What is the difference in non-agricultural population between Nigeria and South Africa?

81.54 million FAO, number, with Nigeria ahead.

How many years of comparable data are there for Nigeria and South Africa?

33 years are reported by both, from 1980 to 2012.

Where does this data come from?

Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site, published as Non-agricultural population (FAO, number). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Nigeria vs South Africa: Non-agricultural population

Nigeria

127.65 million FAO, number

in 2012

South Africa

46.12 million FAO, number

in 2012

Nigeria rank

1st

South Africa rank

3rd

Non-agricultural population over time

Nigeria
South Africa

How they compare

Nigeria currently reports 127.65 million FAO, number against 46.12 million FAO, number in South Africa, a difference of 81.54 million FAO, number.

That makes Nigeria's figure about 2.8 times South Africa's.

Across all 33 years both countries report, Nigeria has been ahead every year.

Nigeria ranks 1st and South Africa ranks 3rd of 53 countries.

Nigeria has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Nigeria	South Africa	Difference	Ahead
1980s	43.64 million FAO, number	25.35 million FAO, number	18.29 million FAO, number	Nigeria
1990s	67.16 million FAO, number	33.96 million FAO, number	33.21 million FAO, number	Nigeria
2000s	98.08 million FAO, number	41.78 million FAO, number	56.30 million FAO, number	Nigeria
2010s	123.32 million FAO, number	45.68 million FAO, number	77.63 million FAO, number	Nigeria

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher non-agricultural population, Nigeria or South Africa?: Nigeria, at 127.65 million FAO, number against 46.12 million FAO, number in South Africa as of 2012.
What is the difference in non-agricultural population between Nigeria and South Africa?: 81.54 million FAO, number, with Nigeria ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Nigeria and South Africa?: 33 years are reported by both, from 1980 to 2012.
How do Nigeria and South Africa rank globally for non-agricultural population?: Nigeria ranks 1st and South Africa ranks 3rd of 53 countries.
Where does this data come from?: Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site, published as Non-agricultural population (FAO, number). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Nigeria vs South Africa: Non-agricultural population. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site. Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/compare/non-agricultural-population-fao-number/nigeria/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator: Non-agricultural population (FAO, number)
Unit: FAO, number
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage: 59 places, 1,934 data points, 1980–2012
Last refreshed: 04 September 2026

The non-agricultural population is obtained as a residual of agricultural population from the total population.