Nigeria vs South Africa

Nigeria vs South Africa: Population

Population in 2023: 228 million people in Nigeria and 63.2 million people in South Africa, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in Nigeria, by 165 million people, or 3.61 times that in South Africa.

Watch it change on the map

people · UN

Nigeria vs South Africa: PopulationPopulation in 2023: 228 million people in Nigeria and 63.2 million people in South Africa, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in Nigeria, by 165 million people, or 3.61 times that in South Africa.
NigeriaSouth AfricaEstimates, HYDE and GapminderUN projection (medium variant)95% prediction intervalWorld

What the numbers say

  • Nigeria has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1950.
  • In 2023, Nigeria ranked 6 and South Africa ranked 24 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
  • The UN projection (medium variant) puts Nigeria at 477 million people and South Africa at 94.3 million people in 2100.
  • The world as a whole: 8.09 billion people in 2023.

Every year

people · UN

YearNigeriaSouth AfricaWorld
2023228 million63.2 million8.09 billion
2022223 million62.4 million8.02 billion
2021219 million61.5 million7.95 billion
2020214 million60.6 million7.89 billion
2019210 million59.6 million7.81 billion
2018205 million58.6 million7.73 billion
2017200 million57.6 million7.65 billion
2016195 million57.3 million7.56 billion
2015191 million56.7 million7.47 billion
2014186 million55.6 million7.38 billion
2013181 million54.7 million7.29 billion
2012176 million53.8 million7.2 billion
2011171 million53 million7.11 billion
2010167 million52.3 million7.02 billion
2009162 million51.7 million6.93 billion
2008158 million51.1 million6.84 billion
2007153 million50.5 million6.76 billion
2006149 million50 million6.67 billion
2005145 million49.5 million6.59 billion
2004141 million49 million6.5 billion
2003137 million48.5 million6.42 billion
2002134 million48 million6.34 billion
2001130 million47.6 million6.26 billion
2000126 million47.2 million6.17 billion
1999123 million46.7 million6.09 billion
1998120 million46.2 million6.01 billion
1997117 million45.7 million5.93 billion
1996114 million45.1 million5.84 billion
1995111 million44.5 million5.76 billion
1994108 million44 million5.68 billion
1993105 million43.3 million5.59 billion
1992102 million42.4 million5.51 billion
199199.7 million41.7 million5.42 billion
199097.1 million40.8 million5.33 billion
198994.5 million39.6 million5.23 billion
198892 million38.5 million5.14 billion
198789.6 million37.3 million5.05 billion
198687.2 million36.2 million4.96 billion
198584.9 million35 million4.87 billion
198482.5 million33.9 million4.78 billion
198380.4 million32.7 million4.7 billion
198278.4 million31.6 million4.61 billion
198176.1 million30.5 million4.53 billion
198073.8 million29.5 million4.45 billion
197971.5 million28.6 million4.37 billion
197869.3 million27.9 million4.29 billion
197767.2 million27.1 million4.22 billion
197665.3 million26.4 million4.14 billion
197563.4 million25.7 million4.07 billion
197461.7 million25 million4 billion
197360.1 million24.3 million3.92 billion
197258.6 million23.6 million3.85 billion
197157.2 million22.9 million3.77 billion
197055.9 million22.3 million3.7 billion
196954.6 million21.6 million3.62 billion
196853.4 million21 million3.55 billion
196752.3 million20.3 million3.47 billion
196651.2 million19.7 million3.4 billion
196550.1 million19.1 million3.34 billion
196449 million18.5 million3.26 billion
196348 million18 million3.19 billion
196247 million17.4 million3.12 billion
196146 million16.9 million3.07 billion
196045.1 million16.4 million3.02 billion
195944.2 million16 million2.97 billion
195843.3 million15.6 million2.91 billion
195742.5 million15.2 million2.85 billion
195641.7 million14.9 million2.8 billion
195540.9 million14.5 million2.74 billion
195440.2 million14.2 million2.69 billion
195339.4 million13.9 million2.63 billion
195238.7 million13.6 million2.58 billion
195138 million13.3 million2.54 billion
