Nigeria vs Zambia: GDP growth
GDP growth in 2025: 4% a year in Nigeria and 3.8% a year in Zambia, by IMF estimates. In 2025 the value was higher in Nigeria, by 0.3 percentage points, or 1.07 times that in Zambia.
NigeriaZambia
Watch it change on the map% a year · IMF
Latest figures
% a year · IMF
| Country | Latest | 10 years before | Rank in 2025 | Projected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | 4 2025 | 2.7 | 52 of 143 | 4.2 2031 |
| Zambia | 3.8 2025 | 2.9 | 58 of 143 | 5.3 2031 |
What the numbers say
- Nigeria has been higher since 2024, when it overtook Zambia.
- In 2025, Nigeria ranked 52 and Zambia ranked 58 of 143 countries, counting from the highest.
- The IMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026) puts Nigeria at 4.2% a year and Zambia at 5.3% a year in 2031.
Every year
% a year · IMF
| Year | Nigeria | Zambia |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | 3.8 |
| 2024 | 4.1 | 3.8 |
| 2023 | 3.3 | 5.4 |
| 2022 | 4.3 | 5.2 |
| 2021 | 1.1 | 6.2 |
| 2020 | -6.4 | -2.8 |
| 2019 | 2.2 | 1.4 |
| 2018 | 1.9 | 4 |
| 2017 | 0.8 | 3.5 |
| 2016 | -1.6 | 3.8 |
| 2015 | 2.7 | 2.9 |
| 2014 | 6.3 | 4.7 |
| 2013 | 5.4 | 5.1 |
| 2012 | 4.3 | 7.6 |
| 2011 | 4.9 | 5.6 |
| 2010 | 11.3 | 10.3 |
| 2009 | 8.4 | 9.2 |
| 2008 | 7.2 | 7.8 |
| 2007 | 7.3 | 8.4 |
| 2006 | 6.7 | 7.9 |
| 2005 | 7 | 7.2 |
| 2004 | 10.4 | 7 |
| 2003 | 9.5 | 6.9 |
| 2002 | 14.6 | 4.5 |
| 2001 | 6.7 | 5.3 |
| 2000 | 5.5 | 3.9 |
| 1999 | 0.5 | 4.7 |
| 1998 | 2.5 | -0.4 |
| 1997 | 2.9 | 3.8 |
| 1996 | 4.1 | 6.2 |
| 1995 | 1.9 | 2.9 |
| 1994 | 0.3 | -13.3 |
| 1993 | 1.6 | -0.1 |
| 1992 | 2.2 | 2.1 |
| 1991 | -0.6 | -0.7 |
| 1990 | – | -0.6 |
| 1989 | – | -3.7 |
| 1988 | – | 9.3 |
| 1987 | – | 1.5 |
| 1986 | – | 1.7 |
| 1985 | – | 1.2 |
| 1984 | – | -1.7 |
| 1983 | – | -1.1 |
| 1982 | – | -2.9 |
| 1981 | – | 6.6 |
| 1980 | – | 3.9 |
IMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026) · 2026–2031
| Year | Nigeria | Zambia |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4.2 | 5.6 |
| 2027 | 4.3 | 4.9 |
| 2028 | 4.1 | 5 |
| 2029 | 4.2 | 5.3 |
| 2030 | 4.2 | 5.3 |
| 2031 | 4.2 | 5.3 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- How much the economy grew or shrank in a year, after inflation.
- Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook, October 2026.
- The dashed line is the IMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026), a scenario rather than a forecast.
- Ranks count the 143 countries with a value in 2025, highest first.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time