PopulationPyramids
UN World Population Prospects Data Visualized

Japan vs Nigeria: Population Comparison 2026

Nigeria has 120,004,100 more people than Japan (2.0× as many): 242.4 million vs 122.4 million in 2026. Median age is 50.2 in Japan and 18.3 in Nigeria; fertility is 1.23 vs 4.21 children per woman.

Japan

2026
0
people
Median age
50.2
Fertility (TFR)
1.23
Working age (15–64)
58.8%
Trend
Declining (-0.55%)

Nigeria

2026
0
people
Median age
18.3
Fertility (TFR)
4.21
Working age (15–64)
56.9%
Trend
Growing (+2.06%)

Population pyramids, 2026

Total Population

Japan

122.4M

vs

Nigeria

242.4M

Youth (0-14)

Japan

11.0%

vs

Nigeria

40.0%

Elderly (65+)

Japan

30.2%

vs

Nigeria

3.1%

Where the two pyramids differ

The pyramids are overlaid so you can read the difference by age and sex: the longer bar in each band marks the country with more people of that age.

📊 Understanding the Population Difference Chart

This visualization shows where and by how much the populations differ between Japan and Nigeria for each age group, split by gender:

Left Side (Males)

Blue = Japan has more males

Green = Nigeria has more males

Right Side (Females)

Pink = Japan has more females

Orange = Nigeria has more females

💡 How to Read: Each age group shows up to 2 bars - one on the left (male difference) and one on the right (female difference). The bar's color tells you which country has more people, and the bar's length shows by how much. For example, if you see a green bar on the left, it means Nigeria has more males in that age group.

Notable Differences (>20% variance):

Ages 0-4: Nigeria has 88.9% more people
Men: 15.6M more in Nigeria • Women: 15.2M more in Nigeria
Japan: 2.0M men, 1.9M women • Nigeria: 17.5M men, 17.1M women
Population Ratio
3.8M
34.6M
Ages 5-9: Nigeria has 85.8% more people
Men: 13.8M more in Nigeria • Women: 13.4M more in Nigeria
Japan: 2.3M men, 2.2M women • Nigeria: 16.1M men, 15.6M women
Population Ratio
4.5M
31.7M
Ages 10-14: Nigeria has 83.1% more people
Men: 12.9M more in Nigeria • Women: 12.5M more in Nigeria
Japan: 2.7M men, 2.5M women • Nigeria: 15.6M men, 15.1M women
Population Ratio
5.2M
30.6M
Ages 15-19: Nigeria has 79.6% more people
Men: 11.2M more in Nigeria • Women: 10.8M more in Nigeria
Japan: 2.9M men, 2.7M women • Nigeria: 14.1M men, 13.5M women
Population Ratio
5.6M
27.6M
Ages 20-24: Nigeria has 74.1% more people
Men: 8.9M more in Nigeria • Women: 8.6M more in Nigeria
Japan: 3.1M men, 3.0M women • Nigeria: 12.1M men, 11.6M women
Population Ratio
6.2M
23.7M
Ages 25-29: Nigeria has 67.5% more people
Men: 6.5M more in Nigeria • Women: 6.3M more in Nigeria
Japan: 3.1M men, 3.0M women • Nigeria: 9.6M men, 9.3M women
Population Ratio
6.1M
18.9M
Ages 30-34: Nigeria has 61.3% more people
Men: 4.8M more in Nigeria • Women: 4.7M more in Nigeria
Japan: 3.1M men, 2.9M women • Nigeria: 7.9M men, 7.6M women
Population Ratio
6.0M
15.5M
Ages 35-39: Nigeria has 51.8% more people
Men: 3.4M more in Nigeria • Women: 3.4M more in Nigeria
Japan: 3.2M men, 3.1M women • Nigeria: 6.7M men, 6.5M women
Population Ratio
6.3M
13.1M
Ages 40-44: Nigeria has 37.7% more people
Men: 2.2M more in Nigeria • Women: 2.1M more in Nigeria
Japan: 3.6M men, 3.5M women • Nigeria: 5.8M men, 5.7M women
Population Ratio
7.1M
11.5M
Ages 50-54: Japan has 28.3% more people
Men: 1.1M more in Japan • Women: 1.1M more in Japan
Japan: 4.9M men, 4.9M women • Nigeria: 3.8M men, 3.8M women
Population Ratio
9.8M
7.6M
Ages 55-59: Japan has 53.3% more people
Men: 1.6M more in Japan • Women: 1.5M more in Japan
Japan: 4.5M men, 4.4M women • Nigeria: 2.9M men, 2.9M women
Population Ratio
8.9M
5.8M
Ages 60-64: Japan has 73.5% more people
Men: 1.7M more in Japan • Women: 1.6M more in Japan
Japan: 3.9M men, 3.8M women • Nigeria: 2.2M men, 2.3M women
Population Ratio
7.7M
4.4M
Ages 65-69: Japan has 122.1% more people
Men: 2.0M more in Japan • Women: 2.0M more in Japan
Japan: 3.6M men, 3.6M women • Nigeria: 1.6M men, 1.7M women
Population Ratio
7.2M
3.3M
Ages 70-74: Japan has 246.5% more people
Men: 2.6M more in Japan • Women: 2.8M more in Japan
Japan: 3.6M men, 3.9M women • Nigeria: 1.0M men, 1.1M women
Population Ratio
7.5M
2.2M
Ages 75-79: Japan has 609.8% more people
Men: 3.4M more in Japan • Women: 4.1M more in Japan
Japan: 4.0M men, 4.8M women • Nigeria: 583K men, 658K women
Population Ratio
8.8M
1.2M
Ages 80-84: Japan has 904.1% more people
Men: 2.3M more in Japan • Women: 3.1M more in Japan
Japan: 2.6M men, 3.5M women • Nigeria: 283K men, 318K women
Population Ratio
6.0M
601K
Ages 85-89: Japan has 2097.5% more people
Men: 1.5M more in Japan • Women: 2.6M more in Japan
Japan: 1.6M men, 2.7M women • Nigeria: 89K men, 107K women
Population Ratio
4.3M
196K
Ages 90-94: Japan has 5845.5% more people
Men: 667K more in Japan • Women: 1.6M more in Japan
Japan: 683K men, 1.6M women • Nigeria: 16K men, 22K women
Population Ratio
2.3M
38K
Ages 95-99: Japan has 17961.6% more people
Men: 152K more in Japan • Women: 548K more in Japan
Japan: 153K men, 551K women • Nigeria: 1K men, 3K women
Population Ratio
704K
4K
Ages 100+: Japan has 60480.3% more people
Men: 18K more in Japan • Women: 107K more in Japan
Japan: 18K men, 108K women • Nigeria: 56 men, 152 women
Population Ratio
126K
208

Demographic comparison, 2026

IndicatorJapanNigeriaDifference
Population (2026)122,427,731242,431,831Nigeria has 120.0 million more (2.0×)
Change 2025–2026-0.5% (Declining)+2.1% (Growing)
Median age (2026)50.218.3Japan older by 31.8 yrs
Total fertility rate1.23 — 0.87 below replacement4.21 — 2.10 above replacement
Fertility rate, 2030 (UN projection)1.263.82
Birth rate (per 1,000)6.131.8
Population 2050 (UN projection)105.1 million (-14.1%)359.2 million (+48.2%)
Peak populationPeaks 2009Peaks 2100

Differences by age group, 2026

AgeJapan (M / F)Nigeria (M / F)Difference
0-41968K / 1879K17540K / 17102KNigeria has 800.3% more people aged 0-4
5-92301K / 2192K16102K / 15639KNigeria has 606.4% more people aged 5-9
10-142663K / 2521K15573K / 15055KNigeria has 490.8% more people aged 10-14
15-192897K / 2746K14062K / 13537KNigeria has 389.1% more people aged 15-19
20-243148K / 3004K12091K / 11644KNigeria has 285.8% more people aged 20-24
25-293134K / 3011K9611K / 9272KNigeria has 207.3% more people aged 25-29
30-343062K / 2942K7896K / 7617KNigeria has 158.4% more people aged 30-34
35-393217K / 3101K6653K / 6460KNigeria has 107.6% more people aged 35-39
40-443605K / 3524K5799K / 5651KNigeria has 60.6% more people aged 40-44
45-494098K / 4031K4920K / 4821KNigeria has 19.8% more people aged 45-49
50-544934K / 4866K3829K / 3808KJapan has 28.3% more people aged 50-54
55-594495K / 4412K2891K / 2921KJapan has 53.3% more people aged 55-59
60-643878K / 3829K2175K / 2268KJapan has 73.5% more people aged 60-64
65-693575K / 3647K1566K / 1686KJapan has 122.1% more people aged 65-69
70-743605K / 3893K1027K / 1136KJapan has 246.5% more people aged 70-74
75-794025K / 4786K583K / 658KJapan has 609.8% more people aged 75-79
80-842574K / 3459K283K / 318KJapan has 904.1% more people aged 80-84
85-891627K / 2678K89K / 107KJapan has 2097.5% more people aged 85-89
90-94683K / 1586K16K / 22KJapan has 5845.5% more people aged 90-94
95-99153K / 551K1K / 3KJapan has 17961.6% more people aged 95-99
100+18K / 108K0K / 0KJapan has 60480.3% more people aged 100+

Frequently Asked Questions

Which has more people, Japan or Nigeria?

Nigeria has more: 242.4 million vs 122.4 million in 2026 — 2.0× as many, 120.0 million more people.

Which country is older?

Japan, with a median age of 50.2 vs 18.3 in Nigeria (2026).

Which has higher fertility?

Nigeria, at 4.21 children per woman vs 1.23 in Japan. Replacement is 2.1, so both are compared against it.

How will Japan and Nigeria compare in 2050?

By 2050 the UN projects Japan at 105.1 million (-14.1% from 2026) and Nigeria at 359.2 million (+48.2%).

Are Japan and Nigeria growing or shrinking?

Japan is declining (-0.5% in 2026); Nigeria is growing (+2.1%).

Explore Individual Countries

Japan population pyramid→Nigeria population pyramid→

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