Nigeria

Broadcast media

nearly 70 federal government-controlled national and regional TV stations; all 36 states operate TV stations; several private TV stations operational; 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 typically carry their own programs except for news broadcasts; about 20 private radio stations; transmissions of international broadcasters are available (2007)

Internet country code

.ng

Internet users

total: 47,759,904 | percent of population: 25.7% (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 9

Telephone system

general assessment: further expansion and modernization of the fixed-line telephone network is needed; network quality remains a problem | domestic: fixed-line subscribership remains less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular services growing rapidly, in part responding to the shortcomings of the fixed-line network; multiple cellular providers operate nationally with subscribership base over 80 per 100 persons | international: country code - 234; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) (2016)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 154,513 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 130

Telephones - mobile cellular

total: 154,342,168 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 83 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 9

Agriculture - products

cocoa, peanuts, cotton, palm oil, corn, rice, sorghum, millet, cassava (manioc, tapioca), yams, rubber; cattle, sheep, goats, pigs; timber; fish

Budget

revenues: $12.07 billion | expenditures: $23.22 billion (2016 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2.7% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 110

Central bank discount rate

4.25% (31 December 2010) | 6% (31 December 2009) | country comparison to the world: 95

Commercial bank prime lending rate

16.87% (31 December 2016 est.) | 16.85% (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 27

Current account balance

$2.722 billion (2016 est.) | $-15.44 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 31

Debt - external

$31.41 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $29.03 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 77

Distribution of family income - Gini index

48.8 (2013) | 50.6 (1997) | country comparison to the world: 21

Economy - overview

Nigeria is one of Sub Saharan Africa’s largest economies and relies heavily on oil as its main source of foreign exchange earnings and government revenues. Following the 2008-09 global financial crises, the banking sector was effectively recapitalized and regulation enhanced. Since then, Nigeria’s economic growth has been driven by growth in agriculture, telecommunications, and services. Economic diversification and strong growth have not translated into a significant decline in poverty levels; however, over 62% of Nigeria's 170 million people still live in extreme poverty. | Despite its strong fundamentals, oil-rich Nigeria has been hobbled by inadequate power supply, lack of infrastructure, delays in the passage of legislative reforms, an inefficient property registration system, restrictive trade policies, an inconsistent regulatory environment, a slow and ineffective judicial system, unreliable dispute resolution mechanisms, insecurity, and pervasive corruption. Regulatory constraints and security risks have limited new investment in oil and natural gas, and Nigeria's oil production has contracted every year since 2012. | President BUHARI, elected in March 2015, has established a cabinet of economic ministers that includes several technocrats, and he has announced plans to increase transparency, diversify the economy away from oil, and improve fiscal management, but his reliance on the Central Bank governor has led to overwhelmingly protectionist policies aimed at defending the naira from further devaluation. President BUHARI ran on an anti-corruption platform, and has made some headway in alleviating corruption, such as an implementation of a Treasury Single Account that allows the government to better manage its resources. The government also is working to develop stronger public-private partnerships for roads, agriculture, and power. | Partly because of lower oil prices, Nigeria entered a recession in 2016. However, the medium-term outlook for Nigeria is positive, assuming oil output stabilizes and oil prices recover.

Exchange rates

nairas (NGN) per US dollar - | 253 (2016 est.) | 253 (2015 est.) | 192.73 (2014 est.) | 158.55 (2013 est.) | 156.81 (2012 est.)

Exports

$34.7 billion (2016 est.) | $45.89 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 53

Exports - commodities

petroleum and petroleum products 95%, cocoa, rubber (2012 est.)

Exports - partners

India 34%, US 9%, Spain 5.9%, France 5.8%, South Africa 5.5%, Canada 5.1% (2016)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$405.4 billion (2016 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.09 trillion (2016 est.) | $1.094 trillion (2015 est.) | $1.054 trillion (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 24

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 80.8% | government consumption: 6.6% | investment in fixed capital: 14.8% | investment in inventories: 0% | exports of goods and services: 9.9% | imports of goods and services: -12.1% (2016 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 21.2% | industry: 18.4% | services: 60.4% (2016 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$5,900 (2016 est.) | $6,200 (2015 est.) | $6,200 (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 162

GDP - real growth rate

-1.6% (2016 est.) | 2.7% (2015 est.) | 6.3% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 201

Gross national saving

13.2% of GDP (2016 est.) | 12.3% of GDP (2015 est.) | 16% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 118

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.8% | highest 10%: 38.2% (2010 est.)

Imports

$35.24 billion (2016 est.) | $52.33 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 58

Imports - commodities

machinery, chemicals, transport equipment, manufactured goods, food and live animals

Imports - partners

China 20.3%, US 8.3%, Belgium 7.6%, UK 4.4%, Netherlands 4.1% (2016)

Industrial production growth rate

-8.9% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 197

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)

15.7% (2016 est.) | 9% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 215

Labor force

58.81 million (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 11

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 70% | industry: 10% | services: 20% (1999 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$53.07 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $63.47 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $80.61 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 50

Population below poverty line

70% (2010 est.)

