Kenya vs Nigeria
Every indicator for Kenya and Nigeria side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Kenya | Nigeria | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 57,532,493 | 237,527,782 | −75.8% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 136 | 291 | −53.3% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 2,363 | 1,224 | +93.1% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 63.8 | 54.6 | — |
| Area (km²) | 591,969 | 923,770 | −35.9% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 97 | 257 | −62.2% |
| Median age (years) | 20.0 | 17.9 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 35.0 | 41.2 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 5.4 | 3.1 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 4.1 | 23.0 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 32.2 | 63.8 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 1,231 | 1,133 | +8.6% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 1.00 | 0.56 | +78.6% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 4.43 | 3.07 | +44.3% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 21 | 5 | +348.6% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 24,000 | 223,000 | −89.2% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 0.4 | 0.9 | −55.6% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.11 | 0.23 | −52.2% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Kenya relative to Nigeria; a positive value favors Kenya. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Nigeria is higher on 7 of the 12 indicators, while Kenya leads on the remaining 5. The widest separation is in armed forces personnel (2020), about 9.3 times; they are closest on military expenditure (2024).
Key differences
- Nigeria's armed forces personnel (2020) (223,000) is about 9.3 times Kenya's (24,000).
- Kenya's military expenditure per capita (21) is about 4.5 times Nigeria's (5).
- Nigeria's population (2025) (237,527,782) is about 4.1 times Kenya's (57,532,493).
- Nigeria's population density (257) is about 2.6 times Kenya's (97).
- Nigeria's armed forces per 1,000 people (0.9) is about 2.3 times Kenya's (0.4).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Kenya and Nigeria differ most?
Where are Kenya and Nigeria most alike?
On how many indicators is Kenya ahead of Nigeria?
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 Kenya or Nigeria.
Kenya profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Nigeria profile →
All statistics, series, and details.