Geography

Economics

Demographics

Military

Politics

Surface

Surface (in square kilometers)

Surface (in square miles)

Surface (water)

Water Surface (in square kilometers)

Water Surface (in square miles)

Share of water (%)

Temperature

Average temperature (in Celcius)

Average temperature (in Farenheit)

Average high temperature (in Celcius)

Average high temperature (in Farenheit)

Average low temperature (in Celcius)

Average low temperature (in Farenheit)

Rainfall

Average rainfall (mm)

Average rainfall (inch)

Distance to other capitals (kilometers)

Distance to other capitals (miles)

Proximity

Economic organizations

Gross Domestic Product (US$)

Gross Domestic Product per capita

Amount of memberships (economic organizations)

Absolute earnings for every 1$

Relative earnings

GDP in PPP per capita (in US$)

 

GDP in PPP per capita

Gross Domestic product (in million US$)

GDP per capita (in US$)

Surface GDP

GDP per square kilometer (in US$)

GDP per square mile(in US$)

Relative GDP in PPP

Population

Population density

Emigration

Immigration

Literacy

Health

Population density (in km2)

Population density (in mi2)

Religion

Christianity (share of the total population)

Islam (share of the total population)

Buddhism (share of the total population)

Hinduism (share of the total population)

Judaism (share of the total population)

Other religions (share of the total population)

Non-religious (share of the total population)

Military spending (in % of GDP)

Military spending

In total, Nigeria spends US$1.8 billion or 0.42 percent of its GDP on its military. This makes Nigeria the 65th highest military spender representing 0.096 percent of total global military expenditure. 

The military of Nigeria, called the Nigerian Armed Forces, consists of an army, and Navy and an air force. The military has had a prominent political role by taking part in 10 military coups since its independence. A struggle for its oil wealth has been the leading cause of this.

Military membership

Nigeria is a member of six international military organizations which makes it the 55th most connected state in the world. It is a member of the following organizations: 

  • South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone 
  • Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons 
  • Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty 
  • International Atomic Energy Agency 
  • Non-Aligned Movement 
  • Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Initiative 

Military membership

International wars

Since its independence, Nigeria has partaken in two international wars. These are: 

  • Chadian–Nigerian War 1983-1983 
  • Monrovia clashes 1998-1998 

Number of international wars fought

Military spending (in US$ million)

Membership (international political organizations)

Nigeria is a member of 13 international political organizations which makes it the 73rd most politically connected state in the world. It is a member of the following organizations: 

  • Member state of the United Nations 
  • International Labour Organization 
  • Asian–African Legal Consultative Organization 
  • African Union 
  • Commonwealth of Nations 
  • International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property 
  • Organization of Islamic Cooperation 
  • UNIDROIT 
  • International Criminal Court 

Political Membership

Democracy/dictatorship rating

It is the 97th most democratic state in the world. Despite having free elections, its history of military coups as well as widespread corruption are its main concern. 

Democracy/Dictatorship

The politics of Nigeria take place in a federal presidential representative democratic republic where the president is head of state as well as head of government and, its house of representatives and its senate serve a four-year term. 

  • Interpol 

  • Association of World Election Bodies 

  • South Centre (organization) 

  • World Organization for Animal Health 

If you liked this page, and you want to support us, please take a look at the support options on the top bar.

 

If you want to know more about other states, click on the flag on the right to discover North Korea.

Nigeria 

Nigeria 

Known for having the second largest film industry in the world, as well as being the most populous state of Africa, Nigeria has a high chance of a promising future. Before contact with the Europeans, the area was inhabited by several African tribes with the Hausa being the largest. After its first contact with the Portuguese at the end of the 15th century, several trading posts were established along its coastline and slowly became part of the European slave trade which lasted from the 16th century until the 18th century. During the second half of the 19th century, Nigeria came under British colonial rule until 1960 when Nigeria gained its independence. Since then, Nigeria has seen several civil wars, military coups as well as several provinces that tried to break away from Nigeria that were fought along ethnic and religious lines. Since the turn of the 21st century, Nigeria has mainly faced problems regarding religious violence between Christians and Muslims.

 Located in Western Africa, the geography of Nigeria mainly consists of a river delta, that is surrounded by low lying hills, a northern part which has several high mountains and a southern part along the Atlantic Ocean which is mostly flat. Its terrain differs from a semi desert like the terrain in its northern part which slowly transforms into a dense rain forest along its southern coast. In total, Nigeria borders four other states with Niger to the north, Chad to the northeast, Cameroon along its eastern border and Benin to the west. To the south it borders the Gulf of Guinea which is located on the Atlantic Ocean. 

It is the 31st largest state in the world with a total surface area of 928,387 square kilometers or 358,452 square miles. This makes Nigeria a slightly larger than Venezuela and slightly smaller than Tanzania. 

Its total water surface area is 13,065 square kilometers or 5025 square miles which is the 41st highest in the world. 

 

Below, a graph is shown which displays the absolute amount of water of each state in square kilometers and square miles.

Despite being abundant in water, Nigeria lacks enough water treatment plants. Instead, more than 80 percent of the population is reliant on surface water which is untreated. 

The climates of Nigeria can be divided up into a southern tropical climate, a central savanna climate and a hot desert climate to the north. The average temperature is 26.8 degrees Celsius or 80.2 degrees Fahrenheit which makes Nigeria the 24th warmest state in the world. 

During summer, from June to September, the average temperature is 30.9 degrees Celsius or 87.6 degrees Fahrenheit. 

