Contents
Country Overview
Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a large and highly populous country in West Africa, extending from the Gulf of Guinea northward into the Sahel. Its federal capital is Abuja, while Lagos is a leading commercial center. Nigeria gained independence from the United Kingdom on October 1, 1960 and became a republic on October 1, 1963. Its contemporary economy includes petroleum and natural gas, agriculture, manufacturing, finance, telecommunications, trade and major cultural industries. [4] [24] [16]
Under the 1999 Constitution, Nigeria comprises 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. As verified November 5, 2026, its president is Bola Ahmed Tinubu and its vice president is Kashim Shettima. Nigeria is distinct from its northern neighbor, the Republic of Niger. [11] [9] [8]
CapitalAbujaFederal Capital Territory [4]
Population237.53 million2025 World Bank [2]
Total area923,768 km²UNData [4]
Nominal GDPUS$290.79 billion2025 World Bank [3]
GDP per capitaUS$1,224.32025 World Bank [1]
CurrencyNigerian nairaNGN (₦) [19]
Statistical and historical distinctions: Nigeria’s final 2006 census count is not the same as its 2025 estimated population. Land-only area and total surface area differ. The national GDP accounts were rebased in 2025, and the World Bank and UNData report different GDP-series vintages; this profile uses the World Bank’s current-dollar GDP consistently. The 2024 WTO trade figures report goods, not all exports or imports including services. Pew’s religious-affiliation estimates describe 2020, not a contemporary religion census. [6] [2] [5] [4] [3] [15] [14] [20]
Identity and State Formation
- Official name
- Federal Republic of Nigeria. [11]
- Short name
- Nigeria.
- Demonym
- Nigerian (distinct from Nigerien, which refers to the Republic of Niger).
- Capital
- Abuja, in the Federal Capital Territory. [4] [11]
- Largest commercial center
- Lagos and its metropolitan economy; Lagos was the former federal capital. [24]
- Continent
- Africa.
- United Nations geographic subregion
- Western Africa. [4]
- Position
- Coastal West Africa on the Gulf of Guinea; the Niger and Benue river systems cross the country. [4]
- Precolonial historical breadth
- Nok archaeology, Hausa states, Kanem–Bornu, the Oyo Empire, the Kingdom of Benin, Igbo societies and numerous other polities predate the modern federation.
- Early nineteenth-century change
- The Sokoto Caliphate expanded across large parts of northern Nigeria after the jihad led by Usman dan Fodio.
- Atlantic trade and colonial expansion
- Coastal commerce, Atlantic slavery, abolition-era politics and British colonial expansion shaped nineteenth-century economic and political change.
- Colonial consolidation
- Britain combined the Northern and Southern Nigeria protectorates in 1914, with Lagos included in the colonial administrative system.
- Self-government and constitutional development
- Constitutional reforms and regional political movements expanded participation before independence in 1960.
- Independence
- October 1, 1960, from British colonial rule.
- Independence Day
- October 1.
- First prime minister
- Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, head of government at independence.
- First ceremonial governor-general
- Nnamdi Azikiwe became governor-general in 1960; he later became Nigeria’s first president.
- Republic established
- October 1, 1963, when Nigeria adopted a republican constitution.
- First president of the republic
- Nnamdi Azikiwe (1963–1966).
- 1966 military coups
- Coups in January and July 1966 ended the first civilian republic and intensified regional political tensions.
- Nigerian Civil War
- 1967–1970, following the attempted secession of Biafra; the conflict brought extensive loss of life and humanitarian suffering.
- Return to civilian politics, 1979
- The Second Republic operated under a presidential constitution before a new military takeover in 1983.
- June 12 election crisis, 1993
- The annulment of the 1993 presidential election became a landmark crisis in Nigeria’s democratization.
- Current democratic era
- Civilian constitutional rule resumed on May 29, 1999, beginning the Fourth Republic. [11]
- Current constitutional basis
- Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended. [11]
- 2015 electoral milestone
- An opposition presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, defeated the incumbent Goodluck Jonathan in a nationally recognized transfer of power.
