Nigeria

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 117,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1

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)

Internet country code

.ng

Internet users

percent of population: 39% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 112,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 165 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 71 (2024 est.)

Agricultural products

cassava, yams, maize, oil palm fruit, rice, taro, bananas, vegetables, sorghum, groundnuts (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Average household expenditures

on food: 59.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 0.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

revenues: $37.298 billion (2019 est.) expenditures: $59.868 billion (2019 est.)

Current account balance

$17.215 billion (2024 est.) $6.423 billion (2023 est.) $1.019 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Debt - external

$45.009 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Economic overview

largest African market economy; enormous but mostly lower middle income labor force; major oil exporter; key telecommunications and finance industries; susceptible to global energy price shocks; regional leader in critical infrastructure; primarily agrarian employment

Exchange rates

nairas (NGN) per US dollar - 1,478.965 (2024 est.) 645.194 (2023 est.) 425.979 (2022 est.) 401.152 (2021 est.) 358.811 (2020 est.)

Exports

$57.536 billion (2024 est.) $60.261 billion (2023 est.) $69.091 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

crude petroleum, natural gas, gold, fertilizers, cocoa beans (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

USA 10%, Spain 9%, France 8%, Netherlands 7%, India 6% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

GDP (official exchange rate)

$187.76 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 20.4% (2024 est.) industry: 29.6% (2024 est.) services: 47% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

35.1 (2018 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.9% (2018 est.) highest 10%: 26.7% (2018 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports

$57.73 billion (2024 est.) $65.423 billion (2023 est.) $77.049 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, tanks and armored vehicles, wheat, plastics, cars (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

China 26%, Singapore 14%, Belgium 8%, India 6%, USA 4% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

2.4% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries

crude oil, coal, tin, columbite; rubber products, wood; hides and skins, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food products, footwear, chemicals, fertilizer, printing, ceramics, steel

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

33.2% (2024 est.) 24.7% (2023 est.) 18.8% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

113.35 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Population below poverty line

40.1% (2018 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt

19.6% of GDP (2016 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.318 trillion (2024 est.) $1.275 trillion (2023 est.) $1.239 trillion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP growth rate

3.4% (2024 est.) 2.9% (2023 est.) 3.3% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per capita

$5,700 (2024 est.) $5,600 (2023 est.) $5,600 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Remittances

11.3% of GDP (2024 est.) 5.4% of GDP (2023 est.) 4.2% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$38.612 billion (2024 est.) $32.035 billion (2023 est.) $35.564 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Unemployment rate

3% (2024 est.) 3.1% (2023 est.) 3.9% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 5.1% (2024 est.) male: 3.7% (2024 est.) female: 6.5% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Coal

production: 1.322 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 1.326 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 17 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 600 metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 2.144 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 4.094 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 34.135 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 2.4 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 5.974 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 60.5% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 89% electrification - rural areas: 27%

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 77.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 22.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

7.993 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

production: 38.248 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 19.885 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) exports: 16.324 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 5.761 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

total petroleum production: 1.514 million bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 527,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 36.89 billion barrels (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

114.397 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 2.962 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 72.425 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 39.01 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Climate

varies; equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in north

Environmental issues

urban air and water pollution; rapid deforestation; soil degradation; loss of arable land; water, air, and soil pollution from oil spills

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 signed, but not ratified: Tropical Timber 2006

Land use

agricultural land: 76.2% (2023 est.) arable land: 40.5% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 8.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 27.6% (2023 est.) forest: 19.1% (2023 est.) other: 4.7% (2023 est.)

Methane emissions

energy: 2,794.3 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 1,991.9 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 729.4 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 362.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

56 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

286.2 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 1.965 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 5.51 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 54.3% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 27.615 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 4.7% (2022 est.)

