Nigeria vs Turkey
Every indicator for Nigeria and Turkey side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Nigeria | Turkey | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 237,527,782 | 85,878,556 | +176.6% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 291 | 1,597 | −81.8% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 1,224 | 18,599 | −93.4% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 54.6 | 77.4 | — |
| Area (km²) | 923,770 | 785,350 | +17.6% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 257 | 109 | +135.1% |
| Median age (years) | 17.9 | 34.4 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 41.2 | 89.8 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 3.1 | 8.5 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 23.0 | 34.9 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 63.8 | 89.5 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 1,133 | 24,979 | −95.5% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 0.56 | 1.92 | −70.8% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 3.07 | — | — |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 5 | 291 | −98.4% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 223,000 | 512,000 | −56.4% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 0.9 | 6.0 | −84.3% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.23 | 1.61 | −85.7% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Nigeria relative to Turkey; a positive value favors Nigeria. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Turkey is higher on 8 of the 11 indicators, while Nigeria leads on the remaining 3. The widest separation is in military expenditure per capita, about 61 times; they are closest on area.
Key differences
- Military expenditure per capita shows the widest gap of all: Turkey stands at 291 against Nigeria's 5 — roughly 61 times as much.
- Military expenditure (2024) shows the widest gap of all: Turkey stands at 24,979 against Nigeria's 1,133 — roughly 22 times as much.
- GDP per capita shows the widest gap of all: Turkey stands at 18,599 against Nigeria's 1,224 — roughly 15 times as much.
- Turkey's armed forces as a share of the labor force (1.61) is about 7.0 times Nigeria's (0.23).
- Turkey's armed forces per 1,000 people (6.0) is about 6.4 times Nigeria's (0.9).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Nigeria and Turkey differ most?
In military expenditure per capita. Turkey records 291 against Nigeria's 5 — a ratio of roughly 61 to one.
Where are Nigeria and Turkey most alike?
In area, at 923,770 and 785,350 — a gap of only %18.
On how many indicators is Nigeria ahead of Turkey?
Nigeria is higher on 3 of the 11 ratio-scale indicators and Turkey on 8. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
NigeriaTurkey
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 Nigeria or Turkey.
Nigeria profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Turkey profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI