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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Nigeria was 232,679,478 in 2024 vs 21,314,956 people in Zambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nigeria's population is 243,824,469 people compared to 22,697,916 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: 2.94% for Nigeria vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, Nigeria has had an average growth rate of +2.31% per year vs +3% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nigeria has increased from 149M people to 244M (63.6% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.7M (87.1% growth).

Nigeria vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nigeria Zambia
2100 481,678,166 65,217,429
2099 481,494,914 64,871,545
2098 481,219,866 64,515,891
2097 480,876,108 64,148,736
2096 480,460,381 63,777,313
2095 479,976,454 63,393,169
2094 479,432,855 62,992,652
2093 478,807,152 62,590,327
2092 478,097,591 62,175,930
2091 477,274,569 61,750,591
2090 476,367,086 61,321,399
2089 475,363,859 60,880,148
2088 474,268,867 60,434,676
2087 473,072,894 59,970,107
2086 471,769,229 59,499,234
2085 470,365,292 59,023,040
2084 468,843,169 58,535,857
2083 467,224,322 58,040,512
2082 465,509,151 57,538,672
2081 463,679,779 57,027,491
2080 461,741,930 56,506,421
2079 459,680,797 55,983,242
2078 457,513,367 55,449,777
2077 455,254,796 54,906,771
2076 452,885,729 54,361,075
2075 450,402,898 53,806,856
2074 447,825,224 53,246,777
2073 445,152,156 52,677,348
2072 442,375,349 52,101,139
2071 439,499,004 51,519,691
2070 436,539,777 50,931,614
2069 433,472,204 50,334,700
2068 430,320,190 49,737,479
2067 427,066,199 49,135,488
2066 423,736,078 48,530,443
2065 420,318,527 47,918,592
2064 416,811,285 47,299,740
2063 413,231,409 46,677,439
2062 409,583,480 46,048,819
2061 405,859,509 45,416,657
2060 402,073,494 44,777,347
2059 398,228,736 44,137,306
2058 394,315,883 43,494,451
2057 390,341,867 42,851,923
2056 386,298,064 42,206,898
2055 382,193,151 41,558,284
2054 378,030,342 40,906,492
2053 373,799,276 40,255,629
2052 369,501,634 39,603,888
2051 365,149,555 38,949,958
2050 360,734,783 38,294,607
2049 356,271,401 37,634,194
2048 351,752,501 36,971,309
2047 347,169,674 36,309,749
2046 342,532,578 35,645,868
2045 337,834,528 34,981,812
2044 333,076,416 34,316,981
2043 328,256,555 33,652,420
2042 323,388,886 32,990,657
2041 318,469,120 32,329,447
2040 313,492,800 31,664,262
2039 308,474,350 31,001,305
2038 303,423,786 30,335,662
2037 298,351,344 29,668,561
2036 293,250,795 29,000,264
2035 288,138,368 28,333,498
2034 283,018,151 27,671,195
2033 277,897,810 27,011,974
2032 272,769,123 26,356,580
2031 267,666,779 25,702,812
2030 262,583,487 25,055,216
2029 257,504,936 24,414,405
2028 252,465,743 23,780,809
2027 247,457,208 23,151,479
2026 242,477,499 22,529,742
2025 237,546,527 21,918,187
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 48,380,769 people (a 24.8% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% 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 47.9% to 360,734,783 people with a rank change from 6th to 5th. The population of Zambia will increase by 68.7% to 38,294,607 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 2.09% 2.83%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Nigeria grew by 2.1%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.85%.

Live population counters

Nigeria Zambia
Current population
243824469
22697916
Population rank 6/197 62/197
Percent of world population 2.94% 0.27%
One net population change
6.58 seconds
53.4 seconds
One birth every
4.2 seconds
46 seconds
One death every
11.8 seconds
4.87 minutes
Daily growth/decline +13,141 +1,619
Annual growth/decline +4,796,533 +590,991
Annual growth/decline rate +2.1% +2.85%
Population growth rate rank 48/197 21/197
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 - -35,202 - 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 2026-04-06).

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 47,163,517 people) and 0.77% is from migration (a loss of 368,103 people). In Zambia 97.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,233,797 people) and 2.58% is from migration (a gain of 138,554 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 2.55M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Maiduguri 1.2M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M
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 (1960–2024, 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/zambia | 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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