Ethiopia vs Nigeria
Every indicator for Ethiopia and Nigeria side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Ethiopia | Nigeria | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 135,472,051 | 237,527,782 | −43.0% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 126 | 291 | −56.7% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 933 | 1,224 | −23.8% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 67.6 | 54.6 | — |
| Area (km²) | 1,136,240 | 923,770 | +23.0% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 119 | 257 | −53.6% |
| Median age (years) | 19.0 | 17.9 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 21.9 | 41.2 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 3.3 | 3.1 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 13.2 | 23.0 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 24.1 | 63.8 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 922 | 1,133 | −18.6% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 0.65 | 0.56 | +16.1% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 6.91 | 3.07 | +125.1% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 7 | 5 | +42.7% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 138,000 | 223,000 | −38.1% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 1.0 | 0.9 | +8.5% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.28 | 0.23 | +21.7% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Ethiopia relative to Nigeria; a positive value favors Ethiopia. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Neither side dominates: Ethiopia is higher on 6 of 12 indicators, Nigeria on 6. The widest separation is in gdp (nominal) (about 2.3×); they are closest on armed forces per 1,000 people.
Key differences
- Nigeria's gdp (nominal) (291) is about 2.3 times Ethiopia's (126).
- Ethiopia's military expenditure as a share of government spending (6.91) is about 2.3 times Nigeria's (3.07).
- Nigeria's population density (257) is about 2.2 times Ethiopia's (119).
- On population (2025), Nigeria is %75 higher than Ethiopia: 237,527,782 against 135,472,051.
- On armed forces personnel (2020), Nigeria is %62 higher than Ethiopia: 223,000 against 138,000.
Frequently asked questions
Where do Ethiopia and Nigeria differ most?
In gdp (nominal). Nigeria records 291 against Ethiopia's 126 — a ratio of roughly 2.3 to one.
Where are Ethiopia and Nigeria most alike?
In armed forces per 1,000 people, at 1.0 and 0.9 — a gap of only %8.5.
On how many indicators is Ethiopia ahead of Nigeria?
Ethiopia is higher on 6 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Nigeria on 6. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
EthiopiaNigeria
The indicators use different scales, so the chart is a rough visual comparison only; use the table for exact figures.
Related comparisons
Other comparisons involving Ethiopia or Nigeria.
Ethiopia profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Nigeria profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI