Nigeria vs Ethiopia: Population Comparison 2025
Africa's most populous nations. Both have massive youth bulges driving rapid growth.
Nigeria
Ethiopia
Population Pyramids Comparison
Total Population
Nigeria
237.5M
Ethiopia
135.5M
Youth (0-14)
Nigeria
40.5%
Ethiopia
38.8%
Elderly (65+)
Nigeria
3.1%
Ethiopia
3.3%
Demographic Analysis: Nigeria vs Ethiopia
In 2025, Nigeria has a population of 238M, while Ethiopia has 135M. This represents a difference of 102M, with Nigeria having 1.8 times the population of the other. Nigeria ranks #6 globally by population size, while Ethiopia ranks #10.
The median age reveals significant demographic differences: Nigeria has a median age of 19.2 years, compared to 20.1 years in Ethiopia. This 0.9-year difference indicates that Ethiopia has a significantly older population, with important implications for workforce dynamics, healthcare needs, and economic development. The dependency ratio in Nigeria is 77.3%, while in Ethiopia it is 72.6%, showing the relative burden of non-working age populations on the workforce.
Gender balance differs between the two countries: Nigeria has a sex ratio of 102.41 males per female, while Ethiopia has 100.41. Nigeria shows a higher proportion of males, which can affect marriage markets, labor force composition, and social dynamics. These ratios reflect various factors including sex-selective practices, differential mortality rates, and migration patterns.
Comprehensive Demographic Comparison 2025
| Indicator | Nigeria | Ethiopia | Difference / Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population Metrics | |||
| Total Population (2025) | 238M | 135M | 1.8x larger |
| World Population Ranking | #6 | #10 | 4 places apart |
| Population Growth Rate (5-year) | +2.11% | +2.64% | 0.53pp difference |
| Projected Growth (2025-2050) | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00pp difference |
| Age Structure | |||
| Median Age | 19.2 years | 20.1 years | 0.9 years younger |
| Youth (0-14) Population | 40.5% | 38.8% | 1.7pp difference |
| Working Age (15-64) Population | 56.4% | 57.9% | 1.5pp difference |
| Elderly (65+) Population | 3.1% | 3.3% | 0.2pp difference |
| Youth Bulge (15-29) | 28.6% | 29.6% | 1.0pp difference |
| Prime Workforce (25-54) | 31.3% | 32.5% | 1.2pp difference |
| Demographic Indicators | |||
| Total Dependency Ratio | 77.3% | 72.6% | 4.6pp difference |
| Child Dependency Ratio | 71.8% | 66.9% | 4.9pp difference |
| Old-Age Dependency Ratio | 5.4% | 5.7% | 0.2pp difference |
| Sex Ratio (males per 100 females) | 102.4 | 100.4 | 2.0 difference |
| Total Fertility Rate | 4.42 children/woman | 3.90 children/woman | 0.52 difference |
| Estimated Birth Rate | 28.8 per 1,000 | 29.0 per 1,000 | 0.2 difference |
| Aging Index (65+/0-14) | 7.6% | 8.5% | 0.9pp difference |
| Population Pyramid Type | expansive | expansive | Same type |
📊 Understanding the Population Difference Chart
This visualization shows where and by how much the populations differ between Nigeria and Ethiopia for each age group, split by gender:
Left Side (Males)
Blue = Nigeria has more males
Green = Ethiopia has more males
Right Side (Females)
Pink = Nigeria has more females
Orange = Ethiopia 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 Ethiopia has more males in that age group.
Notable Differences (>20% variance):
Population Difference
102.1M
Nigeria larger
Growth Since 1950
Nigeria
+537.1%
Ethiopia
+666.7%
Population Ratio
1 : 0.57
Nigeria : Ethiopia
| Metric | Nigeria | Ethiopia | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population | 237.5M | 135.5M | +75.3% |
| Median Age | 19.2 years | 20.1 years | -0.9 |
| Youth Population (0-14) | 96.2M 40.5% | 52.5M 38.8% | +83.2% |
| Working Age (15-64) | 134.0M 56.4% | 78.5M 57.9% | +70.8% |
| Elderly Population (65+) | 7.3M 3.1% | 4.5M 3.3% | +63.3% |
| Total Dependency Ratio | 77.3 per 100 | 72.6 per 100 | +4.6 |
| Youth Dependency Ratio | 71.8 per 100 | 66.9 per 100 | +4.9 |
| Old-Age Dependency Ratio | 5.4 per 100 | 5.7 per 100 | -0.2 |
| Sex Ratio | 102.4 M/100F | 100.4 M/100F | +2.0 |
| Population Structure Type | Expansive | Expansive | Same |
Total Population
Nigeria
237.5M
Ethiopia
135.5M
Median Age
Nigeria
19.2 years
Ethiopia
20.1 years
Youth Population (0-14)
Nigeria
96.2M
40.5%
Ethiopia
52.5M
38.8%
Working Age (15-64)
Nigeria
134.0M
56.4%
Ethiopia
78.5M
57.9%
Elderly Population (65+)
Nigeria
7.3M
3.1%
Ethiopia
4.5M
3.3%
Total Dependency Ratio
Nigeria
77.3 per 100
Ethiopia
72.6 per 100
Youth Dependency Ratio
Nigeria
71.8 per 100
Ethiopia
66.9 per 100
Old-Age Dependency Ratio
Nigeria
5.4 per 100
Ethiopia
5.7 per 100
Sex Ratio
Nigeria
102.4 M/100F
Ethiopia
100.4 M/100F
Note: Dependency ratios represent the number of dependents (youth + elderly) per 100 working-age individuals. Higher ratios indicate greater economic burden on the working population.
Note: The replacement fertility rate of 2.1 is the level at which a population exactly replaces itself from one generation to the next.Both countries are experiencing demographic transitions as they develop economically. Countries below 2.1 face potential population decline without immigration, while those above 2.1 continue growing naturally.
Historic Milestone: 2023
Ethiopia became the world's most populous country, ending Nigeria's centuries-long reign