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Kenya vs Nigeria
Side-by-side comparison of Kenya and Nigeria from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
In short
Nigeria scores 36.1 in the NationsTree Index (142nd in the world) and Kenya scores 35.5 (144th), a gap of 0.6 points. Their trees are 11 m and 26 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Nigeria has 4.1 times the population of Kenya. Nigeria has 56% more land area than Kenya. Nigeria has an economy 5.6 times the size of Kenya (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Kenya 57.5 million and Nigeria 237.5 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $9,532 in Nigeria and $7,016 in Kenya (2025, international dollars). People in Kenya live on average 9.2 years longer (63.8 vs 54.6 years).
Of 34 indicators reported by both countries, Kenya ranks higher in the world on 24 and Nigeria on 10. Kenya is clearly stronger in tourism, infrastructure & digital and institutions & safety. Nigeria is clearly stronger in natural resources, land & people and economy.
Over the last five years Nigeria improved faster (direction score 84 vs 46 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Kenya and Nigeria.
Kenya
-6.5%
169th of 192
Nigeriabetter
-1.8%
71st of 192
General government gross debtEconomy
Kenya
71.3%
137th of 189
Nigeriabetter
36.1%
51st of 189
DPT immunizationSociety & health
Kenyabetter
91%
93rd of 193
Nigeria
67%
176th of 193
Air pollution (PM2.5)Environment & energy
Kenyabetter
20.3
121st of 200
Nigeria
65.7
197th of 200
Government effectivenessInstitutions & safety
Kenyabetter
50.5
114th of 205
Nigeria
33.6
178th of 205
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Nigeria overtook Kenya in the NationsTree Index in 2025, the latest year with data.
Nigeria has been ahead of Kenya in GDP per person (PPP), GDP (PPP) and population in every year since 1990.
Kenya has been ahead of Nigeria in life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
KenyaNigeria All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Kenya | Nigeria |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 591,97047th/216 · 2024 | 923,76831st/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 580,88045th/216 · 2024 | 910,77030th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 57.5 m26th/217 · 2025 | 237.5 m6th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 1.93%52nd/217 · 2025 | 2.06%45th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 97.2108th/216 · 2024 | 255.553rd/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 32.2%191st/217 · 2025 | 63.8%112th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 36.3%46th/217 · 2025 | 40.5%20th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 3.0%197th/217 · 2025 | 3.1%193rd/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $135.94 bn62nd/210 · 2025 | $290.79 bn50th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $403.64 bn58th/199 · 2025 | $2.26 trn19th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $344.93 bn58th/199 · 2025 | $1.93 trn19th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $2,363171st/210 · 2025 | $1,224188th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $7,016154th/199 · 2025 | $9,532141st/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $2,200162nd/201 · 2025 | $1,360175th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 4.6%58th/210 · 2025 | 4.0%78th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 4.1%126th/180 · 2025 | 23.0%171st/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 5.4%101st/187 · 2025 | 3.1%44th/187 · 2025 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 71.3%137th/189 · 2025 | 36.1%51st/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -6.5%169th/192 · 2025 | -1.8%71st/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 23.2%25th/197 · 2025 | 23.0%28th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 16.3%155th/200 · 2025 | 16.4%153rd/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 7.1%132nd/192 · 2025 | 8.3%122nd/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 55.1%118th/200 · 2025 | 58.2%98th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $21.43 bn89th/182 · 2025 | — |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $29.58 bn83rd/182 · 2025 | — |
| Exports % of GDP | 15.8%157th/183 · 2025 | — |
| Imports % of GDP | 21.8%163rd/183 · 2025 | — |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 37.5%166th/183 · 2025 | — |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 1.8%107th/170 · 2025 | 85.9%8th/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 29.7%92nd/171 · 2025 | 6.1%144th/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 50.8%28th/171 · 2025 | 6.4%134th/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 3.3%82nd/171 · 2025 | 0.9%137th/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 3.2%115th/168 · 2024 | 2.7%125th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -2.8%112th/191 · 2025 | 4.8%38th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 0.8%150th/196 · 2025 | 1.4%126th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 1.2%111th/209 · 2021 | 8.6%52nd/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 | 6.25%23rd/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 | 1.16%29th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%62nd/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.01%86th/209 · 2021 | 0.01%84th/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 1.22%47th/209 · 2021 | 1.13%50th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 11.5%91st/206 · 2024 | 40.8%13th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 382157th/183 · 2022 | 