Nigeria vs Ethiopia: 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 Ethiopia
139,287,321
Live estimate, extrapolated from the latest official figures
- Births today
- 2,430
- Deaths today
- 454
- Change today (UTC)
- +1,970
Nigeria has a population of 237,527,782 and Ethiopia has 135,472,051 (2025 estimates). Nigeria is currently larger by 102,055,731 people — about 1.8 times Ethiopia's population. They rank 6 and 10 in the world respectively.
Their trajectories differ: Ethiopia grows at +2.55% per year versus +2.06% for Nigeria. At current rates the balance between them keeps shifting.
Beyond size, the structures differ: Nigeria is the younger society (median age 18.1 vs 19.1); Nigeria is far more crowded at 250 people per km² against 114.
Nigeria vs Ethiopia population, 1960–2025
Side by side
| Indicator | Nigeria | Ethiopia |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 237,527,782 | 135,472,051 |
| Annual growth | +2.06% | +2.55% |
| Yearly change | +4,848,304 | +3,412,284 |
| Density (P/km²) | 250 | 114 |
| Land area (km²) | 910,770 | 1,128,499 |
| Median age | 18.1 yrs | 19.1 yrs |
| Fertility rate | 4.38 | 3.91 |
| Life expectancy | 54.6 yrs | 67.6 yrs |
| Urban population | 64% | 24% |
| World share | 2.89% | 1.65% |
| 2050 projection (UN) | 359,185,556 | 225,021,874 |
Latest World Bank estimates; median age and 2050 projections from UN WPP 2024. Full profiles: Nigeria · Ethiopia
Nigeria vs Ethiopia FAQ
Is Nigeria bigger than Ethiopia by population?
Nigeria currently has the larger population: 237,527,782 versus 135,472,051 (2025 estimates) — a gap of 102.06 million people.
Which grows faster, Nigeria or Ethiopia?
Ethiopia currently grows faster: +2.55% per year versus +2.06%.
How do Nigeria and Ethiopia compare in 2050?
UN medium-variant projections put Nigeria at 359,185,556 and Ethiopia at 225,021,874 in 2050.