Area

total : 923,768 sq km land: 910,768 sq km water: 13,000 sq km

Area - comparative

about six times the size of Georgia; slightly more than twice the size of California

Climate

varies; equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in north

Coastline

853 km

Elevation

highest point: Chappal Waddi 2,419 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 380 m

Geographic coordinates

10 00 N, 8 00 E

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

Irrigated land

2,188 sq km (2017)

Land boundaries

total: 4,477 km border countries (4): Benin 809 km; Cameroon 1,975 km; Chad 85 km; Niger 1,608 km

Land use

agricultural land: 76.2% (2023 est.) arable land: 40.5% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 8.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 27.6% (2023 est.) forest: 19.1% (2023 est.) other: 4.7% (2023 est.)

Location

Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin and Cameroon

Major aquifers

Lake Chad Basin, Lullemeden-Irhazer Aquifer System

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

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

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km)

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Natural hazards

periodic droughts; flooding

Natural resources

natural gas, petroleum, tin, iron ore, coal, limestone, niobium, lead, zinc, arable land

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

Terrain

southern lowlands merge into central hills and plateaus; mountains in southeast, plains in north

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

Capital

name: Abuja geographic coordinates: 9 05 N, 7 32 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) 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

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Nigeria dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 15 years

Constitution

history: several previous; latest adopted 5 May 1999, effective 29 May 1999 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

Country name

conventional long form: Federal Republic of Nigeria conventional short form: Nigeria 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)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Richard MILLS, Jr. (since 25 July 2024) embassy: Plot 1075 Diplomatic Drive, Central District Area, Abuja mailing address: 8320 Abuja Place, Washington DC 20521-8320 telephone: [234] (9) 461-4000 FAX: [234] (9) 461-4036 email address and website: AbujaACS@state.gov https://ng.usembassy.gov/ consulate(s) general: Lagos

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg d'Affaires Samson Sunday ITEGBOJE (since 22 October 2024) chancery: 3519 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 800-7201 (ext. 100) FAX: [1] (202) 362-6541 email address and website: info@nigeriaembassyusa.org https://www.nigeriaembassyusa.org/ consulate(s) general: Atlanta, New York

Executive branch

chief of state: President Bola Ahmed Adekunle TINUBU (since 29 May 2023) head of government: President Bola Ahmed Adekunle TINUBU (since 29 May 2023) cabinet: Federal Executive Council appointed by the president but constitutionally required to include at least one member from each of the 36 states 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) most recent election date: 25 February 2023 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% expected date of next election: 27 February 2027 note: the president is chief of state, head of government, and commander-in-chief of the armed forces

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 type

federal presidential republic

Independence

1 October 1960 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 15 justices) 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 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

Legal system

mixed system of English common law, Islamic law (in 12 northern states), and traditional law

Legislative branch

legislature name: National Assembly legislative structure: bicameral

Legislative branch - lower chamber

chamber name: House of Representatives number of seats: 360 (all directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 2/25/2023 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) percentage of women in chamber: 4.2% expected date of next election: February 2027

Legislative branch - upper chamber

chamber name: Senate number of seats: 109 (all directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 2/25/2023 parties elected and seats per party: All Progressives Congress (APC) (59); People's Democratic Party (PDP) (36); Labour Party (LP) (8); Other (6) percentage of women in chamber: 3.7% expected date of next election: February 2027

National anthem(s)

title: "Nigeria, We Hail Thee" lyrics/music: Lillie Jean WILLIAMS/Frances BERDA history: adopted 2024 note: Parliament voted in 2024 to revert to the former national anthem used from 1960 to 1978

National color(s)

green, white

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Sukur Cultural Landscape; Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove

National holiday

Independence Day (National Day), 1 October (1960)

National symbol(s)

eagle

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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 - 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 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) note 1: the NSCDC is a paramilitary agency commissioned to assist the military in the management of threats to internal security, including attacks and natural disasters note 2: some states have created local security forces in response to increased violence, insecurity, and criminality that have exceeded the response capacity of federal government security forces, but official security forces remained the constitutional prerogative of the federal government; in 2023, the federal government began deploying thousands of "agro rangers" across 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory to help safeguard farmland and mediate conflicts, especially in areas hit by farmer-herder clashes

Military and security service personnel strengths

information varies; estimated 140,000 active Armed Forces (2025)