Public debt

14.3% of GDP (2016 est.) | 11.5% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 192

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$25.84 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $29.07 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 51

Stock of broad money

$77.91 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $101.9 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 58

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$15.65 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $11.92 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 58

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$113.4 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $91.49 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 44

Stock of domestic credit

$89.18 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $110 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 57

Stock of narrow money

$37.45 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $43.62 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 57

Taxes and other revenues

3% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 218

Unemployment rate

13.4% (2016 est.) | 23.9% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 165

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

97 million Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 40

Crude oil - exports

2.279 million bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 6

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 172

Crude oil - production

1.871 million bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 13

Crude oil - proved reserves

37.06 billion bbl (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 10

Electricity - consumption

24.57 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 68

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 178

Electricity - from fossil fuels

80.3% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 88

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

19.5% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 90

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 154

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0.2% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 162

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 181

Electricity - installed generating capacity

10.48 million kW (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 59

Electricity - production

29.83 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 65

Electricity access

population without electricity: 95,500,000 | electrification - total population: 45% | electrification - urban areas: 55% | electrification - rural areas: 37% (2013)

Natural gas - consumption

26.86 billion cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 38

Natural gas - exports

26.33 billion cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 14

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 165

Natural gas - production

45.15 billion cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 18

Natural gas - proved reserves

5.284 trillion cu m (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 9

Refined petroleum products - consumption

316,000 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 43

Refined petroleum products - exports

11,010 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 82

Refined petroleum products - imports

180,100 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 35

Refined petroleum products - production

70,140 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 72

Area

total: 923,768 sq km | land: 910,768 sq km | water: 13,000 sq km | country comparison to the world: 33

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

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

Environment - current issues

soil degradation; rapid deforestation; urban air and water pollution; desertification; oil pollution - water, air, and soil; has suffered serious damage from oil spills; loss of arable land; rapid urbanization

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands | signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

10 00 N, 8 00 E

Geography - note

the Niger River enters the country in the northwest and flows southward through tropical rain forests and swamps to its delta in the Gulf of Guinea

Irrigated land

2,930 sq km (2012)

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: 78% | arable land 37.3%; permanent crops 7.4%; permanent pasture 33.3% | forest: 9.5% | other: 12.5% (2011 est.)

Location

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

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

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)

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 | amendments: 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 by the proposing National Assembly house and approval by the Houses of Assembly in two-thirds of the states; amended several times, last in 2012 (2017)

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; from a native term "Ni Gir" meaning "River Gir"

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador W. Stuart SYMINGTON (since 1 December 2016) | embassy: Plot 1075 Diplomatic Drive, Central District Area, Abuja | mailing address: P. O. Box 5760, Garki, Abuja | telephone: [234] (9) 461-4000 | FAX: [234] (9) 461-4036 | consulate(s): Lagos

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Hakeem Toyin BALOGUN (since 27 August 2015) | chancery: 3519 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 | telephone: [1] (202) 986-8400 | FAX: [1] (202) 362-6541 | consulate(s) general: Atlanta, New York

Executive branch

chief of state: President Maj. Gen. (ret.) Muhammadu BUHARI (since 29 May 2015); Vice President Oluyemi "Yemi" OSINBAJO (since 29 May 2015); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government | head of government: President Maj.Gen. (ret.) Muhammadu BUHARI (since 29 May 2015); Vice President Oluyemi "Yemi" OSINBAJO (since 29 May 2015) | cabinet: Federal Executive Council appointed by the president | elections/appointments: president directly elected by 'qualified' majority popular vote and 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); election last held on 28-29 March 2015 (next to be held on 19 February 2019) | election results: Muhammadu BUHARI elected president; percent of vote - Muhammadu BUHARI (APC) 54%, Goodluck JONATHAN (PDP) 45%, other 1%

Flag description

three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green; the color green represents the forests and abundant natural wealth of the country, white stands 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, 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), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, 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 on 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 legal system of English common law, Islamic law (in 12 northern states), and traditional law

Legislative branch

description: bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (109 seats - 3 each for the 36 states and 1 for Abuja; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms) and the House of Representatives (360 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms) | elections: Senate - last held on 28-29 March 2015 (next to be held in February 2019); House of Representatives - last held on 28-29 March 2015 (next to be held in 2019) | election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - APC 60, PDP 49; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - APC 225, PDP 125, other 10 | note: Senate - seats by party as of April 2017 - APC 66, PDP 43 (with continuing defections to the APC)