195037.3 million13 million2.49 billion
194936.5 million12.8 million–
194835.8 million12.5 million–
194735.2 million12.3 million–
194634.5 million12 million–
194533.9 million11.8 million–
194433.3 million11.6 million–
194332.7 million11.4 million–
194232.2 million11.2 million–
194131.6 million11 million–
194031.1 million10.7 million–
193930.6 million10.5 million–
193830.1 million10.3 million–
193729.7 million10.1 million–
193629.2 million9.92 million–
193528.8 million9.72 million–
193428.4 million9.53 million–
193328 million9.34 million–
193227.6 million9.16 million–
193127.2 million8.97 million–
193026.7 million8.79 million–
192926.3 million8.62 million–
192825.9 million8.44 million–
192725.5 million8.27 million–
192625.1 million8.1 million–
192524.7 million7.93 million–
192424.3 million7.77 million–
192324 million7.61 million–
192223.6 million7.45 million–
192123.2 million7.3 million–
192022.9 million7.17 million–
191922.7 million7.04 million–
191822.4 million6.93 million–
191722.2 million6.82 million–
191622 million6.71 million–
191521.8 million6.61 million–
191421.5 million6.5 million–
191321.3 million6.4 million–
191221.1 million6.3 million–
191120.9 million6.2 million–
191020.7 million6.09 million–
190920.4 million5.99 million–
190820.2 million5.89 million–
190720 million5.79 million–
190619.8 million5.7 million–
190519.6 million5.6 million–
190419.4 million5.51 million–
190319.2 million5.41 million–
190219 million5.32 million–
190118.8 million5.24 million–
190018.7 million5.16 million–
189918.5 million5.1 million–
189818.4 million5.04 million–
189718.3 million4.98 million–
189618.1 million4.93 million–
189518 million4.88 million–
189417.9 million4.82 million–
189317.8 million4.77 million–
189217.6 million4.72 million–
189117.5 million4.67 million–
189017.4 million4.62 million–
188917.3 million4.57 million–
188817.1 million4.52 million–
188717 million4.48 million–
188616.9 million4.43 million–
188516.7 million4.38 million–
188416.6 million4.33 million–
188316.5 million4.29 million–
188216.4 million4.24 million–
188116.2 million4.2 million–
188016.1 million4.15 million–
187916 million4.11 million–
187815.9 million4.06 million–
187715.8 million4.02 million–
187615.7 million3.98 million–
187515.6 million3.93 million–
187415.5 million3.89 million–
187315.4 million3.85 million–
187215.3 million3.81 million–
187115.2 million3.77 million–
187015.1 million3.73 million–
186915 million3.69 million–
186814.9 million3.65 million–
186714.8 million3.61 million–
186614.8 million3.57 million–
186514.7 million3.53 million–
186414.6 million3.5 million–
186314.5 million3.46 million–
186214.4 million3.42 million–
186114.3 million3.39 million–
186014.3 million3.35 million–
185914.2 million3.31 million–
185814.1 million3.28 million–
185714 million3.24 million–
185614 million3.21 million–
185513.9 million3.17 million–
185413.8 million3.14 million–
185313.8 million3.11 million–
185213.7 million3.07 million–
185113.6 million3.03 million–
185013.5 million2.99 million–
184913.5 million2.94 million–
184813.4 million2.88 million–
184713.4 million2.82 million–
184613.3 million2.75 million–
184513.3 million2.69 million–
184413.2 million2.64 million–
184313.2 million2.58 million–
184213.1 million2.52 million–
184113.1 million2.47 million–
184013 million2.41 million–
183913 million2.36 million–
183812.9 million2.31 million–
183712.9 million2.26 million–
183612.9 million2.21 million–
183512.8 million2.16 million–
183412.8 million2.11 million–
183312.7 million2.07 million–
183212.7 million2.02 million–
183112.6 million1.98 million–
183012.6 million1.93 million–
182912.5 million1.89 million–
182812.5 million1.85 million–
182712.4 million1.81 million–
182612.4 million1.77 million–
182512.3 million1.73 million–
182412.3 million1.69 million–
182312.2 million1.66 million–
182212.2 million1.62 million–
182112.2 million1.6 million–
182012.1 million1.59 million–
181912.1 million1.57 million–
181812.1 million1.56 million–
181712.1 million1.56 million–
