Nigeria: Quick Facts

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Last updated

Nov. 11, 2026

News •

Nigerian court orders journalist kept in custody over report, renewing concerns over media freedom • Nov. 11, 2026, 8:27 AM ET (AP)

Kenya releases 5 Ebola patients after negative tests as 2 remain hospitalized • Nov. 3, 2026, 11:44 AM ET (AP)

At least 62 people killed in attack on a community in northeastern Nigeria • Oct. 27, 2026, 8:41 AM ET (AP)

First confirmed Ebola patient in Nigeria evacuated to Switzerland • Oct. 26, 2026, 5:33 PM ET (AP)

Uganda tightens Ebola border controls and requires returnees from Congo to pay for quarantine • Oct. 25, 2026, 1:44 PM ET (AP)

Facts

Also Known As	Federal Republic of Nigeria
Head Of State And Government	President: Bola Tinubu
Capital	Abuja
Population	(2026 est.) 239,430,000
Form Of Government	federal republic with two legislative houses (Senate [109]; House of Representatives [360])
Official Language	English
Official Religion	none
Official Name	Federal Republic of Nigeria
Total Area (Sq Km)	923,768
Total Area (Sq Mi)	356,669
Monetary Unit	Nigerian naira (₦)
Population Rank	(2026) 6
Population Projection 2030	263,839,000
Density: Persons Per Sq Mi	(2026) 671.3
Density: Persons Per Sq Km	(2026) 259.2
Urban-Rural Population	Urban: (2024) 55% • Rural: (2024) 45%
Life Expectancy At Birth	Male: (2021) 62.1 years • Female: (2021) 64.8 years
Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000)	(2024) 396,179
Gni Per Capita (U.S.$)	(2024) 1,700

Did You Know?

Nigeria's movie production industry, nicknamed "Nollywood", is the second-largest in the world by volume.
Nigeria has the highest rate of twin births per year globally.
To gain weight and conform with African standards of beauty, Nigerian girls can consume food all day in "fattening rooms".

Photos and Videos

Political map of Nigeria showing its international boundaries with Benin, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, as well as major cities such as Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Ibadan, and Port Harcourt. Rivers and key towns are marked throughout the country. An inset locator map highlights Nigeria's position in western Africa.

Night view of Victoria Island skyline in Lagos, Nigeria, featuring illuminated modern buildings, a distinctive domed structure, and light trails from traffic along a busy road by the water.

Map of West and Central Africa highlighting Nigeria in orange, with its capital Abuja marked. Neighboring countries including Benin, Niger, Chad, Cameroon, and others are labeled, along with the Atlantic Ocean to the south.

Relief map of Nigeria showing major physical features such as rivers, lakes, plateaus, hills, and national parks. Key features include the Niger and Benue rivers, Jos Plateau, Mandara Mountains, and several national parks like Kainji Lake, Yankari, and Cross River. The map also marks neighboring countries and includes a small locator map showing Nigeria's position in Africa.

Aerial view of Zuma Rock, a massive, steep-sided monolith rising from flat terrain near a town in Niger State, Nigeria.

Map of West and Central Africa showing the drainage networks of the Niger and Senegal river basins and the Lake Chad basin. Major rivers, tributaries, dams, swamps, sand areas, cities, and national boundaries are marked, along with elevation shading. The map includes a small locator inset highlighting the region within the African continent.

Busy Lagos Island street scene during rainy season, with commuters walking and vehicles including a red bus, vans, and auto rickshaws on wet, reflective pavement.

A group of African elephants stands together near a muddy waterhole, surrounded by green trees in Yankari National Park, east-central Nigeria.

Hausa musicians

The Ecological Disaster of Oil Spills in the Niger Delta

See how Nigerian farmers employ pesticides and fertilizers to increase crop yields and agricultural efficacy

National anthem of Nigeria

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Topics

The role of Nigerian women list of cities and towns in Nigeria nation-state OPEC Commonwealth Economic Community of West African States member states of the Commonwealth Nigerian Civil War Nollywood Aladura United States India United Kingdom China Canada Russia Germany Australia Japan France

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western Africa

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Sokoto

state, Nigeria

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