990128th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 2.0 m63rd/194 · 2019 | 5.3 m35th/194 · 2016 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $1.76 bn54th/175 · 2019 | $321.0 m106th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 15.4%42nd/168 · 2019 | 0.8%156th/168 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 63.8197th/217 · 2024 | 54.6217th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 38.8154th/196 · 2024 | 115.6196th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.29135th/174 · 2023 | 0.38129th/174 · 2023 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 1.3105th/145 · 2019 | 0.52004 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 91%93rd/193 · 2024 | 67%176th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 66.0%88th/153 · 2024 | 53.4%110th/153 · 2024 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 84.3%123rd/173 · 2023 | 46.9%159th/173 · 2023 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 27.4%2015 | 20.7%2018 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 5.0%201st/217 · 2025 | 5.4%192nd/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 4.4%144th/193 · 2023 | 4.2%151st/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 82.2%2000 | 70.4%79th/98 · 2024 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 10.4%137th/150 · 2024 | 9.7%2011 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.628143rd/193 · 2023 | 0.560164th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 38.578th/108 · 2022 | 33.952nd/108 · 2022 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 45.5%102nd/108 · 2022 | 41.8%100th/108 · 2022 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 77.0%174th/215 · 2024 | 62.5%183rd/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | — | 29.9%130th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 35.8%102nd/144 · 2024 | 32.2%108th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 35.0%162nd/186 · 2024 | 41.2%156th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 12670th/210 · 2024 | 71178th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 3.0149th/208 · 2024 | 0.1198th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.5584th/164 · 2018 | 2.4096th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 1,9172004 | 3,5282015 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 5.1 m59th/161 · 2023 | 5.3 m58th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 0.3836th/203 · 2024 | 0.5746th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 67.7%30th/212 · 2021 | 80.3%16th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 20.3121st/200 · 2023 | 65.7197th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 6.6%175th/214 · 2024 | 18.9%133rd/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 563117th/149 · 2024 | 317142nd/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 50.5114th/205 · 2025 | 33.6178th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 30.8159th/207 · 2025 | 26.5173rd/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 50.8133rd/207 · 2025 | 43.0161st/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 46.0181st/207 · 2025 | 35.1192nd/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 49.1123rd/205 · 2025 | 44.4148th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 51.6121st/205 · 2025 | 45.6136th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 4.998th/145 · 2022 | 15.7126th/145 · 2023 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $1.47 bn74th/156 · 2025 | $2.10 bn64th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 1.1%109th/156 · 2025 | 0.9%120th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 4.6%90th/154 · 2025 | 5.9%61st/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 24,00096th/170 · 2020 | 223,00030th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.11%160th/168 · 2020 | 0.23%152nd/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 117.0 m46th/163 · 2025 | 21.0 m88th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 2.0 m1993 | 4.0 m51st/65 · 2022 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.81%47th/110 · 2024 | 0.28%2019 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 39650th/137 · 2024 | 41049th/137 · 2020 |
| Scientific articles articles | 2,07972nd/197 · 2023 | 9,79943rd/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Kenya or Nigeria?
Nigeria has the larger population: 237.5 m (2025) compared with 57.5 m for Kenya (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Kenya or Nigeria?
Nigeria is larger: 923,768 km² (2024) compared with 591,970 km² for Kenya (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Kenya or Nigeria?
Nigeria has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $2.26 trn intl. (2025) compared with $403.64 bn intl. for Kenya (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Kenya or Nigeria?
Nigeria has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $9,532 intl. (2025) compared with $7,016 intl. for Kenya (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Kenya or Nigeria?
Kenya has the higher life expectancy at birth: 63.8 years (2024) compared with 54.6 years for Nigeria (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Kenya or Nigeria?
Nigeria spends more on the military: $2.10 bn (2025) compared with $1.47 bn for Kenya (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Kenya or Nigeria?
Nigeria: 36.1 points (142nd in the world); Kenya: 35.5 points (144th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Angola
Ethiopia
Ghana
South Africa
Tanzania
EgyptSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Kenya vs Nigeria — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/kenya-vs-nigeria. Data as of 26 October 2026.