At a glance
Nigeria vs Russia: 28 indicators side by side
| Indicator |  Nigeria |  Russia | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 👥 Population | |||
| Population people | 243,859,046 | 143,296,629 | Nigeria 1.7× |
| Population growth rate % per year | +2 | -0.2 | +2.3 pts |
| Population density people per km² | 2642026 | 8.42026 | +255.6 |
| Surface area km² | 923,7702023 | 17,125,1902023 | Russia 19× |
| Birth rate births per 1,000 people | 32.52024 | 8.42024 | +24.1 |
| Death rate deaths per 1,000 people | 11.62024 | 12.42024 | -0.8 |
| Net migration rate per 1,000 people per year | 0 | +2.3 | -2.3 |
| Urban population % of population | 63.82025 | 75.32025 | -11.5 pts |
| Sex ratio males per 100 females | 102.5 | 86.4 | +16.1 |
| ❤️ Demographics & Health | |||
| Life expectancy years | 54.62024 | 73.42024 | -18.8 |
| Fertility rate births per woman | 4.382024 | 1.422024 | +2.96 |
| Median age years | 18.3 | 40.7 | -22.4 |
| Infant mortality deaths per 1,000 live births | 66.9 | 3.9 | +63 |
| Population under 15 % of population | 40.52025 | 172025 | +23.5 pts |
| Population aged 65+ % of population | 3.12025 | 17.82025 | -14.7 pts |
| 💰 Economy | |||
| GDP current US$ | $290.79B2025 | $2.56T2025 | Russia 8.8× |
| GDP per capita current US$ | $1,2242025 | $17,8472025 | Russia 15× |
| Unemployment rate % of labor force | 3.12025 | 2.12025 | +0.9 pts |
| Inflation rate % annual, consumer prices | 232025 | 8.72025 | +14.3 pts |
| 🌱 Environment & Energy | |||
| CO₂ emissions Mt CO₂ per year | 131.92024 | 2,009.22024 | Russia 15× |
| CO₂ emissions per capita tonnes per person | 0.572024 | 13.982024 | -13.42 |
| Energy use per capita kg of oil equivalent per person | 3202023 | 5,4982023 | Russia 17× |
| Renewable energy share % of final energy | 80.32021 | 3.52021 | +76.8 pts |
| Forest area % of land area | 23.22023 | 49.82023 | -26.6 pts |
| Freshwater resources per capita m³ per person per year | 9902022 | 29,8952022 | Russia 30× |
| Water stress % of resources withdrawn | 5.62022 | 1.52022 | +4.1 pts |
| 📶 Digital | |||
| Internet users % of population | 41.22024 | 94.42024 | -53.2 pts |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 70.82024 | 186.12024 | -115.3 |
▲ marks the higher value (for death rate, infant mortality, unemployment, inflation, CO₂ and water stress: the lower value). "Difference" is the ratio for absolute measures and Nigeria minus Russia for rates and shares. Years in grey are the latest available for that country.
Nigeria compared with Russia
Nigeria has a live population of about 243,859,046 (#6 in the world) and Russia about 143,296,629 (#9), so Nigeria has 1.7 times as many people as Russia. Nigeria is growing at 2% a year and Russia at -0.2%.
By area Russia is larger: 17,125,190 km² against 923,770 km², which gives population densities of 264 people per km² in Nigeria and 8.4 in Russia.
Nigeria's economy is worth $290.79B (2025) and Russia's $2.56T (2025); per person that is $1,224 in Nigeria versus $17,847 in Russia, so the average Russia resident produces 14.6 times as much.
Life expectancy is 54.6 years in Nigeria and 73.4 in Russia; women have 4.4 children on average in Nigeria compared with 1.4 in Russia; the median age is 18.3 versus 40.7 years.
63.8% of Nigeria's people live in cities against 75.3% in Russia; 41.2% use the internet in Nigeria and 94.4% in Russia; CO₂ emissions per person are 0.6 t in Nigeria and 14 t in Russia.
Population over time
Life expectancy & fertility
Birth & death rates
Age structure
CO₂ emissions
Energy use & renewables
Forest area
Urban population
Water resources & stress
Economy
Unemployment & inflation
Internet & mobile
Frequently asked questions
Which is bigger, Nigeria or Russia?
By population Nigeria is bigger: 243,859,046 people versus 143,296,629 (live estimates, October 2026). By area Russia is larger (17,125,190 km² vs 923,770 km²).
Which has the larger economy, Nigeria or Russia?
Russia: GDP of $2,561,310,169,359 versus $290,794,361,542 in current US dollars (World Bank, 2025/2025).
Where do people live longer, Nigeria or Russia?
Life expectancy at birth is 54.6 years in Nigeria and 73.4 years in Russia, a difference of 18.8 years in favour of Russia.
How are these comparisons calculated?
Live populations extrapolate the UN World Population Prospects baseline with each country's growth rate; every other figure is the latest value published by World Bank Open Data (or the UN for median age, infant mortality and migration). Each row shows the year of the figure, and the charts below overlay the full historical series of both countries.
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Russia vs JapanSources & method: live populations are linear extrapolations of the UN World Population Prospects estimates; all other indicators are the latest values from World Bank Open Data (UN WPP for median age, infant mortality, sex ratio and net migration). Figures are statistical estimates, not census counts. Page generated 2026-10-19. More about our data.