PopulationTracker

Nigeria vs Russia: population comparison

Current population of Nigeria

242,935,504

Live estimate, extrapolated from the latest official figures

Births today
4,400
Deaths today
1,576
Change today (UTC)
+2,793

Current population of Russia

143,340,797

Live estimate, extrapolated from the latest official figures

Births today
687
Deaths today
1,014
Change today (UTC)
−89

Nigeria has a population of 237,527,782 and Russia has 143,513,328 (2025 estimates). Nigeria is currently larger by 94,014,454 people — about 1.7 times Russia's population. They rank 6 and 9 in the world respectively.

Their trajectories differ: Nigeria grows at +2.06% per year versus −0.11% for Russia. One population is expanding while the other shrinks — the gap between them widens every year.

The lead has changed hands: Nigeria overtook Russia in 2005, according to the historical series.

Beyond size, the structures differ: Nigeria is the younger society (median age 18.1 vs 40.3); Nigeria is far more crowded at 250 people per km² against 9.

Nigeria vs Russia population, 1960–2025

NigeriaRussia
050M100M150M200M250M19601970198019902000201020202025: 143.51M2025: 237.53M1960: 45,053,7821961: 45,989,3101962: 46,965,2921963: 47,973,5751964: 49,012,0161965: 50,086,7641966: 51,188,2341967: 52,293,0651968: 53,432,7831969: 54,631,9141970: 55,893,8381971: 57,214,6841972: 58,601,7481973: 60,082,1391974: 61,679,1441975: 63,410,8151976: 65,258,0091977: 67,234,5901978: 69,326,5321979: 71,498,2421980: 73,764,6411981: 76,068,1031982: 78,378,7011983: 80,438,2601984: 82,526,4431985: 84,897,9731986: 87,235,9531987: 89,591,7161988: 92,020,0901989: 94,531,0141990: 97,120,9251991: 99,720,1621992: 102,372,7701993: 105,122,0691994: 107,935,7141995: 110,819,4281996: 113,754,7791997: 116,754,7921998: 119,846,2541999: 123,047,3202000: 126,382,4942001: 129,862,5952002: 133,471,9892003: 137,202,6442004: 141,057,0452005: 145,017,2532006: 149,077,3342007: 153,267,2612008: 157,595,0142009: 162,049,4642010: 166,642,8862011: 171,379,5982012: 176,200,6252013: 181,049,4432014: 185,896,9152015: 190,671,8782016: 195,443,7002017: 200,254,5792018: 204,938,7552019: 209,485,6412020: 213,996,1812021: 218,529,2862022: 223,150,8962023: 227,882,9452024: 232,679,4782025: 237,527,7821960: 119,897,0001961: 121,236,0001962: 122,591,0001963: 123,960,0001964: 125,345,0001965: 126,745,0001966: 127,468,0001967: 128,196,0001968: 128,928,0001969: 129,664,0001970: 130,404,0001971: 131,155,0001972: 131,909,0001973: 132,669,0001974: 133,432,0001975: 134,200,0001976: 135,147,0001977: 136,100,0001978: 137,060,0001979: 138,027,0001980: 139,010,0001981: 139,941,0001982: 140,823,0001983: 141,668,0001984: 142,745,0001985: 143,858,0001986: 144,894,0001987: 145,908,0001988: 146,857,0001989: 147,721,0001990: 147,969,4061991: 148,394,2161992: 148,538,1971993: 148,458,7771994: 148,407,9121995: 148,375,7871996: 148,160,1291997: 147,915,3611998: 147,670,7841999: 147,214,7762000: 146,596,8692001: 145,976,4822002: 145,306,4972003: 144,648,6182004: 144,067,3162005: 143,518,8142006: 143,049,6372007: 142,805,1142008: 142,742,3662009: 142,785,3482010: 142,849,4682011: 143,018,1952012: 143,378,4472013: 143,805,6382014: 144,237,2232015: 144,640,7162016: 145,015,4602017: 145,293,2602018: 145,398,1062019: 145,453,2912020: 145,245,1482021: 144,746,7622022: 144,236,9332023: 143,826,1302024: 143,669,6482025: 143,513,328

Side by side

Nigeria and Russia compared across demographic indicators
IndicatorNigeriaRussia
Population237,527,782143,513,328
Annual growth+2.06%−0.11%
Yearly change+4,848,304−156,320
Density (P/km²)2509
Land area (km²)910,77016,376,870
Median age18.1 yrs40.3 yrs
Fertility rate4.381.42
Life expectancy54.6 yrs73.4 yrs
Urban population64%75%
World share2.89%1.75%
2050 projection (UN)359,185,556136,132,775

Latest World Bank estimates; median age and 2050 projections from UN WPP 2024. Full profiles: Nigeria · Russia

Nigeria vs Russia FAQ

Is Nigeria bigger than Russia by population?

Nigeria currently has the larger population: 237,527,782 versus 143,513,328 (2025 estimates) — a gap of 94.01 million people.

When did Nigeria overtake Russia in population?

Nigeria passed Russia in 2005, based on the countries' official population series.

Which grows faster, Nigeria or Russia?

Nigeria currently grows faster: +2.06% per year versus −0.11%.

How do Nigeria and Russia compare in 2050?

UN medium-variant projections put Nigeria at 359,185,556 and Russia at 136,132,775 in 2050.

More comparisons