National anthem

name: "Arise Oh Compatriots, Nigeria's Call Obey" | lyrics/music: John A. ILECHUKWU, Eme Etim AKPAN, B. A. OGUNNAIKE, Sotu OMOIGUI and P. O. ADERIBIGBE/Benedict Elide ODIASE | note: adopted 1978; lyrics are a mixture of the five top entries in a national contest

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

eagle; national colors: green, white

Political parties and leaders

Accord Party or ACC [Mohammad Lawal MALADO] | All Progressives Congress or APC [John Odigie OYEGUN] | All Progressives Grand Alliance or APGA [Victor C. UMEH] | Democratic Peoples Party or DPP [Biodun OGUNBIYI] | Labor Party or LP [Alhai Abdulkadir ABDULSALAM] | Peoples Democratic Party or PDP [Ali Modu SHERIFF]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Academic Staff Union for Universities or ASUU | Campaign for Democracy or CD | Civil Liberties Organization or CLO | Committee for the Defense of Human Rights or CDHR | Constitutional Right Project or CRP | Human Right Africa | National Association of Democratic Lawyers or NADL | National Association of Nigerian Students or NANS | Nigerian Bar Association or NBA | Nigerian Labor Congress or NLC | Nigerian Medical Association or NMA | Universal Defenders of Democracy or UDD | other: media

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

British influence and control over what would become Nigeria and Africa's most populous country grew through the 19th century. A series of constitutions after World War II granted Nigeria greater autonomy. After independence in 1960, politics were marked by coups and mostly military rule, until the death of a military head of state in 1998 allowed for a political transition. In 1999, a new constitution was adopted and a peaceful transition to civilian government was completed. The government continues to face the daunting task of institutionalizing democracy and reforming a petroleum-based economy, whose revenues have been squandered through corruption and mismanagement. In addition, Nigeria continues to experience longstanding ethnic and religious tensions. Although both the 2003 and 2007 presidential elections were marred by significant irregularities and violence, Nigeria is currently experiencing its longest period of civilian rule since independence. The general elections of April 2007 marked the first civilian-to-civilian transfer of power in the country's history and the elections of 2011 were generally regarded as credible. The 2015 election is considered the most well run in Nigeria since the return to civilian rule, with the umbrella opposition party, the All Progressives Congress, defeating the long-ruling People's Democratic Party that had governed since 1999.

Maritime threats

the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Niger Delta and Gulf of Guinea as high risk for piracy and armed robbery of ships; in 2016, 36 commercial vessels were boarded or attacked compared with 14 attacks in 2015; in the first half of 2017, 31 crew members were abducted in five reported incidents; half of all reports of vessels being fired upon occur in Nigerian waters; Nigerian pirates have extended the range of their attacks to as far away as Cote d'Ivoire and as far as 100 nm offshore

Military branches

Nigerian Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force (2013)

Military expenditures

0.43% of GDP (2016) | 0.42% of GDP (2015) | 0.41% of GDP (2014) | 0.47% of GDP (2013) | 0.5% of GDP (2012) | country comparison to the world: 108

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)

Age structure

0-14 years: 42.54% (male 41,506,288/female 39,595,720) | 15-24 years: 19.61% (male 19,094,899/female 18,289,513) | 25-54 years: 30.74% (male 30,066,196/female 28,537,846) | 55-64 years: 3.97% (male 3,699,947/female 3,870,080) | 65 years and over: 3.13% (male 2,825,134/female 3,146,638) (2017 est.)

Birth rate

36.9 births/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 13

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

19.4% (2015) | country comparison to the world: 12

Contraceptive prevalence rate

20.4% (2016)

Death rate

12.4 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 19

Demographic profile

Nigeria’s population is projected to grow from more than 186 million people in 2016 to 392 million in 2050, becoming the world’s fourth most populous country. Nigeria’s sustained high population growth rate will continue for the foreseeable future because of population momentum and its high birth rate. Abuja has not successfully implemented family planning programs to reduce and space births because of a lack of political will, government financing, and the availability and affordability of services and products, as well as a cultural preference for large families. Increased educational attainment, especially among women, and improvements in health care are needed to encourage and to better enable parents to opt for smaller families. | Nigeria needs to harness the potential of its burgeoning youth population in order to boost economic development, reduce widespread poverty, and channel large numbers of unemployed youth into productive activities and away from ongoing religious and ethnic violence. While most movement of Nigerians is internal, significant emigration regionally and to the West provides an outlet for Nigerians looking for economic opportunities, seeking asylum, and increasingly pursuing higher education. Immigration largely of West Africans continues to be insufficient to offset emigration and the loss of highly skilled workers. Nigeria also is a major source, transit, and destination country for forced labor and sex trafficking.