- 2023 inauguration
- Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed the presidency on May 29, 2023. [9] [16]
- UN admission
- October 7, 1960. [4]
- National flag
- Vertical green–white–green tricolor. [13]
- National anthem
- “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” reinstated in May 2024; older references may incorrectly list “Arise, O Compatriots.” [13]
- National motto
- Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress.
Historical distinction: British colonial amalgamation (1914), independence (1960), establishment of the republic (1963) and the beginning of the Fourth Republic (1999) identify separate milestones. [11] [4]
Geography and Population
- Total surface area
- 923,768 km²; UN total-area convention includes inland-water areas. [4]
- Land area
- 910,770 km² in the World Bank / FAO 2024 land-only series. [5]
- Difference between area figures
- Total surface area and land-only area have different definitions; do not substitute one for the other. [5] [4]
- Population, 2025
- 237,527,782, World Bank annual estimate. [2]
- Population, latest completed census
- 140,431,790 in the 2006 final official census report, gazetted in 2009. [6]
- 2006 provisional population figure
- 140,003,542 was the provisional count; the final corrected census figure is 140,431,790. [6]
- New census status
- A future digitally supported census was under planning in 2025; it is not a substitute for the completed 2006 count. [7]
- 2025 estimated population density
- About 261 inhabitants/km² using the 2025 population estimate and 910,770 km² land area (calculated). [2] [5]
- 2025 annual population growth
- About 2.1% in the World Bank series. [1]
- Geographic boundaries
- Benin to the west, Niger to the north, Chad to the northeast and Cameroon to the east; Atlantic Gulf of Guinea to the south.
- Coastal setting
- Southern coast along the Bight of Benin and Bight of Bonny within the Gulf of Guinea.
- Major rivers
- Niger and Benue, meeting at Lokoja, plus numerous tributary systems.
- Niger Delta
- Extensive low-lying river delta and wetlands in the south; major oil and gas production area.
- Lake Chad basin
- Northeastern Nigeria lies in the Lake Chad basin, an international hydrological region.
- Central highland landscape
- Jos Plateau and neighboring uplands contain important agricultural and settlement zones.
- Eastern highlands
- Cameroon-border highland zones and the Mambilla Plateau include cooler elevations.
- Highest peak
- Chappal Waddi, commonly reported at approximately 2,419 meters above sea level.
- Northern ecological zones
- Sahel and Sudan savanna, progressively drier toward the northern border. [24]
- Middle ecological zones
- Guinea savanna and mosaic farming landscapes.
- Southern ecological zones
- Tropical forest, coastal mangroves, freshwater swamp forest and delta wetlands.
- Climate
- Mainly tropical; regional variations from equatorial coastal humidity to seasonally drier northern savanna and Sahel. [24]
- Rainfall seasonality
- Wet and dry seasons vary by location; monsoon circulation and the harmattan influence conditions.
- Natural hazards
- River flooding, coastal erosion, drought, heat, local landslides and changing rainfall patterns.
- Environmental pressures
- Deforestation, urban air and water pollution, soil degradation and petroleum pollution in parts of the Niger Delta. [16]
- Federal subdivisions
- 36 states plus the Federal Capital Territory. [11] [8]
- Local government framework
- 768 constitutionally listed local government areas within states plus six FCT area councils, usually described together as 774. [11] [12]
- Six geopolitical zones
- North Central, North East, North West, South East, South South and South West; widely used planning groupings, not additional constitutional states.
- Major cities
- Lagos, Kano, Ibadan, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Benin City, Kaduna, Enugu and other state capitals. [24]
- Abuja capital transfer
- Federal capital operations shifted from Lagos to Abuja in 1991.
- Urban economy
- Metropolitan Lagos is a leading commercial, port, cultural and financial hub. [24]
- Internal migration
- Movement from rural districts to expanding cities is shaped by work, education, family networks and security conditions. [16]
- Coastal ports
- Lagos-area ports and ports in the Niger Delta and eastern coast serve commerce and energy exports.
- Niger River regional significance
- The Niger basin connects Nigeria to several West African countries and supports agriculture, hydropower and ecological systems.