During winter, from December to February, the average temperature is 21.8 degrees Celsius or 71.2 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Nigeria is the 65th state with the highest volume of rainfall with an average of 128.5 centimetres or 50.6 inches per year. The majority of its rainfall occurs between April and October and mainly occurs in its southern part. 

The capital of Nigeria, Abuja, is home to 800,000 people. The capital that is closest located to Abuja is Malabo of Equatorial Guinea with a distance of 595 kilometers or 369 miles. The capital that is furthest removed from Abuja is Apia Samoa with a distance of 19,476 kilometers or 12,102 miles. 

The economy of Nigeria is a mixed economy with private freedom as well as central governmental planning. Nigeria is highly dependent on the extraction and exports of oil. It is estimated that more than 80 percent of its annual budget is created within this sector. However, this has made the Nigerian economy highly dependent on the fluctuation of the oil prices which has led to a search for diversification. However, because of a lack of economic means such as adequate infrastructure and corruption, Nigeria is still highly dependent on the export of oil. This is mainly exported to India, Spain and the Netherlands which combined represent nearly 35 percent of all exports. Most of its imports come from China which is solely responsible for more than 25 percent of all imports. 

Nigeria is a member of 16 international economic organizations which makes it the 35th most economically interconnected state in the world. It is a member of the following organizations: 

  • Alliance for Financial Inclusion 
  • African development Bank 
  • International Monetary Fund 
  • Islamic Development Bank 
  • OPEC   Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries  
  • World Bank Group 
  • World Customs Organization 
  • World Trade Organization 
  • International Bamboo and Rattan Organization 
  • Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States 
  • Economic Community of West African States 
  • International Renewable Energy Agency 
  • International Solar Alliance 
  • Group of 15 
  • Group of 77 
  • Group of 24 

Its GDP is just over US$435 billion which makes it the 28th highest in the world representing 0.52 percent of total global GDP. 

Its GDP per square kilometer is US$468,920 or just over US$1.2 million per square mile which is the 98th highest in the world. 

Its GDP per capita is US$2157 which is the 142nd highest in the world. 

The absolute earnings (GDP per capita) reflect the average yearly income. The figure below shows how much, on average, an inhabitant of another state earns for every $1 earned by a citizen of this state.

Its purchasing power parity per capita is US$5443 which is the 140th highest in the world. 

The relative Gross Domestic Product in Purchasing Power Parity compares the purchasing power of this state with that of the rest of the world. The graph on the left shows how much purchasing power of 1$ compared to the purchasing power of other states

With more than 201 million people living within Nigeria, Nigeria is the most populous state in Africa and the seventh most populous state in the world. Its population is mainly made up of two large tribes, the Hausa and the Yoruba, but it houses more than 200 different ethnic groups. This has also led to more than 300 different languages which are spoken within Nigeria. However, it uses English has its official language. 

It has the 47th highest population density in the world with 561 people per square mile or 217 people per square kilometer. 

Nearly 1.5 million people, or 0.7 percent of its population has migrated to other states. This makes Nigeria the 50th state with the highest number of emigrants and represents 0.58 percent of total global emigration. This number is likely to increase due to a deteriorating economic situation. The largest recipients of Nigeria migrants are the United States and the United Kingdom which each represent 300,000 and 200,000 Nigerians respectively. 

Immigration to Nigeria is represented by 0.48 percent of the population, or just under 1 million people. This makes Nigeria the 42nd state with the highest number of immigrants representing 0.38 percent of total global immigration. Despite lacking social and economic perspective, Nigeria is mainly seen as an attractive destination for surrounding states that are in a worse political or economic situation. The largest supplier of migrants to Nigeria has been Benin which is responsible for roughly 1/3 of all migrants.  

The literacy rate is 60.1 percent which is the 175th highest in the world. Education in Nigeria has been limited and unevenly distributed within its border. After gaining its independence from the United Kingdom in 1960, Nigeria has structurally lowered funding in its education system which currently favours people in urban areas.  

The health care system in Nigeria has made small strides over the last two decades. Communicable diseases are currently the leading cause of death. Another leading cause of death is maternal death which is among the highest in the world. The average life expectancy is 55.8 years which is the 184th highest in the world. Women reach an average age of 56.8 years while men reach an average age of 54.8 years. 

The government of Nigeria provides freedom of religion towards all religions. 

Christianity, with 40.5 percent of the population is the second largest religion within Nigeria and makes it the 128th most Christian state in the world. Despite being a minority, Nigeria is still the state with the largest number of Christians in Africa. The majority of Christians adhere to Protestantism which has mainly been due to British colonial rule. 

 

Islam is the largest religion within Nigeria and is followed by 49.8 percent of the population. This makes Nigeria the 47th most Islamic state in the world. The majority of Muslims in Nigeria adhere to the Sunni branch of Islam with the Maliki school of thought. It was introduced by Muslim traders during the ninth century and has slowly started to spread in the northern part of Nigeria. In recent decades, radical Islam has started to become more dominant with several terrorist groups being present in the northern part of Nigeria. 

Buddhism is not represented within Nigeria. 

Hinduism is represented by less than 0.01 percent of the population. These are mainly worked in specialized jobs or are businessmen themselves. 

Judaism is represented by less than 0.01 percent of the population. These are mainly native Jews, also known as Igbo Jews, that receive funding from Jews in Israel and the United States. 

Other religions are mainly found within the Yoruba tribe that believes that the king is ruled by divine rights and executes the will of God. This is represented by 0.86 percent of the population. 

0.15 percent of the population does not adhere to any religion. This is mainly because of a stigma that is related to being irreligious.