Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
(2023 est.) less than 1
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
117,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadcast media
nearly 70 federal government-controlled national and regional TV stations; all 36 states operate TV stations; several private TV stations; cable and satellite TV subscription services are available; network of federal government-controlled national, regional, and state radio stations; roughly 40 state government-owned radio stations; about 20 private radio stations; transmissions of international broadcasters are available; transition to digital completed in three states in 2018 (2019)
Communications: Internet country code
.ng
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
41.21% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
(2023 est.) less than 1
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
112,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
71 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
165 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
cassava, yams, maize, oil palm fruit, rice, taro, bananas, vegetables, sorghum, groundnuts (2023)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on alcohol and tobacco
0.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on food
59.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$59.868 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$37.298 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
$19.049 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
$906.5 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$15.439 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
$5.077 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
$13.564 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
$7.283 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$13.685 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
-$15.986 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$3.254 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
$1.019 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
$6.423 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
$17.215 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$103.064 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$45.009 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
1478.965 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
nairas (NGN) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
157.312 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
158.553 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
192.440 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
253.492 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
305.790 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
306.084 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
306.921 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
358.811 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
401.152 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
425.979 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
645.194 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
1478.965 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
crude petroleum, natural gas, gold, fertilizers, cocoa beans (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$69.091 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$60.261 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$57.536 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
20.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
29.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
47% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$9,087 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$187.76 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$2.114 trillion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015
35.9 (2015 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018
35.1 (2018 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022
33.9 (2022 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
26.7% (2018 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
2.9% (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, tanks and armored vehicles, wheat, plastics, cars (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$77.049 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$65.423 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$57.73 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
2.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
9.01% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
15.70% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
16.50% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
12.10% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
11.40% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
13.25% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
16.95% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
18.85% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
24.66% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
33.24% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
113.35 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
40.1% (2018 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
19.6% of GDP (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$1.375 trillion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$1.393 trillion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$1.382 trillion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$1.409 trillion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$1.582 trillion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$1.587 trillion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$1.658 trillion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$1.239 trillion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$1.275 trillion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$1.318 trillion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
2.65% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
-1.62% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
0.81% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
1.92% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
2.21% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-6.37% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
1.11% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
3.3% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
3.33% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
4.06% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$7,396 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$7,308 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$7,072 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$7,037 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$7,551 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$7,415 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$7,588 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$5,600 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$5,600 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$20.797 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$20.999 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$20.626 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$17.208 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
$19.483 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
4.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
5.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
11.3% of GDP (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$29.011 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$28.020 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$40.499 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$42.839 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$39.382 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$38.029 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$41.728 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$35.564 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$32.035 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$38.612 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
5.21% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
5.71% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
5.40% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
3.83% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
3.07% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
3.04% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
6.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
3.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
5.1% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
1.326 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: exports
17 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
600 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: production
1.322 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: proven reserves
2.144 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - rural areas