- Water infrastructure
- Major river basins support dams, irrigation and drinking-water supply, with uneven service coverage.
- Population measurement caution
- The 2006 census and 2025 World Bank estimate differ by both date and statistical method. [6] [2]
Measurement caution: The finalized 2006 census counted 140,431,790, while the World Bank estimated 237,527,782 in 2025. Total surface area (923,768 km²) differs from land-only area (910,770 km²). Population density calculated in this page uses land-only area. [6] [2] [4] [5]
Economy, Industry and International Trade
- Nominal GDP, 2025
- US$290.79 billion (World Bank current-dollar series; US$290,794.36 million unrounded). [3]
- GDP per capita, 2025
- US$1,224.3 in current US dollars. [1]
- Real GDP growth, 2025
- 4.0%, annual change in real output in the World Bank series. [1] [18]
- Consumer-price inflation, 2025
- 23.0%, annual consumer-price change in the World Bank series. [1]
- Growth in first half of 2026
- 4.2% year-on-year real growth according to the World Bank’s 2026 overview; not a whole-year final result. [16]
- National accounts rebasing
- National Bureau of Statistics revised its GDP benchmark to a 2019 base; data-vintage and currency conversion differences affect comparisons. [15]
- UN versus World Bank GDP
- UNData and World Bank display different 2025 GDP estimates; this profile consistently uses the World Bank GDP series and does not average them. [4] [3] [15]
- Economic organization
- Diverse market economy with large services, agriculture, manufacturing, trade, energy and informal activities. [16]
- Currency
- Nigerian naira (NGN), symbol ₦. [4] [19]
- Central bank
- Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), issuer of legal-tender naira. [19]
- Currency subdivisions
- One naira equals 100 kobo. [19]
- Foreign exchange regime
- Market-oriented exchange-rate reforms pursued since 2023; spot exchange rates fluctuate and are not fixed by this profile. [18] [16]
- Fossil fuel industry
- Crude oil, petroleum products and natural gas are major industrial and export activities. [14] [18]
- National oil enterprise
- Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) is a leading state-owned energy enterprise.
- Oil producing region
- Onshore and offshore Niger Delta basin, with additional exploration and infrastructure elsewhere.
- Liquefied natural gas
- LNG exports represent a large share of non-crude goods export receipts. [14]
- Natural-gas industry
- Domestic gas uses include electricity generation, industry and fertilizer production as well as exports. [14]
- Agriculture
- Major crops include cassava, yams, maize, rice, sorghum, millet, cocoa, oil palm and groundnuts. [16]
- Livestock
- Cattle, goats, sheep and poultry underpin many rural livelihoods and food supply chains.
- Manufacturing
- Food and beverage processing, cement, textiles, chemicals, packaging and petroleum-related activity.
- Services
- Telecommunications, finance, retail, transport, professional services, creative industries and digital commerce. [16]
- Financial center
- Lagos hosts major banks, securities-market institutions and enterprise headquarters. [24]
- Film and entertainment
- Nollywood, recorded music, broadcasting and digital production support employment and cultural exports.
