990 2.74% 2.6%
1989 2.73% 2.68%
1988 2.71% 2.78%
1987 2.7% 2.93%
1986 2.75% 3.03%
1985 2.87% 3.05%
1984 2.6% 3.13%
1983 2.63% 3.28%
1982 3.04% 3.26%
1981 3.12% 3.11%
1980 3.17% 3.04%
1979 3.13% 3.04%
1978 3.11% 3.07%
1977 3.03% 3.08%
1976 2.91% 3.08%
1975 2.81% 3.04%
1974 2.66% 2.98%
1973 2.53% 2.92%
1972 2.42% 2.85%
1971 2.36% 2.8%
1970 2.31% 2.97%
1969 2.24% 3.24%
1968 2.18% 3.28%
1967 2.16% 3.26%
1966 2.2% 3.25%
1965 2.19% 3.22%
1964 2.16% 3.21%
1963 2.15% 3.21%
1962 2.12% 3.2%
1961 2.08% 3.18%

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/zambia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Nigeria grew by 2.08%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.81%.

Live population counters

Nigeria Zambia
Current population
245016045
22844606
Population rank 6/197 62/197
Percent of world population 2.95% 0.27%
One net population change
6.52 seconds
52.8 seconds
One birth every
4.17 seconds
45.2 seconds
One death every
11.6 seconds
4.77 minutes
Daily growth/decline +13,283 +1,641
Annual growth/decline +4,848,304 +598,918
Annual growth/decline rate +2.08% +2.81%
Population growth rate rank 45/197 19/197
One migration net change every
34.5 minutes
1.34 hours
Annual migration change -15,258 +6,562
Net migration rank 145/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 1,403,281 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 49/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 173/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

Nigeria
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Nigeria Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -15,258 - 6,562
2024 4,851,833 -35,202 587,419 7,381
2023 4,834,309 -57,936 577,660 9,521
2022 4,739,502 -51,680 563,456 -8,566
2021 4,641,562 -86,115 535,629 8,143
2020 4,525,164 -14,497 536,484 8,156
2019 4,609,941 -99,722 528,089 18,385
2018 4,659,898 -76,565 515,644 18,431
2017 4,706,183 78,685 504,630 25,789
2016 4,761,594 75,265 497,521 25,860
2015 4,823,045 -116,162 491,021 16,261
2014 4,862,319 -19,376 483,663 16,574
2013 4,811,751 40,201 476,846 15,542
2012 4,774,508 71,138 469,406 8,958
2011 4,728,363 67,808 459,743 13,569
2010 4,629,173 47,966 448,337 22,761
2009 4,528,149 -18,422 434,458 44,867
2008 4,412,976 -13,646 419,560 39,249
2007 4,265,428 -9,162 403,729 49,945
2006 4,135,703 -12,093 387,891 29,517
2005 4,013,788 -17,146 368,756 35,316
2004 3,877,376 46,370 349,352 7,819
2003 3,751,120 33,857 331,189 20,845
2002 3,606,814 69,594 316,041 3,206
2001 3,478,370 64,163 302,682 23,582
2000 3,343,196 74,535 293,186 -4,338
1999 3,155,425 97,195 283,297 -16,888
1998 3,003,946 145,575 275,568 -26,796
1997 2,936,500 96,885 268,198 -26,276
1996 2,882,205 84,448 262,468 -38,358
1995 2,830,771 73,243 257,897 -45,423
1994 2,735,198 128,134 252,023 -45,504
1993 2,673,675 90,200 245,917 -47,739
1992 2,596,173 138,412 239,953 -43,656
1991 2,527,807 42,760 237,957 -44,203
1990 2,491,928 135,959 235,835 -38,619
1989 2,452,324 99,588 233,429 -36,736
1988 2,376,419 93,510 230,118 -31,270
1987 2,322,397 64,418 227,813 -26,338
1986 2,295,003 29,682 224,768 -16,610
1985 2,289,784 61,514 221,351 -18,474
1984 2,278,060 113,758 216,695 -18,652
1983 2,292,089 -507,539 212,712 -11,849
1982 2,233,401 101,116 207,621 -3,676
1981 2,179,884 106,723 202,822 -16,072
1980 2,121,618 198,672 198,817 -24,664
1979 2,074,807 137,721 197,578 -29,515
1978 2,019,621 111,258 194,933 -30,284
1977 1,923,917 129,075 191,557 -30,423
1976 1,827,289 72,889 186,762 -30,612
1975 1,718,623 75,603 182,258 -30,886
1974 1,624,813 44,281 174,484 -31,178
1973 1,525,485 -618 168,258 -31,472
1972 1,448,928 -12,962 161,648 -31,672
1971 1,373,896 -35,639 155,249 -31,651
1970 1,295,507 7,953 149,380 -31,370
1969 1,213,484 6,912 142,660 -11,469
1968 1,168,254 9,615 137,315 -5,447
1967 1,082,884 18,683 131,938 -5,298
1966 1,095,582 12,513 127,164 -5,129
1965 1,061,840 32,988 122,814 -5,023
1964 1,028,272 26,411 117,197 -4,851
1963 995,116 27,115 114,555 -4,676
1962 966,452 27,906 110,173 -4,428
1961 932,111 25,515 106,318 -4,043
1960 901,301 12,131 102,335 -3,898

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

GeoRank.org/population/nigeria/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,337,553 people) and 2.37% is from migration (a gain of 129,361 people).

As of 2024, 1,403,281 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Nigeria, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

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
Zambia
City Population
Lusaka 2.47M
Kitwe 625K
Ndola 528K
Chingola 255K
Mufulira 182K
Livingstone 177K
Kasama 158K
Kapiri Mposhi 65.2K
Choma 51.8K
Mansa 45.4K

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/zambia | 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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