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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Nigeria was 232,679,478 in 2024 vs 16,634,373 people in Zimbabwe in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nigeria's population is 243,824,469 people compared to 17,361,868 in Zimbabwe.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 14 times bigger than Zimbabwe's.
  • Nigeria is ranked the 6th most populous country in the world, while Zimbabwe is the 74th.
  • The countries together account for 3.15% of the world: 2.94% for Nigeria vs 0.21% for Zimbabwe.
  • For the last 10 years, Nigeria has had an average growth rate of +2.31% per year vs +1.57% in Zimbabwe.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nigeria has increased from 149M people to 244M (63.6% growth), while Zimbabwe has grown from 12.6M to 17.4M (37.4% growth).

Nigeria vs Zimbabwe: population by year and forecast

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nigeria Zimbabwe
2100 481,678,166 37,483,053
2099 481,494,914 37,412,398
2098 481,219,866 37,328,255
2097 480,876,108 37,235,542
2096 480,460,381 37,142,915
2095 479,976,454 37,032,129
2094 479,432,855 36,912,747
2093 478,807,152 36,810,893
2092 478,097,591 36,688,511
2091 477,274,569 36,567,262
2090 476,367,086 36,425,606
2089 475,363,859 36,280,973
2088 474,268,867 36,141,446
2087 473,072,894 35,977,638
2086 471,769,229 35,808,135
2085 470,365,292 35,637,092
2084 468,843,169 35,456,207
2083 467,224,322 35,268,035
2082 465,509,151 35,078,904
2081 463,679,779 34,873,129
2080 461,741,930 34,658,962
2079 459,680,797 34,439,720
2078 457,513,367 34,217,295
2077 455,254,796 33,982,909
2076 452,885,729 33,739,228
2075 450,402,898 33,495,867
2074 447,825,224 33,244,838
2073 445,152,156 32,978,488
2072 442,375,349 32,706,059
2071 439,499,004 32,445,747
2070 436,539,777 32,181,119
2069 433,472,204 31,906,793
2068 430,320,190 31,631,000
2067 427,066,199 31,345,338
2066 423,736,078 31,062,884
2065 420,318,527 30,766,830
2064 416,811,285 30,479,939
2063 413,231,409 30,176,104
2062 409,583,480 29,867,679
2061 405,859,509 29,557,068
2060 402,073,494 29,252,423
2059 398,228,736 28,945,088
2058 394,315,883 28,631,679
2057 390,341,867 28,307,305
2056 386,298,064 27,990,713
2055 382,193,151 27,658,887
2054 378,030,342 27,331,920
2053 373,799,276 26,986,935
2052 369,501,634 26,643,553
2051 365,149,555 26,287,592
2050 360,734,783 25,934,893
2049 356,271,401 25,585,239
