Nigeria vs Ethiopia: population pyramids in 1950
NigeriaEthiopia
Each bar is the share of the total population at that single year of age (men left, women right), so countries of different sizes can be compared.
Nigeria and Ethiopia compared
In 1950, Nigeria has a population of 36.9 million and Ethiopia 17.5 million; Nigeria is about 2.1 times the size of Ethiopia.
The share aged 65 and over is 3.0% in Nigeria and 3.0% in Ethiopia, almost the same. The median age is 19.0 years in Nigeria and 17.9 years in Ethiopia.
The total fertility rate is 6.42 in Nigeria and 6.43 in Ethiopia, both above the replacement level of about 2.1. Life expectancy at birth is 35.5 years in Nigeria and 35.5 years in Ethiopia.
By 2050, the population of Nigeria is projected to grow by 866.6% and that of Ethiopia to grow by 1174.2% compared with 1950.
GDP per person is $1,224 in Nigeria (2025) and $933 in Ethiopia (2025).
Key figures (1950)
| Nigeria | Ethiopia | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 36.9 million | 17.5 million |
| Aged 0–14 | 41.8% | 43.9% |
| Aged 15–64 | 55.2% | 53.0% |
| Aged 65+ | 3.0% | 3.0% |
| Median age | 19.0 yrs | 17.9 yrs |
| Old-age dependency | 5.4 | 5.7 |
| Total fertility rate | 6.42 | 6.43 |
| Life expectancy | 35.5 yrs | 35.5 yrs |
| Population growth | +1.88% | +1.74% |
| Net migration (per year) | +20,515 | +5,501 |
| GDP | $291B (2025) | $126B (2025) |
| GDP per person | $1,224 (2025) | $933 (2025) |
| Unemployment | 3.1% (2025) | 3.3% (2025) |
Economic figures are the latest year published for each country.