181612.1 million1.55 million–
181512.1 million1.54 million–
181412.1 million1.53 million–
181312.1 million1.52 million–
181212.1 million1.52 million–
181112.1 million1.51 million–
181012.1 million1.5 million–
180912.1 million1.5 million–
180812.1 million1.49 million–
180712.1 million1.49 million–
180612.1 million1.48 million–
180512.1 million1.48 million–
180412.1 million1.47 million–
180312.1 million1.46 million–
180212.1 million1.46 million–
180112.1 million1.45 million–
180012.1 million1.45 million–
  • 12.3Estimates, HYDE and Gapminder
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
YearNigeriaSouth AfricaWorld
2024233 million232 million–233 million64 million63.7 million–64.3 million8.16 billion
2025238 million235 million–240 million64.8 million64 million–65.5 million8.23 billion
2026242 million239 million–246 million65.5 million64.3 million–66.7 million8.3 billion
2027247 million242 million–252 million66.1 million64.6 million–67.8 million8.37 billion
2028252 million245 million–259 million66.8 million64.9 million–69 million8.44 billion
2029257 million248 million–266 million67.5 million65.2 million–70.1 million8.5 billion
2030262 million251 million–273 million68.2 million65.5 million–71.2 million8.57 billion
2031267 million253 million–281 million68.8 million65.8 million–72.3 million8.63 billion
2032273 million256 million–288 million69.4 million66 million–73.4 million8.7 billion
2033278 million258 million–296 million70 million66.3 million–74.5 million8.76 billion
2034283 million261 million–304 million70.6 million66.5 million–75.5 million8.82 billion
2035288 million263 million–313 million71.2 million66.7 million–76.4 million8.89 billion
2036293 million265 million–321 million71.8 million67 million–77.5 million8.95 billion
2037298 million268 million–330 million72.4 million67.2 million–78.5 million9.01 billion
2038303 million270 million–339 million73 million67.3 million–79.5 million9.06 billion
2039308 million272 million–348 million73.5 million67.4 million–80.5 million9.12 billion
2040313 million274 million–357 million74 million67.5 million–81.5 million9.18 billion
2041318 million276 million–366 million74.6 million67.6 million–82.4 million9.23 billion
2042323 million278 million–375 million75.1 million67.8 million–83.5 million9.29 billion
2043327 million280 million–385 million75.6 million67.9 million–84.6 million9.34 billion
2044332 million282 million–394 million76.2 million67.9 million–85.7 million9.39 billion
2045337 million284 million–403 million76.7 million68 million–86.9 million9.44 billion
2046341 million286 million–413 million77.2 million68.1 million–88 million9.49 billion
2047346 million288 million–423 million77.7 million68.1 million–89.1 million9.54 billion
2048350 million290 million–432 million78.2 million68.1 million–90.4 million9.58 billion
2049355 million292 million–442 million78.7 million68.2 million–91.6 million9.62 billion
2050359 million294 million–452 million79.2 million68.3 million–92.7 million9.66 billion
2051364 million295 million–461 million79.7 million68.4 million–93.8 million9.7 billion
2052368 million296 million–471 million80.1 million68.4 million–95.1 million9.74 billion
2053372 million297 million–481 million80.6 million68.4 million–96.4 million9.78 billion
2054376 million298 million–492 million81 million68.4 million–97.2 million9.81 billion
2055380 million299 million–503 million81.4 million68.3 million–98.2 million9.85 billion
2056384 million300 million–514 million81.8 million68.2 million–99.4 million9.88 billion
2057388 million300 million–526 million82.3 million68 million–101 million9.91 billion
2058392 million300 million–540 million82.7 million67.9 million–102 million9.94 billion
2059396 million300 million–553 million83.1 million67.8 million–103 million9.96 billion
2060400 million301 million–567 million83.4 million67.5 million–104 million9.99 billion
2061404 million301 million–580 million83.8 million67.2 million–106 million10 billion
2062407 million302 million–593 million84.2 million67.1 million–107 million10 billion