- Domestic energy challenge
- Electricity generation and grid reliability constrain commercial and household productivity. [16] [22]
- WTO goods exports, 2024
- US$52,361.7 million recorded merchandise exports; excludes services. [14]
- WTO goods imports, 2024
- US$40,967.7 million recorded merchandise imports; excludes services. [14]
- 2024 crude oil export heading
- US$37,380.7 million, 71.4% of recorded merchandise exports. [14]
- 2024 liquefied natural gas exports
- US$4,884.4 million, 9.3% of recorded merchandise exports. [14]
- 2024 other gaseous hydrocarbons exports
- US$3,335.8 million, 6.4% of recorded exports under the specified product code. [14]
- 2024 cocoa bean exports
- US$1,631.1 million, 3.1% of recorded exports. [14]
- 2024 urea fertilizer exports
- US$850.3 million, 1.6% of recorded exports. [14]
- 2024 sesame seed exports
- US$414.3 million, 0.8% of recorded goods exports. [14]
- 2024 cashew nut exports
- US$214.1 million, 0.4% of recorded goods exports under the named HS heading. [14]
- Leading export destination, 2024
- European Union collectively, 40.6% of the recorded goods series. [14]
- Other export destinations, 2024
- India 7.5%, United States 7.3%, Indonesia 5.6%, Canada 5.5%, China 3.9%. [14]
- Largest import source, 2024
- European Union collectively, 31.8% of recorded imports. [14]
- Other import origins, 2024
- China 23.3%, India 10.2%, United States 6.7%. [14]
- 2024 major import: light petroleum oils
- US$10,467.9 million, 25.6% of recorded goods imports. [14]
- 2024 major import: medium petroleum oils
- US$4,184.7 million, 10.2% of recorded goods imports. [14]
- 2024 major import: durum wheat
- US$981.4 million, 2.4% of recorded goods imports. [14]
- 2024 major import: raw cane sugar
- US$617.9 million, 1.5% of recorded goods imports. [14]
- Trade-accounting distinction
- WTO merchandise trade measures recorded goods crossing borders; it is not GDP, gross national income or total services trade. [14] [3]
- Commercial policy
- Trade diversification, local processing, energy security and transport access are ongoing industrial priorities. [17]
- Investment constraints
- Policy uncertainty, logistics costs, access to finance, energy, skills and security can shape investment outcomes. [16] [18]
- 2026 reform context
- Macroeconomic stabilization and revenue gains coexist with persistent high living costs and poverty. [17] [18]
- 2026 sector caution
- Forecast growth, monthly inflation and projections are not treated as completed annual measurements. [18] [16]
Merchandise exports — 2024 selected products [14]
WTO / UN Comtrade 2024 goods-export total: US$52,361.7 million. The table follows the WTO's published HS 2022 product headings, with amounts and percentages rounded as reported. Percentages can differ slightly from 100% because of rounding. [14]
| Recorded export product | 2024 export value | Share of total goods exports |
|---|---|---|
| Crude petroleum oils | US$37,380.7m | 71.4% |
| Liquefied natural gas | US$4,884.4m | 9.3% |
| Other gaseous hydrocarbons | US$3,335.8m | 6.4% |
| Cocoa beans | US$1,631.1m | 3.1% |
| Urea fertilizer | US$850.3m | 1.6% |
| Offshore drilling / production platforms | US$431.9m | 0.8% |
| Sesame seed | US$414.3m | 0.8% |
| Other liquefied gaseous hydrocarbons | US$377.2m | 0.7% |
| Unwrought aluminium alloys | US$307.7m | 0.6% |
| Cashew nuts in shell | US$214.1m | 0.4% |
| Other recorded product categories | US$2,534.3m | 4.8% |
Merchandise imports — 2024 selected products [14]
WTO / UN Comtrade 2024 goods-import total: US$40,967.7 million. Only selected individually identified import headings are shown; this is not the complete import classification. [14]
| Recorded import product | 2024 import value | Share of total goods imports |
|---|---|---|
| Light petroleum oils and preparations | US$10,467.9m | 25.6% |
| Medium petroleum oils and preparations | US$4,184.7m | 10.2% |
| Unspecified goods (unallocated heading) | US$1,374.7m | 3.4% |
| Durum wheat | US$981.4m | 2.4% |
| Raw cane sugar | US$617.9m | 1.5% |
| Liquefied butanes | US$484.4m | 1.2% |
| Diesel vehicles (specified HS heading) | US$361.5m | 0.9% |
| Data communication equipment (specified heading) | US$326.8m | 0.8% |
| Motorcycles (specified HS heading) | US$317.4m | 0.8% |
Economic series: GDP (2025) uses World Bank current US dollars. The 2024 WTO trade breakdown measures merchandise only, while the NBS rebasing and differences in international-source vintages can produce distinct GDP values. [3] [15] [14]
People and Society
- Population base
- World Bank estimates 237.53 million residents in 2025. [2]
- Historical census base
- 2006 final census counted 140,431,790 people; no 2025 population value in this entry is described as a census. [6] [7]
- Population change
- World Bank 2025 growth estimated at about 2.1%. [1]
- Youthful population
- Young age structure creates strong demand for education, jobs, healthcare and housing. [16]
- Life expectancy at birth, 2024
- 54.63 years, World Bank / ESG data series. [22]
- Fertility rate, 2024
- 4.38 births per woman, World Bank series. [22]
- Official language
- English. [24]
- Major indigenous languages
- Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo are among the most widely spoken; no single indigenous language is spoken by all Nigerians. [24]
- Other widely used languages
- Fulfulde, Kanuri, Tiv, Ibibio, Edo, Nupe, Ijaw, Efik and many others.