2048 351,752,501 25,228,082
2047 347,169,674 24,874,649
2046 342,532,578 24,513,443
2045 337,834,528 24,147,637
2044 333,076,416 23,783,088
2043 328,256,555 23,401,965
2042 323,388,886 23,035,288
2041 318,469,120 22,647,950
2040 313,492,800 22,273,520
2039 308,474,350 21,902,980
2038 303,423,786 21,530,130
2037 298,351,344 21,159,664
2036 293,250,795 20,791,034
2035 288,138,368 20,413,656
2034 283,018,151 20,048,019
2033 277,897,810 19,676,339
2032 272,769,123 19,311,985
2031 267,666,779 18,959,300
2030 262,583,487 18,613,738
2029 257,504,936 18,270,049
2028 252,465,743 17,933,466
2027 247,457,208 17,600,984
2026 242,477,499 17,273,208
2025 237,546,527 16,949,303
2024 232,679,478 16,634,373
2023 227,882,945 16,340,822
2022 223,150,896 16,069,056
2021 218,529,286 15,797,210
2020 213,996,181 15,526,888
2019 209,485,641 15,271,368
2018 204,938,755 15,034,452
2017 200,254,579 14,812,482
2016 195,443,700 14,600,294
2015 190,671,878 14,399,013
2014 185,896,915 14,207,359
2013 181,049,443 14,013,808
2012 176,200,625 13,817,887
2011 171,379,598 13,595,424
2010 166,642,886 13,356,548
2009 162,049,464 13,142,790
2008 157,595,014 12,959,149
2007 153,267,261 12,804,058
2006 149,077,334 12,636,445
2005 145,017,253 12,483,432
2004 141,057,045 12,365,896
2003 137,202,644 12,232,323
2002 133,471,989 12,087,653
2001 129,862,595 11,971,901
2000 126,382,494 11,892,055
1999 123,047,320 11,783,458
1998 119,846,254 11,594,297
1997 116,754,792 11,369,827
1996 113,754,779 11,158,360
1995 110,819,428 10,974,599
1994 107,935,714 10,873,148
1993 105,122,069 10,860,288
1992 102,372,770 10,702,700
1991 99,720,162 10,404,816
1990 97,120,925 10,137,281
1989 94,531,014 9,864,798
1988 92,020,090 9,583,094
1987 89,591,716 9,284,644
1986 87,235,953 8,982,578
1985 84,897,973 8,686,813
1984 82,526,443 8,391,488
1983 80,438,260 8,098,404
1982 78,378,701 7,796,496
1981 76,068,103 7,498,635
1980 73,764,641 7,041,303
1979 71,498,242 6,647,556
1978 69,326,532 6,543,575
1977 67,234,590 6,449,512
1976 65,258,009 6,287,105
1975 63,410,815 6,098,658
1974 61,679,144 5,908,328
1973 60,082,139 5,720,404
1972 58,601,748 5,542,445
1971 57,214,684 5,374,712
1970 55,893,838 5,215,918
1969 54,631,914 5,058,181
1968 53,432,783 4,900,440
1967 52,293,065 4,748,307
1966 51,188,234 4,601,217
1965 50,086,764 4,458,462
1964 49,012,016 4,320,006
1963 47,973,575 4,185,877
1962 46,965,292 4,055,959
1961 45,989,310 3,930,401
1960 45,053,782 3,809,389