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 88.2 | youth dependency ratio: 83 | elderly dependency ratio: 5.1 | potential support ratio: 19.4 (2015 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 80.8% of population | rural: 57.3% of population | total: 68.5% of population | urban: 19.2% of population | rural: 42.7% of population | total: 31.5% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, is composed of more than 250 ethnic groups; the most populous and politically influential are: Hausa and the Fulani 29%, Yoruba 21%, Igbo (Ibo) 18%, Ijaw 10%, Kanuri 4%, Ibibio 3.5%, Tiv 2.5%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

2.9% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 21

HIV/AIDS - deaths

160,000 (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 1

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

3.2 million (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 2

Health expenditures

3.7% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 167

Infant mortality rate

total: 69.8 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 74.5 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 64.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 8

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 53.8 years | male: 52.8 years | female: 55 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 214

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 59.6% | male: 69.2% | female: 49.7% (2015 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high | food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever | vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever | water contact diseases: leptospirosis and schistosomiasis | respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis | aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: Lassa fever | animal contact disease: rabies (2016)

Major urban areas - population

Lagos 13.123 million; Kano 3.587 million; Ibadan 3.16 million; ABUJA (capital) 2.44 million; Port Harcourt 2.343 million; Benin City 1.496 million (2015)

Maternal mortality rate

814 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 4

Median age

total: 18.4 years | male: 18.3 years | female: 18.5 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 212

Mother's mean age at first birth

20.3 years | note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2013 est.)

Nationality

noun: Nigerian(s) | adjective: Nigerian

Net migration rate

-0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 107

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

8.9% (2016) | country comparison to the world: 145

Physicians density

0.38 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

Population

190,632,261 | note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 7

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

Population growth rate

2.43% (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 31

Religions

Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous beliefs 10%

Sanitation facility access

urban: 32.8% of population | rural: 25.4% of population | total: 29% of population | urban: 67.2% of population | rural: 74.6% of population | total: 71% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 9 years | male: 9 years | female: 8 years (2011)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female | total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.07 children born/woman (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 13

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 7.7% | male: NA | female: NA (2015 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 49.4% of total population (2017) | rate of urbanization: 4.3% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Disputes - international

Joint Border Commission with Cameroon reviewed 2002 ICJ ruling on the entire boundary and bilaterally resolved differences, including June 2006 Greentree Agreement that immediately cedes sovereignty of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon with a phaseout of Nigerian control within two years while resolving patriation issues; the ICJ ruled on an equidistance settlement of Cameroon-Equatorial Guinea-Nigeria maritime boundary in the Gulf of Guinea, but imprecisely defined coordinates in the ICJ decision and a sovereignty dispute between Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon over an island at the mouth of the Ntem River all contribute to the delay in implementation; only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty which also includes the Chad-Niger and Niger-Nigeria boundaries; location of Benin-Niger-Nigeria tripoint is unresolved

Illicit drugs

a transit point for heroin and cocaine intended for European, East Asian, and North American markets; consumer of amphetamines; safe haven for Nigerian narcotraffickers operating worldwide; major money-laundering center; massive corruption and criminal activity; Nigeria has improved some anti-money-laundering controls, resulting in its removal from the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF's) Noncooperative Countries and Territories List in June 2006; Nigeria's anti-money-laundering regime continues to be monitored by FATF

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs: 1,713,771 (Boko Haram attacks and counterinsurgency efforts in northern Nigeria; communal violence between Christians and Muslims in the middle belt region, political violence; flooding; forced evictions; cattle rustling; competition for resources) (2017)

Airports

54 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 88

Airports - with paved runways

total: 40 | over 3,047 m: 10 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 | 914 to 1,523 m: 6 | under 914 m: 3 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 14 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 | 914 to 1,523 m: 9 | under 914 m: 3 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

5N (2016)

Heliports

5 (2013)

Merchant marine

total: 89 | by type: cargo 2, chemical tanker 28, liquefied gas 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 56, specialized tanker 1 | foreign-owned: 3 (India 1, UK 2) | registered in other countries: 33 (Bahamas 2, Bermuda 11, Comoros 1, Italy 1, Liberia 4, North Korea 1, Panama 6, Seychelles 1, unknown 6) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 55

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 16 | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 73 | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 3,223,459 | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 22,400,657 mt-km (2015)

Pipelines

condensate 124 km; gas 4,045 km; liquid petroleum gas 164 km; oil 4,441 km; refined products 3,940 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Bonny Inshore Terminal, Calabar, Lagos | LNG terminal(s) (export): Bonny Island

Railways

total: 3,798 km | standard gauge: 293 km 1.435-m gauge | narrow gauge: 3,505 km 1.067-m gauge (2014) | country comparison to the world: 47

Roadways

total: 193,200 km | paved: 28,980 km | unpaved: 164,220 km (2004) | country comparison to the world: 29

Waterways

8,600 km (Niger and Benue Rivers and smaller rivers and creeks) (2011) | country comparison to the world: 15