- Nigerian Pidgin
- Widely used cross-regional contact language with varying local and social registers.
- Linguistic diversity
- Hundreds of living languages and language varieties, including numerous endangered minority languages.
- Major cultural communities
- Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Fulani, Ijaw, Kanuri, Tiv, Ibibio, Edo and numerous other communities; categories are not exhaustive.
- Ethnic demographic caution
- No current census ethnicity percentages are inferred from the World Bank population estimate.
- Religious estimate reference year
- 2020, calculated estimates published by Pew Research Center in November 2025. [20]
- Muslim share, estimated 2020
- 56.1% of the national population in Pew Research Center’s estimate. [20]
- Christian share, estimated 2020
- 43.4% in the same Pew Research Center estimate. [20]
- Other religious groups, estimated 2020
- 0.6% combined in Pew’s series, including minority traditions; shares are rounded. [20]
- Religious diversity
- Christian, Muslim and Indigenous religious traditions and mixed cultural practices vary substantially by region and community. [20]
- Religious statistics caution
- 2020 estimates are not a 2025/2026 religion census; sources may produce different shares under different methods. [20]
- Adult literacy, 2024
- 70.41% of persons age 15 and over in World Bank / UNESCO Institute for Statistics series. [22]
- Education system
- Federal and state involvement in primary, secondary, technical, university and teacher education.
- Notable universities
- University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, Ahmadu Bello University, University of Nigeria and many state/private institutions.
- Public-health priorities
- Maternal and child health, malaria, vaccination, nutrition and equitable access to quality services.
- Population with electricity access, 2024
- 62.5% in the World Bank series, a population-access indicator rather than continuous reliable power supply. [22]
- Rural electricity access, 2024
- 23.5% in the World Bank ESG series, showing a substantial spatial access gap. [22]
- Improved drinking-water challenges
- Safely managed drinking-water service access was 29.9% in the 2024 World Bank / ESG series. [22]
- Human Development Index
- 0.560 for 2023, published in UNDP Human Development Report 2025. [23]
- HDI global rank
- 164 of 193 countries in the 2025 UNDP report, using 2023 underlying human-development data. [23]
- Poverty and incomes
- High poverty and pressure on household purchasing power persist despite macroeconomic reforms, according to 2026 World Bank and IMF assessments. [16] [18]
- Cultural arts
- Nollywood films, literature, Afrobeats, highlife, traditional performance, textiles and sculpture.
- Literary figures
- Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and other internationally read Nigerian authors.
- Food traditions
- Regional cuisines include jollof rice, soups and stews, cassava-based foods, yam dishes, grains and varied fish/meat preparations.
- Religious and cultural festivals
- Regional Christian and Muslim observances, durbar festivals, masquerade traditions and diverse local celebrations.
- Popular sport
- Football, alongside athletics, basketball, boxing and other sports.