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/zimbabwe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Nigeria increased by 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth), while Zimbabwe gained 1,963,849 people (a 15.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Nigeria gained 48,380,769 people (a 24.8% growth), while Zimbabwe's population increased by 2,761,574 people (a 18.9% growth).

Nigeria was ranked 7th most populous country in 2006 and is 6th in 2026. Zimbabwe was ranked 70th in 2006 and ranked 74th 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 Zimbabwe will increase by 49.4% to 25,934,893 people and rank change from 74th to 65th.

Nigeria is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 482M people compared to the peak of 37.5M people in 2100 for Zimbabwe.

Population growth rate by year

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Nigeria Zimbabwe
2100 0.04% 0.19%
2099 0.06% 0.23%
2098 0.07% 0.25%
2097 0.09% 0.25%
2096 0.1% 0.3%
2095 0.11% 0.32%
2094 0.13% 0.28%
2093 0.15% 0.33%
2092 0.17% 0.33%
2091 0.19% 0.39%
2090 0.21% 0.4%
2089 0.23% 0.39%
2088 0.25% 0.46%
2087 0.28% 0.47%
2086 0.3% 0.48%
2085 0.32% 0.51%
2084 0.35% 0.53%
2083 0.37% 0.54%
2082 0.39% 0.59%
2081 0.42% 0.62%
2080 0.45% 0.64%
2079 0.47% 0.65%
2078 0.5% 0.69%
2077 0.52% 0.72%
2076 0.55% 0.73%
2075 0.58% 0.76%
2074 0.6% 0.81%
2073 0.63% 0.83%
2072 0.65% 0.8%
2071 0.68% 0.82%
2070 0.71% 0.86%
2069 0.73% 0.87%
2068 0.76% 0.91%
2067 0.79% 0.91%
2066 0.81% 0.96%
2065 0.84% 0.94%
2064 0.87% 1.01%
2063 0.89% 1.03%
2062 0.92% 1.05%
2061 0.94% 1.04%
2060 0.97% 1.06%
2059 0.99% 1.09%
2058 1.02% 1.15%
2057 1.05% 1.13%
2056 1.07% 1.2%
2055 1.1% 1.2%
2054 1.13% 1.28%
2053 1.16% 1.29%
2052 1.19% 1.35%
2051 1.22% 1.36%
2050 1.25% 1.37%
2049 1.28% 1.42%
2048 1.32% 1.42%
2047 1.35% 1.47%
2046 1.39% 1.51%
2045 1.43% 1.53%
2044 1.47% 1.63%
2043 1.51% 1.59%
2042 1.54% 1.71%
2041 1.59% 1.68%
2040 1.63% 1.69%
2039 1.66% 1.73%
2038 1.7% 1.75%
2037 1.74% 1.77%
2036 1.77% 1.85%
2035 1.81% 1.82%
2034 1.84% 1.89%
2033 1.88% 1.89%
2032 1.91% 1.86%
2031 1.94% 1.86%
2030 1.97% 1.88%
2029 2% 1.88%
2028 2.02% 1.89%
2027 2.05% 1.9%
2026 2.08% 1.91%
2025 2.09% 1.89%
2024 2.1% 1.8%
2023 2.12% 1.69%
2022 2.11% 1.72%
2021 2.12% 1.74%
2020 2.15% 1.67%
2019 2.22% 1.58%
2018 2.34% 1.5%
2017 2.46% 1.45%
2016 2.5% 1.4%
2015 2.57% 1.35%
2014 2.68% 1.38%
2013 2.75% 1.42%
2012 2.81% 1.64%
2011 2.84% 1.79%
2010 2.83% 1.63%
2009 2.83% 1.42%
2008 2.82% 1.21%
2007 2.81% 1.33%
2006 2.8% 1.23%
2005 2.81% 0.95%
2004 2.81% 1.09%
2003 2.8% 1.2%
2002 2.78% 0.97%
2001 2.75% 0.67%
2000 2.71% 0.92%
1999 2.67% 1.63%
1998 2.65% 1.97%
1997 2.64% 1.9%
1996 2.65% 1.67%
1995 2.67% 0.93%
1994 2.68% 0.12%
1993 2.69% 1.47%
1992 2.66% 2.86%
1991 2.68% 2.64%
1990 2.74% 2.76%
1989 2.73% 2.94%
1988 2.71% 3.21%
1987 2.7% 3.36%
1986 2.75% 3.4%
1985 2.87% 3.52%
1984 2.6% 3.62%
1983 2.63% 3.87%
1982 3.04% 3.97%
1981 3.12% 6.49%
1980 3.17% 5.92%
1979 3.13% 1.59%
1978 3.11% 1.46%
1977 3.03% 2.58%
1976 2.91% 3.09%
1975 2.81% 3.22%
1974 2.66% 3.29%
1973 2.53% 3.21%
1972 2.42% 3.12%
1971 2.36% 3.04%
1970 2.31% 3.12%
1969 2.24% 3.22%
1968 2.18% 3.2%
1967 2.16% 3.2%
1966 2.2% 3.2%
1965 2.19% 3.2%
1964 2.16% 3.2%
1963 2.15% 3.2%
1962 2.12% 3.19%
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/zimbabwe | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Nigeria grew by 2.1%, while Zimbabwe's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

Nigeria Zimbabwe
Current population
243824469
17361868
Population rank 6/197 74/197
Percent of world population 2.94% 0.21%
One net population change
6.58 seconds
1.79 minutes
One birth every
4.2 seconds
1.06 minutes
One death every
11.8 seconds
4.22 minutes
Daily growth/decline +13,141 +804
Annual growth/decline +4,796,533 +293,551
Annual growth/decline rate +2.1% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 48/197 60/197
One migration net change every
34.5 minutes
9.66 minutes
Annual migration change -15,258 -54,555
Net migration rank 145/196 175/196
Foreign-born residents 1,403,281 429,108
Foreign-born residents rank 49/195 87/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 173/195 127/195

