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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Nigeria was 237,527,782 in 2025 vs 16,950,795 people in Zimbabwe in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nigeria's population is 245,016,045 people compared to 17,443,108 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 3.16% of the world: 2.95% for Nigeria vs 0.21% for Zimbabwe.
  • For the last 10 years, Nigeria has had an average growth rate of +2.25% per year vs +1.62% in Zimbabwe.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nigeria has increased from 149M people to 245M (64.4% growth), while Zimbabwe has grown from 12.6M to 17.4M (38% growth).

Nigeria vs Zimbabwe: population by year and forecast

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nigeria Zimbabwe
2100 481,640,156 37,486,352
2099 481,456,918 37,415,690
2098 481,181,892 37,331,540
2097 480,838,161 37,238,819
2096 480,422,467 37,146,184
2095 479,938,579 37,035,388
2094 479,395,022 36,915,996
2093 478,769,369 36,814,133
2092 478,059,864 36,691,740
2091 477,236,907 36,570,481
2090 476,329,495 36,428,812
2089 475,326,347 36,284,166
2088 474,231,442 36,144,627
2087 473,035,563 35,980,805
2086 471,732,001 35,811,286
2085 470,328,175 35,640,228
2084 468,806,172 35,459,328
2083 467,187,453 35,271,139
2082 465,472,417 35,081,992
2081 463,643,190 34,876,198
2080 461,705,493 34,662,013
2079 459,644,523 34,442,751
2078 457,477,264 34,220,306
2077 455,218,871 33,985,899
2076 452,849,991 33,742,198
2075 450,367,356 33,498,815
2074 447,789,885 33,247,764
2073 445,117,028 32,981,390
2072 442,340,440 32,708,937
2071 439,464,323 32,448,602
2070 436,505,329 32,183,952
2069 433,437,998 31,909,601
2068 430,286,232 31,633,783
2067 427,032,499 31,348,096
2066 423,702,640 31,065,618
2065 420,285,359 30,769,538
2064 416,778,394 30,482,622
2063 413,198,800 30,178,760
2062 409,551,159 29,870,308
2061 405,827,482 29,559,670
2060 402,041,765 29,254,998
2059 398,197,311 28,947,636
2058 394,284,767 28,634,199
2057 390,311,065 28,309,796
2056 386,267,580 27,993,176
2055 382,162,992 27,661,321
2054 378,000,511 27,334,325
2053 373,769,779 26,989,310
2052 369,472,476 26,645,898
2051 365,120,741 26,289,905
2050 360,706,317 25,937,176
2049 356,243,287 25,587,491
2048 351,724,743 25,230,302
2047 347,142,279 24,876,838
2046 342,505,549 24,515,600
2045 337,807,869 24,149,762
2044 333,050,132 23,785,181
2043 328,230,652 23,404,024
2042 323,363,366 23,037,316
2041 318,443,989 22,649,943
2040 313,468,061 22,275,480
2039 308,450,008 21,904,908
2038 303,399,842 21,532,024
2037 298,327,800 21,161,527
2036 293,227,654 20,792,863
2035 288,115,630 20,415,452
2034 282,995,818 20,049,783
2033 277,875,880 19,678,070
2032 272,747,599 19,313,685
2031 267,645,657 18,960,968
2030 262,562,767 18,615,376
2029 257,484,616 18,271,657
2028 252,445,821 17,935,044
2027 247,437,680 17,602,533
2026 242,458,365 17,274,728
2025 237,527,782 16,950,795
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 49,572,345 people (a 25.4% growth), while Zimbabwe's population increased by 2,842,814 people (a 19.5% 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 47.2% to 360,706,317 people with a rank change from 6th to 5th. The population of Zimbabwe will increase by 48.7% to 25,937,176 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 2.08% 1.9%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Nigeria grew by 2.08%, while Zimbabwe's population grew by 1.9%.

Live population counters

Nigeria Zimbabwe
Current population
245016045
17443108
Population rank 6/197 74/197
Percent of world population 2.95% 0.21%
One net population change
6.52 seconds
1.67 minutes
One birth every
4.17 seconds
1.06 minutes
One death every
11.6 seconds
4.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +13,283 +867
Annual growth/decline +4,848,304 +316,422
Annual growth/decline rate +2.08% +1.9%
Population growth rate rank 45/197 53/197
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 4,851,833 -35,202 372,494 -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 2026-07-08).

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 47,153,031 people) and 0.81% is from migration (a loss of 383,929 people). In Zimbabwe 76.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,564,631 people) and 23.2% is from migration (a loss of 1,076,306 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 2.56M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M
Owerri 908K
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 (1960–2025, 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/zimbabwe | 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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