Military deployments

180 Sudan/South Sudan (UNISFA); 200 Gambia (ECOWAS); 150 Guinea-Bissau (ECOWAS) (2025) note: Nigeria has committed an Army combat brigade (approximately 3,000 troops) to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), a regional counter-terrorism force comprised of troops from Benin, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger; MNJTF conducts operations against Boko Haram and other terrorist groups operating in the general area of the Lake Chad Basin and along Nigeria's northeast border; national MNJTF troop contingents are deployed within their own country territories, although cross‐border operations are conducted periodically

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, T rkiye, and the US; Nigeria is developing a defense-industry capacity, including small arms, light armored personnel vehicles, and small-scale naval production (2025)

Military expenditures

0.6% of GDP (2024) 0.7% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.6% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.6% of GDP (2021 est.) 0.6% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18-25 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2025)

Age structure

0-14 years: 40.4% (male 48,856,606/female 46,770,810) 15-64 years: 56.2% (male 66,897,900/female 66,187,584) 65 years and over: 3.4% (2024 est.) (male 3,759,943/female 4,274,287)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 4.49 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.73 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 3.27 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

33.56 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15: 12.3% (2021) women married by age 18: 30.3% (2021) men married by age 18: 1.6% (2021) note: due to prolonged insecurity concerns, some parts of states, including Borno state, were not sampled

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

24.4% (2021 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

67.6% (2018 est.)

Death rate

9.42 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 78 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 72.2 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 5.9 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 17 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 93.7% of population (2022 est.) rural: 63.5% of population (2022 est.) total: 79.6% of population (2022 est.) urban: 6.3% of population (2022 est.) rural: 36.5% of population (2022 est.) total: 20.4% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

0.3% of GDP (2023 est.) 3% national budget (2024 est.)

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.) note: Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, is composed of more than 250 ethnic groups

Gross reproduction rate

2.23 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

4.1% of GDP (2021) 4.3% of national budget (2022 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 65.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 58.9 deaths/1,000 live births female: 48.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani, over 500 additional indigenous languages

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 62.2 years (2024 est.) male: 60.4 years female: 64.2 years

Literacy

total population: 63.2% (2021 est.) male: 73.7% (2021 est.) female: 53.3% (2021 est.)

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)

Maternal mortality ratio

993 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

total: 19.4 years (2025 est.) male: 19.1 years female: 19.6 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

20.4 years (2018 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Nationality

noun: Nigerian(s) adjective: Nigerian

Net migration rate

-0.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

8.9% (2016)

Physician density

0.38 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Population

total: 244,344,065 (2025 est.) male: 123,511,557 female: 120,832,508

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

Population growth rate

2.39% (2025 est.)

Religions

Muslim 53.5%, Roman Catholic 10.6%, other Christian 35.3%, other 0.6% (2018 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 81.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 41.1% of population (2022 est.) total: 62.9% of population (2022 est.) urban: 18.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 58.9% of population (2022 est.) total: 37.1% of population (2022 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

total: 2.6% (2025 est.) male: 4.8% (2025 est.) female: 0.3% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.59 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 54.3% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

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 agency/agencies

National Space Research and Development Agency (NARSDA; established 1999); Defense Space Administration (DSA; established 2014) (2025) note: NARSDA originated from the National Centre for Remote Sensing, the National Committee on Space Applications (both established in 1987), and the Directorate of Science (established 1993)

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)

Terrorist group(s)

Boko Haram; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham West Africa; Jama atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis-Sudan (Ansaru) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

Illicit drugs

USG identification: major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees: 127,131 (2024 est.) IDPs: 3,709,022 (2024 est.)

Airports

50 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

5N

Heliports

15 (2025)

Merchant marine

total: 928 (2023) by type: general cargo 23, oil tanker 128, other 777

Ports

total ports: 28 (2024) large: 2 medium: 1 small: 1 very small: 24 ports with oil terminals: 23 key ports: Antan Oil Terminal, Bonny, Lagos, Pennington Oil Terminal

Railways

total: 3,798 km (2014) standard gauge: 293 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 3,505 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge note: as of the end of 2018, there were only six operational locomotives in Nigeria primarily used for passenger service; the majority of the rail lines are in a severe state of disrepair and need to be replaced