27%
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
60.5% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - urban areas
89%
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
77.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
22.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
34.135 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: exports
2.4 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
4.094 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
5.974 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
7.993 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: consumption
19.885 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: exports
16.324 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: production
38.248 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: proven reserves
5.761 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: crude oil estimated reserves
36.89 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
527,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: total petroleum production
1.514 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
2.962 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from consumed natural gas
39.01 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
72.425 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
114.397 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
varies; equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in north
Environment: Environmental issues
urban air and water pollution; rapid deforestation; soil degradation; loss of arable land; water, air, and soil pollution from oil spills
Environment: International environmental agreements: party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
Tropical Timber 2006
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
76.2% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 40.5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 8.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 27.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
19.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
4.7% (2023 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: agriculture
1,991.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: energy
2,794.3 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: other
362.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: waste
729.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
56 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
286.2 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
5.51 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
1.965 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
3.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
62.98% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
27.615 million tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
4.7% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
about six times the size of Georgia; slightly more than twice the size of California
Geography: Area: land
910,768 sq km
Geography: Area: water
13,000 sq km
Geography: Coastline
853 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Chappal Waddi 2,419 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
380 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
10 00 N, 8 00 E
Geography: Geography - note
the Niger River enters the country in the northwest and flows southward through tropical rainforests and swamps to its delta in the Gulf of Guinea
Geography: Irrigated land
2,188 sq km (2017)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Benin 809 km; Cameroon 1,975 km; Chad 85 km; Niger 1,608 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
4,477 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
76.2% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 40.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 8.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 27.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
19.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
4.7% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major aquifers
Lake Chad Basin, Lullemeden-Irhazer Aquifer System
Geography: Major lakes (area sq km): fresh water lake(s)
Lake Chad (endorheic lake shared with Niger, Chad, and Cameroon) - 10,360-25,900 sq km note - area varies by season and year to year
Geography: Major rivers (by length in km)
Niger river mouth (shared with Guinea [s], Mali, Benin, and Niger) - 4,200 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage
Niger (2,261,741 sq km)
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Internal (endorheic basin) drainage
Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km)
Geography: Map references
Africa
Geography: Maritime claims: continental shelf
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
periodic droughts; flooding
Geography: Population distribution
largest population of any African nation; significant population clusters are scattered throughout the country, with the highest density areas being in the south and southwest, as shown in this population distribution map
Geography: Terrain
southern lowlands merge into central hills and plateaus; mountains in southeast, plains in north
Government: Administrative divisions
36 states and 1 territory*; Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Federal Capital Territory*, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara
Government: Capital: etymology
the newly built city of Abuja replaced Lagos as the capital city in 1991; Abuja takes its name from a nearby town, now renamed Suleja, that was named after Abu JA ("Abu the Red") in 1828
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
9 05 N, 7 32 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Nigeria
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
yes
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
15 years
Government: Constitution: amendment process
proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of both houses and approval by the Houses of Assembly of at least two thirds of the states; amendments to constitutional articles on the creation of a new state, fundamental constitutional rights, or constitution-amending procedures requires at least four-fifths majority vote by both houses of the National Assembly and approval by the Houses of Assembly in at least two thirds of the states; passage of amendments limited to the creation of a new state require at least two-thirds majority vote by the proposing National Assembly house and approval by the Houses of Assembly in two thirds of the states
Government: Constitution: history
several previous; latest adopted 5 May 1999, effective 29 May 1999
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Nigeria
Government: Country name: etymology
named for the Niger River that flows through the west of the country to the Atlantic Ocean; the name of the river probably comes from the local Tuareg name, egereou n-igereouen (big rivers)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Richard MILLS, Jr. (since 25 July 2024)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: consulate(s) general
Lagos
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
AbujaACS@state.gov https://ng.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
Plot 1075 Diplomatic Drive, Central District Area, Abuja
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[234] (9) 461-4036
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
8320 Abuja Place, Washington DC 20521-8320
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[234] (9) 461-4000
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
3519 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Samson Sunday ITEGBOJE (since 22 October 2024)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s) general
Atlanta, New York
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
info@nigeriaembassyusa.org https://www.nigeriaembassyusa.org/
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 362-6541
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 800-7201 (ext. 100)
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Federal Executive Council appointed by the president but constitutionally required to include at least one member from each of the 36 states
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Bola Ahmed Adekunle TINUBU (since 29 May 2023)
Government: Executive branch: election results
2023: Bola Ahmed Adekunle TINUBU elected president; percent of vote - Bola Ahmed Adekunle TINUBU (APC) 36.6%, Atiku ABUBAKAR (PDP) 29.1%, Peter OBI (LP) 25.4%, Rabiu KWANKWASO (NNPP) 6.4%, other 2.5% 2019: Muhammadu BUHARI elected president; percent of vote - Muhammadu BUHARI (APC) 53%, Atiku ABUBAKAR (PDP) 39%, other 8%
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
president directly elected by qualified-majority popular vote with at least 25% of the votes cast in 24 of Nigeria's 36 states; president elected for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term)
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
27 February 2027