2063411 million302 million–606 million84.6 million67 million–108 million10.1 billion
2064414 million303 million–619 million84.9 million66.9 million–109 million10.1 billion
2065418 million303 million–632 million85.3 million66.6 million–110 million10.1 billion
2066421 million302 million–645 million85.6 million66.3 million–112 million10.1 billion
2067424 million301 million–658 million85.9 million66.1 million–113 million10.1 billion
2068427 million301 million–671 million86.2 million65.7 million–115 million10.2 billion
2069431 million301 million–683 million86.5 million65.3 million–116 million10.2 billion
2070434 million300 million–695 million86.9 million65 million–117 million10.2 billion
2071436 million299 million–708 million87.2 million64.8 million–118 million10.2 billion
2072439 million299 million–721 million87.5 million64.6 million–119 million10.2 billion
2073442 million298 million–736 million87.8 million64.3 million–120 million10.2 billion
2074445 million297 million–752 million88.1 million63.9 million–121 million10.2 billion
2075447 million296 million–766 million88.3 million63.6 million–123 million10.3 billion
2076449 million294 million–781 million88.6 million63.3 million–124 million10.3 billion
2077452 million292 million–797 million88.9 million63.2 million–125 million10.3 billion
2078454 million291 million–813 million89.1 million62.8 million–126 million10.3 billion
2079456 million290 million–829 million89.4 million62.4 million–128 million10.3 billion
2080458 million289 million–840 million89.7 million62 million–129 million10.3 billion
2081460 million288 million–853 million89.9 million61.6 million–130 million10.3 billion
2082462 million288 million–869 million90.2 million61.5 million–132 million10.3 billion
2083463 million286 million–881 million90.5 million61.3 million–133 million10.3 billion
2084465 million284 million–893 million90.7 million60.9 million–135 million10.3 billion
2085466 million283 million–908 million91 million60.6 million–136 million10.3 billion
2086468 million282 million–921 million91.2 million60.1 million–138 million10.3 billion
2087469 million281 million–933 million91.4 million59.8 million–139 million10.3 billion
2088470 million279 million–948 million91.7 million59.3 million–141 million10.3 billion
2089471 million277 million–965 million91.9 million58.6 million–142 million10.3 billion
2090472 million275 million–981 million92.2 million58.1 million–144 million10.3 billion
2091473 million274 million–998 million92.4 million57.7 million–146 million10.3 billion
2092474 million272 million–1.01 billion92.6 million57.2 million–147 million10.3 billion
2093474 million270 million–1.02 billion92.9 million56.8 million–148 million10.3 billion
2094475 million269 million–1.04 billion93.1 million56.4 million–150 million10.2 billion
2095475 million267 million–1.06 billion93.3 million55.9 million–152 million10.2 billion
2096476 million265 million–1.08 billion93.5 million55.5 million–153 million10.2 billion
2097476 million262 million–1.09 billion93.7 million55 million–155 million10.2 billion
2098476 million260 million–1.11 billion93.9 million54.2 million–156 million10.2 billion
2099477 million257 million–1.13 billion94.1 million53.5 million–158 million10.2 billion
2100477 million256 million–1.14 billion94.3 million53.3 million–159 million10.2 billion

Each country on its own

Good to know

  • Everyone living in the country on 1 July of each year.
  • Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects 2024.
  • Before 1950: HYDE (2023), Gapminder (2022) and UN WPP (2024), via Our World in Data.
  • The dashed line is the UN projection (medium variant), a scenario rather than a forecast; the band is its 95% prediction interval.
  • Ranks count the 229 countries with a value in 2023, highest first.
  • The faint line is the world as a whole, as the same source counts it.

How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time

Nigeria vs South Africa

Health

People

Economy

Education

Politics

Conflict

Military

Climate

Technology and environment