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.

Area
Total: 923,768 km²
Land: 910,768 km²
Water: 13,000 km²
Comparative: about six times the size of Georgia; slightly more than twice the size of California

Land boundaries
Total: 4,477 km
Border countries (4): (4) Benin 809 km; Cameroon 1,975 km; Chad 85 km; Niger 1,608 km

Coastline: 853 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

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

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

Elevation
Highest point: Chappal Waddi 2,419 m
Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Mean elevation: 380 m

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.)

Irrigated land: 2,188 km² (2017)

Major rivers: 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

Natural hazards: periodic droughts; flooding

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

Population
Total: 236,747,130 (2024 est.)
Male: 119,514,449
Female: 117,232,681
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
Growth rate: 2.52% (2024 est.)

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

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

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)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 77.9 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 71.9 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 6 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 16.6 (2024 est.)

Median age
Total: 19.3 years (2024 est.)
Male: 19.1 years
Female: 19.6 years

Population growth rate: 2.52% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 33.8 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 8.4 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

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

Urbanization
Urban population: 54.3% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 3.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 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)

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.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 993 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 53.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 58.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 48.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 62.2 years (2024 est.)
Male: 60.4 years
Female: 64.2 years

Total fertility rate: 4.52 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Drinking water source
Urban: 6.3% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 36.5% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 20.4% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 18.1% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 58.9% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 37.1% of population (2022 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 24.4% (2021 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 3% (2024 est.); 3.1% (2023 est.); 3.9% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

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

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

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

International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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
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 2,027
Note: the president is chief of state, head of government, and commander-in-chief of the armed forces

Legislative branch
Legislature name: National Assembly
Legislative structure: bicameral

Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (left side), white, and green

National anthem
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 heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:

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

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

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

Industrial production growth rate: 2.4% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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

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): 3% (2024 est.); 3.1% (2023 est.); 3.9% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Budget
Revenues: $37.298 billion (2019 est.)
Expenditures: $59.868 billion (2019 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
Commodities: crude petroleum, natural gas, gold, fertilizers, cocoa beans (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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

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.)
Access electrification - total population: 60.5% (2022 est.)
Access electrification - urban areas: 89%
Access electrification - rural areas: 27%
Generation sources fossil fuels: 77.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 22.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

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.)

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.)

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.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 114.397 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 2.962 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 72.425 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 39.01 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 7.993 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 112,000 (2023 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 224 million (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 102 (2022 est.)

Internet
Users percent of population: 39% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 117,000 (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1

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.)

Airports: 50 (2025)

Heliports: 15 (2025)

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

Merchant marine
Total: 928 (2023)
By type: general cargo 23, oil tanker 128, other 777