Government: Executive branch: head of government
President Bola Ahmed Adekunle TINUBU (since 29 May 2023)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
25 February 2023
Government: Flag
description: three equal vertical bands of green (left side), white, and green meaning: green stands for the country's forests and natural resources, and white for peace and unity
Government: International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, ATMIS, AU, C, CD, D-8, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LCBC, MIGA, MINURSO, MNJTF, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 15 justices)
Government: Judicial branch: judge selection and term of office
judges appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, a 23-member independent body of federal and state judicial officials; judge appointments confirmed by the Senate; judges serve until age 70
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
Court of Appeal; Federal High Court; High Court of the Federal Capital Territory; Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory; Customary Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory; state court system similar in structure to federal system
Government: Legal system
mixed system of English common law, Islamic law (in 12 northern states), and traditional law
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: chamber name
House of Representatives
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: electoral system
plurality/majority
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: expected date of next election
February 2027
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: most recent election date
2/25/2023
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: number of seats
360 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: parties elected and seats per party
All Progressives Congress (APC) (180); People's Democratic Party (PDP) (116); Labour Party (LP) (35); New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) (19); Other (10)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: percentage of women in chamber
4.2%
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: term in office
4 years
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: chamber name
Senate
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: electoral system
plurality/majority
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: expected date of next election
February 2027
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: most recent election date
2/25/2023
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: number of seats
109 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: parties elected and seats per party
All Progressives Congress (APC) (59); People's Democratic Party (PDP) (36); Labour Party (LP) (8); Other (6)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: percentage of women in chamber
3.7%
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: term in office
4 years
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
bicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
National Assembly
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 2024
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Lillie Jean WILLIAMS/Frances BERDA
Government: National color(s)
green, white
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Sukur Cultural Landscape; Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
2 (both cultural)
Government: National holiday
Independence Day (National Day), 1 October (1960)
Government: National symbol(s)
eagle
Government: Political parties
Accord Party or ACC Africa Democratic Congress or ADC All Progressives Congress or APC All Progressives Grand Alliance or APGA Labor Party or LP New Nigeria People’s Party or NNPP Peoples Democratic Party or PDP Young Progressive Party or YPP
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: Background
In ancient and pre-colonial times, the area of present-day Nigeria was occupied by a variety of ethnic groups with different languages and traditions. These included large Islamic kingdoms such as Borno, Kano, and the Sokoto Caliphate dominating the north, the Benin and Oyo Empires that controlled much of modern western Nigeria, and more decentralized political entities and city states in the south and southeast. In 1914, the British amalgamated their separately administered northern and southern territories into a Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria. Nigeria achieved independence from Britain in 1960 and transitioned to a federal republic with three constituent states in 1963 under President Nnamdi AZIKIWE. This structure served to enflame regional and ethnic tension, contributing to a bloody coup led by predominately southeastern military officers in 1966 and a countercoup later that year masterminded by northern officers. In the aftermath of this tension, the governor of Nigeria’s Eastern Region, centered on the southeast, declared the region independent as the Republic of Biafra. The ensuring civil war (1967-1970), resulted in more than a million deaths, many from starvation. While the war forged a stronger Nigerian state and national identity, it contributed to long-lasting mistrust of the southeast’s predominantly Igbo population. Wartime military leader Yakubu GOWON ruled until a bloodless coup by frustrated junior officers in 1975. This generation of officers, including Olusegun OBASANJO, Ibrahim BABANGIDA, and Muhammadu BUHARI, who would all later serve as president, continue to exert significant influence in Nigeria to the present day. Military rule predominated until the first durable transition to civilian government and adoption of a new constitution in 1999. The elections of 2007 marked the first civilian-to-civilian transfer of power in the country's history. National and state elections in 2011 and 2015 were generally regarded as credible. The 2015 election was also heralded for the fact that the then-umbrella opposition party, the All Progressives Congress, defeated the long-ruling (since 1999) People's Democratic Party and assumed the presidency, marking the first peaceful transfer of power from one party to another. Presidential and legislative elections in 2019 and 2023 were deemed broadly free and fair despite voting irregularities, intimidation, and violence. The government of Africa's most populous nation continues to face the daunting task of institutionalizing democracy and reforming a petroleum-based economy whose revenues have been squandered through decades of corruption and mismanagement. In addition, Nigeria faces increasing violence from Islamic terrorism, largely in the northeast, large scale criminal banditry, secessionist violence in the southeast, and competition over land and resources nationwide.
Military and Security: Military - note
the Nigerian military is responsible for defending against external aggression, maintaining the country's territorial integrity, securing national borders, participating in international peacekeeping and other security missions, suppressing insurrection, and aiding civil authorities in restoring order, as well as other duties such as providing humanitarian assistance; its primary concerns are internal and maritime security; in the northeast part of the country, the military is conducting operations against the Boko Haram (BH) and Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in West Africa (ISIS-WA) terrorist groups, where it has deployed as many as 70,000 troops at times and terrorist-related violence has killed an estimated 35-40,000 people, mostly civilians, since 2009; in the northwest, the military faces threats from criminal gangs--locally referred to as bandits--and violence associated with long-standing farmer-herder conflicts, as well as BH and ISIS-WA terrorists; the military also continues to protect the oil industry in the Niger Delta region against militants and criminal activity and since 2021, has deployed troops alongside other security forces to quell renewed agitation in the state of Biafra; maritime security concerns include piracy and the protection of natural resources in the Gulf of Guinea the Nigerian military traces its origins to the Nigeria Regiment of the West African Frontier Force (WAFF), a multi-regiment force formed by the British colonial office in 1900 to garrison Great Britain's West African colonies; the WAFF (the honorary title "Royal" was added later) served in both World Wars; in 1956, the Nigeria Regiment of the Royal WAFF was renamed the Nigerian Military Forces (NMF) and in 1958, the colonial government of Nigeria took over control of the NMF from the British War Office; the Nigerian Armed Forces were established following independence in 1960 (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN): Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy (includes Coast Guard), Nigerian Air Force Ministry of Interior: Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC); Ministry of Police Affairs: Nigeria Police Force (NPF) (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