Natural population change vs migration

Nigeria
Natural

Migration
Zimbabwe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Nigeria Zimbabwe
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -15,258 - -54,555
2024 - -35,202 - -60,528
2023 4,834,309 -57,936 372,505 -97,380
2022 4,739,502 -51,680 371,243 -102,828
2021 4,641,562 -86,115 349,908 -74,623
2020 4,525,164 -14,497 354,790 -89,440
2019 4,609,941 -99,722 348,798 -103,107
2018 4,659,898 -76,565 345,883 -117,758
2017 4,706,183 78,685 344,035 -128,241
2016 4,761,594 75,265 348,772 -140,181
2015 4,823,045 -116,162 356,203 -162,220
2014 4,862,319 -19,376 366,350 -177,029
2013 4,811,751 40,201 374,757 -176,972
2012 4,774,508 71,138 371,135 -177,061
2011 4,728,363 67,808 359,572 -108,714
2010 4,629,173 47,966 335,570 -108,671
2009 4,528,149 -18,422 309,316 -108,689
2008 4,412,976 -13,646 280,527 -113,858
2007 4,265,428 -9,162 261,805 -118,299
2006 4,135,703 -12,093 248,963 -57,257
2005 4,013,788 -17,146 248,545 -134,212
2004 3,877,376 46,370 248,307 -127,550
2003 3,751,120 33,857 243,057 -96,667
2002 3,606,814 69,594 244,170 -101,212
2001 3,478,370 64,163 227,909 -139,361
2000 3,343,196 74,535 236,343 -165,181
1999 3,155,425 97,195 232,393 -86,343
1998 3,003,946 145,575 225,614 6,645
1997 2,936,500 96,885 216,288 395
1996 2,882,205 84,448 205,269 978
1995 2,830,771 73,243 206,695 -45,428
1994 2,735,198 128,134 216,343 -174,723
1993 2,673,675 90,200 228,045 -243,947
1992 2,596,173 138,412 255,291 75,788
1991 2,527,807 42,760 260,943 3,749
1990 2,491,928 135,959 265,444 4,948
1989 2,452,324 99,588 270,838 3,736
1988 2,376,419 93,510 277,498 11,327
1987 2,322,397 64,418 286,766 21,308
1986 2,295,003 29,682 289,894 6,154
1985 2,289,784 61,514 290,756 4,718
1984 2,278,060 113,758 290,052 5,124
1983 2,292,089 -507,539 286,545 4,456
1982 2,233,401 101,116 279,934 32,899
1981 2,179,884 106,723 271,361 11,523
1980 2,121,618 198,672 241,179 390,593
1979 2,074,807 137,721 223,657 -67,937
1978 2,019,621 111,258 222,979 -170,727
1977 1,923,917 129,075 225,139 -89,270
1976 1,827,289 72,889 221,419 -32,495
1975 1,718,623 75,603 216,947 -28,988
1974 1,624,813 44,281 208,806 -16,105
1973 1,525,485 -618 201,885 -18,733
1972 1,448,928 -12,962 193,725 -20,959
1971 1,373,896 -35,639 185,427 -22,719
1970 1,295,507 7,953 178,979 -24,102
1969 1,213,484 6,912 172,626 -12,028
1968 1,168,254 9,615 166,865 -11,997
1967 1,082,884 18,683 161,205 -11,814
1966 1,095,582 12,513 156,014 -11,211
1965 1,061,840 32,988 151,164 -10,465
1964 1,028,272 26,411 145,848 -9,631
1963 995,116 27,115 140,984 -8,936
1962 966,452 27,906 136,317 -8,529
1961 932,111 25,515 131,531 -8,204
1960 901,301 12,131 126,959 -8,260

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

GeoRank.org/population/nigeria/zimbabwe | 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 Zimbabwe 74.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,558,487 people) and 25.1% is from migration (a loss of 1,192,807 people).

As of 2024, 1,403,281 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Nigeria, compared to 429,108 people or 2.6% in Zimbabwe.

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
Zimbabwe
City Population
Harare 2.15M
Masvingo 1.64M
Bulawayo 666K
Chitungwiza 371K
Mutare 225K
Gweru 141K
Kadoma 116K
Kwekwe 93.1K
Chinhoyi 56.8K
Marondera 52.3K

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/zimbabwe | 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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