Updated
Overview
Nigeria has 11 times the population of Chad: 237.53 million people against 21.00 million (2025).
Nigeria's economy is 14 times the size of Chad's, at $290.79B versus $21.47B.
Per person, Nigeria is the wealthier of the two: $1,224 against $1,022 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Nigeria | Chad | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $290.79B | $21.47B | 2025 | $187.76B / $20.63B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $1,224 | $1,022 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 4.0% | Higher: 5.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 23.0% | Lower: -3.9% | 2025 | 33.2% / 8.9% |
| Unemployment | 3.1% | Lower: 1.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | — | 35 | — / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $52 | Higher: $206 | 2024 / 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $44 | Higher: $99 | 2024 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 237.53 million | 21.00 million | 2025 | 244.34 million / 19.67 million |
| Population growth | 2.1% | 3.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 18.1 yrs | 15.8 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 4.30 | 5.94 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 54.6 yrs | Higher: 55.2 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 64% | 28% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 41% | 13% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 923,768 km² | 1,284,000 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 257.1/km² | 16.4/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 136 Mt | Lower: 2.83 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 0.6 t | Lower: 0.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $1.13B | $557.71M | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.6% | 3.0% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 223,000 | 45,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Chad is growing faster: 5.6% annual GDP growth versus 4.0%.
Inflation is a serious concern in Nigeria at 23.0%, while the other economy sits at -3.9%.
Average monthly earnings favour Chad: $206 against $52 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Chad is the younger society: median age 15.8 versus 18.1 years.
Nigeria is considerably more urbanized: 64% of people live in cities, against 28%.
Internet adoption is higher in Nigeria (41% vs 13% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Nigeria is 28% smaller than Chad: 923,768 km² versus 1,284,000 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Nigeria is far more densely settled: 257 people per km² against 16.
Military
Nigeria spends 2.0 times as much on defence as Chad: $1.13B versus $557.71M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Chad carries the heavier military burden: 3.0% of GDP versus 0.6%.
Nigeria fields the larger armed forces: 223,000 personnel against 45,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Nigeria bigger than Chad?
- Chad is larger by land area. Nigeria covers 923,768 km² while Chad covers 1,284,000 km², so Chad is 39% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Nigeria or Chad?
- Nigeria has the larger population: 237.53 million versus 21.00 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Nigeria richer than Chad?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Nigeria is richer: $1,224 against $1,022. Total GDP tells the same story: $290.79B for Nigeria versus $21.47B for Chad.
- Who spends more on their military, Nigeria or Chad?
- Nigeria spends more: $1.13B versus $557.71M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).