- UNESCO World Heritage properties
- Two inscribed cultural sites in the World Heritage List. [21]
- UNESCO site—Sukur
- Sukur Cultural Landscape, inscribed 1999. [21]
- UNESCO site—Osun-Osogbo
- Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, inscribed 2005. [21]
- Heritage distinction
- UNESCO Tentative List properties are proposals, not already inscribed World Heritage sites. [21]
- Security and displacement
- Insecurity in the northeast, northwest and other localities has displaced residents and disrupted schooling and livelihoods. [16]
- Social data caution
- 2006 census, 2020 religion estimates, 2023 HDI, 2024 health and literacy values, and 2025 population are not a single-year survey. [6] [20] [23] [22] [2]
Social-data sources: Religion estimates refer to 2020, the HDI to 2023, several health and literacy indicators to 2024, and population/GDP to 2025. They are not simultaneous census findings. [20] [23] [22] [2]
Government and Institutions
- State name
- Federal Republic of Nigeria. [11]
- Form of government
- Federal presidential constitutional republic. [8] [11]
- Constitution
- Constitution of 1999, as amended. [11]
- Political era
- Fourth Republic, beginning May 29, 1999. [11]
- Head of state
- President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. [9]
- Head of government
- President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; the presidency combines head-of-state and chief-executive roles. [8] [9]
- President’s assumption of office
- May 29, 2023. [16] [9]
- Vice president
- Kashim Shettima. [9] [8]
- Executive branch
- President, vice president, Federal Executive Council and ministries. [8]
- National legislature
- Bicameral National Assembly: Senate and House of Representatives. [8]
- Senate structure
- 109 seats: three elected from each state and one from the FCT.
- House of Representatives structure
- 360 elected members representing federal constituencies.
- Senate president
- Godswill Akpabio, according to the federal government portal. [8]
- House speaker
- Tajudeen Abbas, according to the federal government portal. [8]
- Judicial branch
- Supreme Court at apex of federal judicial system, with other federal and state courts under constitutional law. [11] [10]
- Chief Justice
- Kudirat Kekere-Ekun. [10]
- Federal states
- 36 constitutionally established states. [11]
- Federal Capital Territory
- Abuja and its territory administered under distinct constitutional arrangements. [11]
- Local government units
- 768 constitutionally enumerated state LGAs and six FCT area councils; aggregate 774. [11] [12]
- Governors
- Elected governors exercise executive power in the states under the federal framework. [11]
- National election administration
- Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). [12]
- Presidential term
- Four years under the constitutional framework; consecutive terms are limited by the Constitution. [11]
- Ordinary next presidential electoral cycle
- 2027 follows the May 2023 inauguration cycle; no specific election day is asserted without an INEC timetable. [9] [12]
- Major party environment
- Multiparty politics; All Progressives Congress (APC) holds the national presidency in November 2026. [16]
- Federalism in practice
- National and state governments divide powers across legislative, executive, fiscal and service-delivery responsibilities. [11] [16]
- Constitutional religious status
- The Constitution prohibits the federal government or a state from adopting any religion as a state religion. [11]
- Language in federal public affairs
- English is used for federal legislation and administration; the Constitution provides for additional use of Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba in the National Assembly where arrangements permit. [11] [24]
- Constitutional rights framework
- Guarantees rights and specifies lawful limitations, subject to judicial interpretation and implementation. [11]
- Security institutions
- Nigerian Armed Forces, police, intelligence and other national security agencies.
- Northeast insurgency
- Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province-linked violence has affected parts of the northeast. [16]
- Northwest insecurity
- Banditry, kidnapping and other armed violence have affected communities and economic activity. [16]
- Other security challenges
- Communal violence, farmer–herder disputes, some separatist-linked violence and threats to infrastructure vary by locality. [16]
- 2026 governance context
- Infrastructure delivery, economic reforms, public safety, anti-corruption and job creation are major policy priorities. [16] [17]
- Institutional verification date
- November 5, 2026; officeholders and policies may change after this date. [9] [8] [10]
Institutional status: Nigeria is a constitutional federal presidential republic with 36 states and the FCT. The next presidential electoral cycle is expected in 2027, but this edition does not invent an election day. The executive and judicial names reflect official reference pages checked for this edition. [11] [12] [9] [10]
International Profile
- United Nations membership
- Joined October 7, 1960. [4]
- African Union
- Member of the African Union and its predecessor continental diplomacy frameworks.
- ECOWAS
- Member of the Economic Community of West African States; Nigeria is a major regional population and economic center.
- World Trade Organization
- WTO member since January 1, 1995. [25]
- Commonwealth
- Member of the Commonwealth of Nations following independence, apart from a period of suspension during military rule.
- OPEC
- Longstanding member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.
- African Continental Free Trade Area
- Participant in the AfCFTA framework for continental market integration.
- UNESCO World Heritage Convention
- Nigeria has two inscribed World Heritage properties. [21]
- Regional mediation
- Nigeria has played major roles in West African diplomacy, conflict-management initiatives and peacekeeping.
- Niger River Basin
- Shared water and development interests with other Niger basin states.
- Lake Chad Basin
- Regional cooperation with Niger, Chad and Cameroon on water, security and displacement.
- Benin frontier
- Trade, transportation and cross-border cultural connections link southwestern Nigeria with Benin.
- Niger frontier
- Long trans-Sahel land border and linguistic, commercial and pastoral interactions with the Republic of Niger.
- Cameroon frontier
- Cross-border transport, ecological landscapes and minority languages connect eastern Nigeria and Cameroon.
- Gulf of Guinea
- Ocean shipping, offshore energy infrastructure and marine security are international priorities.
- 2024 principal recorded export market
- European Union collectively, 40.6% of WTO/UN Comtrade goods exports. [14]
- 2024 recorded export market—India
- India received 7.5% of the reported merchandise exports. [14]
- 2024 recorded export market—United States
- United States received 7.3% of the reported goods exports. [14]
- 2024 principal recorded import supplier
- European Union collectively, 31.8% of merchandise imports. [14]
- 2024 recorded import supplier—China
- China accounted for 23.3% of recorded merchandise imports. [14]
- International energy trade
- Crude oil and LNG connect Nigeria to African, European, Asian and North American markets. [14]
- Global diaspora
- Nigerian communities and professional networks span Africa, Europe, North America and other regions.
- International development cooperation
- World Bank, IMF, UN agencies and bilateral partners engage on infrastructure, social services and macroeconomic reforms. [16] [18]
- Trade-data caution
- Partner rankings and product shares here use 2024 goods records and exclude cross-border service trade. [14]
- Continuing reference priority
- Future editions should update 2026 data when full-year statistics are published, without retroactively relabeling 2025 observations. [1] [17]
Trade context: Nigeria participates in regional and global diplomacy and markets. Merchandise partner shares in this section are from the WTO’s 2024 UN Comtrade coverage, not a comprehensive 2025 or 2026 balance-of-payments series. [14] [25]
Sources and Methodology
This Nigeria Quick Facts entry uses identified datasets and legal or institutional references from the World Bank, United Nations, WTO, Nigeria’s government and statistical bodies, Pew Research Center, IMF, UNESCO and UNDP. Each statistical observation is assigned its own reporting year; the verification date is not an observation year. Facts may change and national accounts may be revised.
Demographics and geographic area: The 2025 World Bank population estimate is 237,527,782. The final official 2006 census count is 140,431,790, rather than the provisional 140,003,542. UNData reports 923,768 km² total surface area; the World Bank land-only series reports 910,770 km² for 2024. The estimated population density shown is calculated with the latter. [2] [6] [4] [5]
National accounts: The World Bank 2025 nominal GDP series is US$290.79 billion and GDP per capita US$1,224.3. Its 2025 real growth and inflation indicators describe other statistical concepts. Nigeria’s 2025 NBS rebasing uses a 2019 benchmark; the UN and World Bank nominal GDP figures differ by source series/vintage, and this profile does not blend the two. The World Bank’s 2026 first-half growth assessment is not a final calendar-year result. [1] [3] [15] [4] [16]
Merchandise trade: WTO / UN Comtrade reports US$52,361.7 million goods exports and US$40,967.7 million goods imports in 2024. These are customs-merchandise flows, not the value of services trade. Percentages are product-heading shares and may not sum exactly because they are rounded. [14]
Religion, human development and public services: Pew Research Center’s 2025 publication estimates 2020 religious shares of 56.1% Muslim, 43.4% Christian and 0.6% all other groups; they are not presented as a 2025–26 national religion census. UNDP’s HDI of 0.560 and rank of 164 of 193 are reported in its 2025 report for reference year 2023. World Bank figures for adult literacy, electricity access and life expectancy describe 2024. [20] [23] [22]
Governance: Nigeria’s 1999 constitutional framework as amended provides for 36 states and the FCT. Official executive and judicial records are cited for current officeholders. The constitution provides for 768 state LGAs and six FCT area councils, usually aggregated as 774. Nigeria’s current anthem, restored in 2024, is identified using the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. [11] [12] [9] [10] [13]
Culture and international context: The UNESCO World Heritage list contains two inscribed Nigerian cultural properties. WTO partner records refer to 2024 goods trade. The Nigerian government and World Bank 2026 sources document a dynamic political and economic context rather than immutable facts. [21] [14] [16] [17]
Reference register
- [1] World Bank, Nigeria country indicators. Annual population, GDP, real growth, consumer-price inflation, life expectancy and other indicators; measurement years identified individually.
