PopulationTracker

Nigeria vs Germany: 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)
+2,792

Current population of Germany

83,463,229

Live estimate, extrapolated from the latest official figures

Births today
385
Deaths today
576
Change today (UTC)
−14

Nigeria has a population of 237,527,782 and Germany has 83,491,249 (2025 estimates). Nigeria is currently larger by 154,036,533 people — about 2.8 times Germany's population. They rank 6 and 19 in the world respectively.

Their trajectories differ: Nigeria grows at +2.06% per year versus −0.03% for Germany. One population is expanding while the other shrinks — the gap between them widens every year.

The lead has changed hands: Nigeria overtook Germany in 1982, according to the historical series.

Beyond size, the structures differ: Nigeria is the younger society (median age 18.1 vs 45.5); Nigeria is far more crowded at 250 people per km² against 238.

Nigeria vs Germany population, 1960–2025

NigeriaGermany
050M100M150M200M250M19601970198019902000201020202025: 83.49M2025: 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: 72,814,9001961: 73,377,6321962: 74,025,7841963: 74,714,3531964: 75,318,3371965: 75,963,6951966: 76,600,3111967: 76,951,3361968: 77,294,3141969: 77,909,6821970: 78,169,2891971: 78,312,8421972: 78,688,4521973: 78,936,6661974: 78,967,4331975: 78,673,5541976: 78,336,9501977: 78,159,8141978: 78,091,8201979: 78,126,3501980: 78,288,5761981: 78,407,9071982: 78,333,3661983: 78,128,2821984: 77,858,6851985: 77,684,8731986: 77,720,4361987: 77,839,9201988: 78,144,6191989: 78,751,2831990: 79,433,0291991: 80,013,8961992: 80,624,5981993: 81,156,3631994: 81,438,3481995: 81,678,0511996: 81,914,8311997: 82,034,7711998: 82,047,1951999: 82,100,2432000: 82,211,5082001: 82,349,9252002: 82,488,4952003: 82,534,1762004: 82,516,2602005: 82,469,4222006: 82,376,4512007: 82,266,3722008: 82,110,0972009: 81,902,3072010: 81,776,9302011: 80,274,9832012: 80,425,8232013: 80,645,6052014: 80,982,5002015: 81,686,6112016: 82,348,6692017: 82,657,0022018: 82,905,7822019: 83,092,9622020: 83,160,8712021: 83,196,0782022: 83,177,8132023: 83,287,2732024: 83,516,5932025: 83,491,249

Side by side

Nigeria and Germany compared across demographic indicators
IndicatorNigeriaGermany
Population237,527,78283,491,249
Annual growth+2.06%−0.03%
Yearly change+4,848,304−25,344
Density (P/km²)250238
Land area (km²)910,770349,430
Median age18.1 yrs45.5 yrs
Fertility rate4.381.36
Life expectancy54.6 yrs80.8 yrs
Urban population64%82%
World share2.89%1.02%
2050 projection (UN)359,185,55678,294,613

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

Nigeria vs Germany FAQ

Is Nigeria bigger than Germany by population?

Nigeria currently has the larger population: 237,527,782 versus 83,491,249 (2025 estimates) — a gap of 154.04 million people.

When did Nigeria overtake Germany in population?

Nigeria passed Germany in 1982, based on the countries' official population series.

Which grows faster, Nigeria or Germany?

Nigeria currently grows faster: +2.06% per year versus −0.03%.

How do Nigeria and Germany compare in 2050?

UN medium-variant projections put Nigeria at 359,185,556 and Germany at 78,294,613 in 2050.

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