information varies; estimated 140,000 active Armed Forces (2025)
Military and Security: Military deployments
180 Sudan/South Sudan (UNISFA); 200 Gambia (ECOWAS); 150 Guinea-Bissau (ECOWAS) (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the military's inventory consists primarily of imported weapons systems from a range of countries, including Brazil, China, France, Russia/former Soviet Union, South Korea, Türkiye, and the US; Nigeria is developing a defense-industry capacity, including small arms, light armored personnel vehicles, and small-scale naval production (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
0.42% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
0.43% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
0.43% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
0.51% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
0.46% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
0.63% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
0.6% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
0.65% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
0.84% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
0.56% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
18-25 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
40.4% (male 48,856,606/female 46,770,810)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
56.2% (male 66,897,900/female 66,187,584)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
3.4% (2024 est.) (male 3,759,943/female 4,274,287)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
0.73 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
3.27 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
4.49 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
33.56 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Child marriage: men married by age 18
1.6% (2021)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
12.3% (2021)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
30.3% (2021)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
24.4% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
4.19% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
67.6% (2018 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
9.42 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
5.9 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
17 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
78 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
72.2 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 63.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 79.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 93.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 36.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 20.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 6.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
0.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
3% national budget (2024 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
0.32% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Hausa 30%, Yoruba 15.5%, Igbo (Ibo) 15.2%, Fulani 6%, Tiv 2.4%, Kanuri/Beriberi 2.4%, Ibibio 1.8%, Ijaw/Izon 1.8%, other 24.9% (2018 est.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
2.23 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
4.1% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
4.3% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
1.20% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
48.2 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
58.9 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
69.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
54.9 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
54.3 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
53.3% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
73.7% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
70.41% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
15.946 million Lagos, 4.348 million Kano, 3.875 million Ibadan, 3.840 million ABUJA (capital), 3.480 million Port Harcourt, 1.905 million Benin City (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
993 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
19.6 years
People and Society: Median age: male
19.1 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
20.4 years (2018 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Nigerian
People and Society: Net migration rate
-0.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
8.9% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
0.38 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
People and Society: Population
232,679,478 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
largest population of any African nation; significant population clusters are scattered throughout the country, with the highest density areas being in the south and southwest, as shown in this population distribution map
People and Society: Population growth rate
2.08% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
120,832,508
People and Society: Population: male
123,511,557
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 41.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 62.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 81.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 58.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 37.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 18.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.04 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
1.01 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.88 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.06 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
1.02 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
0.3% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
4.8% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
2.6% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
4.38 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
3.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
62.98% (2024 est.)
Space: Key space-program milestones
2003 - first remote sensing (RS) microsatellite (NigeriaSat-1) built jointly with the UK and launched by Russia 2007 - first communications satellite (NigSatCom-1) built and launched by China (failed in orbit, 2008) 2011 - first domestically built remote sensing (RS) satellite (NigeriaSat-X) launched by Russia 2019 - inaugurated a geospatial data analysis center 2022 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space exploration 2023 - first military reconnaissance RS satellite (DelSat-1) launched by China
Space: Space agency/agencies
National Space Research and Development Agency (NARSDA; established 1999); Defense Space Administration (DSA; established 2014) (2025)
Space: Space program overview
has a national space program that focuses on acquiring satellites for agricultural and environmental applications, meteorology, mining and disaster monitoring, security, and socio-economic development; designs, builds (mostly with foreign assistance), and operates satellites; processes overhead imagery data for analysis and sharing; developing additional capabilities in satellite and satellite payload production, including remote sensing technologies; has a sounding rocket program for researching rockets and rocket propulsion, with goal of launching domestically produced satellites into space from a Nigerian spaceport by 2030; works with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Algeria, Bangladesh, Belarus, China, Ghana, India, Japan, Kenya, Mongolia, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, the UK, the US, and Vietnam; has a government-owned satellite company and a small commercial aerospace sector (2025)
Terrorism: Terrorist group(s)
Boko Haram; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham – West Africa; Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis-Sudan (Ansaru)
Transnational Issues: Illicit drugs: USG identification
major precursor-chemical producer (2025)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
3,709,022 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
127,131 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
50 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
5N
Transportation: Heliports
15 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
general cargo 23, oil tanker 128, other 777
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
928 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Antan Oil Terminal, Bonny, Lagos, Pennington Oil Terminal
Transportation: Ports: large
2
Transportation: Ports: medium
1
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
23
Transportation: Ports: small
1
Transportation: Ports: total ports
28 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
24
Transportation: Railways: narrow gauge
3,505 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge
Transportation: Railways: standard gauge
293 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge
Transportation: Railways: total
3,798 km (2014)
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.