- [2] World Bank, population of Nigeria. Population estimate: 237,527,782 in 2025, not a modern census count.
- [3] World Bank, Nigeria nominal GDP. 2025 nominal GDP: US$290,794.36 million in current dollars.
- [4] United Nations Data, Nigeria country profile. Western Africa; Abuja; total surface area 923,768 km²; UN admission October 7, 1960. The UN GDP series is not combined with World Bank GDP.
- [5] World Bank / FAO, land area of Nigeria. Land-only area 910,770 km² in 2024, different from UN total surface area 923,768 km².
- [6] Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2006 census final results, Official Gazette (February 2, 2009). Official final census count of 140,431,790; revised from the 2006 provisional count of 140,003,542.
- [7] National Population Commission, census history and new-census planning. The 2006 census was the last completed national census; February 2025 announcement concerned a planned successor census.
- [8] Nigeria Federal E-Government Portal, executive and legislature. Federal republic, 36 states plus FCT; current President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and National Assembly leaders.
- [9] Presidency of Nigeria, State House leadership. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima as of the November 2026 verification.
- [10] Supreme Court of Nigeria, Chief Justice. Chief Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
- [11] Senate Committee on Constitution Review, Constitution Chapter I. 1999 constitutional framework, federation of 36 states and FCT, 768 LGAs plus six FCT area councils.
- [12] Independent National Electoral Commission, state offices. 36 states, FCT and 774 local government/area-council electoral administrative offices.
- [13] Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, national symbols. National flag, national coat of arms and current anthem Nigeria, We Hail Thee (restored in 2024).
- [14] World Trade Organization, Nigeria tariff and trade profile. 2024 UN Comtrade recorded goods exports US$52,361.7 million and imports US$40,967.7 million; product and partner shares.
- [15] National Bureau of Statistics, 2025 GDP rebasing methodology. 2019 national accounts reference base; prevents conflation of rebased national statistics with other GDP source vintages.
- [16] World Bank, Nigeria overview and development context. Economic diversification, 2026 activity, poverty, jobs, insecurity and infrastructure constraints.
- [17] World Bank, Nigeria Development Update (October 2026). 2026 macroeconomic stabilization, oil revenue and household welfare challenges.
- [18] International Monetary Fund, Nigeria 2026 Article IV consultation. 2025 economic growth estimates; energy, poverty, inflation and fiscal and exchange-rate reform context.
- [19] Central Bank of Nigeria, currency operations. Central Bank as sole issuer of legal tender naira and role in currency management.
- [20] Pew Research Center, estimated religious affiliation in Nigeria (November 2025 publication). Estimates for reference year 2020: 56.1% Muslim, 43.4% Christian, 0.6% other; rounded values total approximately 100%.
- [21] UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Nigeria. Two inscribed cultural properties: Sukur Cultural Landscape (1999) and Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove (2005).
- [22] World Bank, Nigeria Sovereign ESG Data Portal. 2024 life expectancy 54.63 years, adult literacy 70.41%, access to electricity 62.50%, fertility 4.38 and forest-area statistics.
- [23] UNDP, Human Development Report 2025, country statistical annex. Nigeria 2023 HDI 0.560 and rank 164 among 193 countries in the 2025 report (not a 2025 HDI observation).
- [24] Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority, Nigeria at a glance. Federal capital Abuja; Lagos as principal commercial center; tropical-to-Sahel climate and predominant languages.
- [25] WTO, Nigeria member information. Nigeria has been a WTO member since January 1, 1995.