Nigeria facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Federal Republic of Nigeria Jamhuriyar Tarayyar Najeriya (Hausa) Ọ̀hàńjíkọ̀ Ọ̀hànézè Naìjíríyà (Igbo) Orílẹ̀-èdè Olómìniira Àpapọ̀ Nàìjíríà (Yoruba)
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress"
Anthem: "Nigeria, We Hail Thee"
Show globe Show map of Africa
Capital	Abuja 9°4′N 7°29′E / 9.067°N 7.483°E / 9.067; 7.483
Largest city	Lagos
Official languages	English
National languages	Hausa Igbo Yoruba
Regional languages	Over 525 languages
Ethnic groups (2018)	30% Hausa 15.5% Yoruba 15.2% Igbo 6% Fulani 2.4% Tiv 2.4% Kanuri 1.8% Ibibio 1.8% Ijaw 19.9% other
Demonym(s)	Nigerian
Government	Federal presidential republic

• President	Bola Tinubu
• Vice President	Kashim Shettima
• Senate President	Godswill Akpabio

Legislature	National Assembly
• Upper house	Senate
• Lower house	House of Representatives
Independence from the United Kingdom

• Northern Nigeria Protectorate	1 January 1900
• Southern Nigeria Protectorate	1 January 1900
• Unification of Nigeria	1 January 1914
• Declared independent as a sovereign state	1 October 1960
• Became a republic	1 October 1963
• Current constitution	29 May 1999

Area
• Total	923,769 km² (356,669 sq mi) (31st)
• Water (%)	1.4
Population
• 2023 estimate	236,747,130 (6th)
• Density	249.8/km² (647.0/sq mi) (42nd)
GDP (PPP)	2024 estimate
• Total	$1.443 trillion (27th)
• Per capita	$6,340 (142nd)
GDP (nominal)	2024 estimate
• Total	$252.738 billion (53rd)
• Per capita	$1,110 (167th)
Gini (2020)	▼ 35.1 medium
HDI (2022)	0.548 low · 161st
Currency	Naira (₦) (NGN)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (WAT)
Date format	dd/mm/yyyy
Driving side	right
Calling code	+234
ISO 3166 code	NG
Internet TLD	.ng

Nigeria is a large country in West Africa. It has more people than any other country in Africa. The capital city of Nigeria is Abuja. Nigeria is known for being a big country and one of the richest in Africa.

Nigeria's History

Up-River Chiefs, Calabar, 19th century.

From the 1500s to the 1800s, many people from Nigeria and other parts of West Africa were taken. They were forced into slavery by Europeans. These people were sent to work in the Americas. Today, many people related to them live in America. They are called African-Americans.

From 1901 to 1960, the United Kingdom ruled Nigeria. But by 1960, Nigerians wanted to be free. Britain finally gave them independence on 1 October 1960. After this, Nigeria was a dictatorship for some time. This meant leaders stayed in power even if people did not like them.

During this time, Nigeria had a big war called the Biafra War. Christian Igbo people in the East wanted their own country called "Biafra". They did not want to be part of Nigeria, which was led by a Muslim. They did not get their country, and many lives were lost.

In 1999, Nigeria became a democracy. This means people get to choose their leaders. After that, Olusegun Obasanjo became President. He was a Yoruba Christian from the south. In 2007, Umaru Yar'Adua, a Hausa Muslim, was elected. Yar'Adua passed away in May 2009. Then, Goodluck Jonathan, who was the vice president, became president.

Since 2002, there have been conflicts in the north. These are between government troops and a group called Boko Haram. This group wants to have Sharia law for the country.

Geography of Nigeria

Nigeria covers about 923,768 square kilometers (356,667 square miles). It is the 32nd largest country in the world. Nigeria shares borders with Benin, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon. It also has a long coastline of about 853 kilometers (530 miles).

The Zuma Rock near Suleja.

The highest point in Nigeria is Chappal Waddi. It is 2,419 meters (7,936 feet) tall. The main rivers are the Niger and the Benue River. They meet and flow into the Niger Delta. This is one of the world's largest river deltas. It has a big area of Central African Mangroves.

How Nigeria is Governed

The Coat of arms of Nigeria.

Nigeria is a federal republic. It has 36 states and the capital city, Abuja, which is a special area. The President leads the country. The president is both the head of state and the head of the government. People vote for the president, who can serve up to two four-year terms.

Each state also has a governor. Governors are elected for four years and can serve two terms. The president's power is checked by the National Assembly. This assembly has two parts: the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The Senate has 109 members. Three members come from each state, and one from Abuja. They are elected for four years. The House has 360 seats. The number of seats for each state depends on its population.

States and Cities

Map of Nigeria with its states.

Nigeria is divided into 36 states. It also has the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja). These are further split into 774 local government areas. Sometimes, the states are grouped into six main zones. These are North West, North East, North Central, South West, South East, and South South.

Nigeria has five cities with over a million people. These are Lagos, Kano, Ibadan, Benin City, and Port Harcourt. Lagos is the biggest city in Africa. Its urban area has over 12 million people.

The southern part of Nigeria has many cities. In 2015, there were 20 cities with more than 500,000 people. Ten of these cities had over one million people.

Largest Cities in Nigeria, 2017
City	Million
Lagos	13.463
Kanos	3.82
Ibadan	3.383
Abuja	2.919
Port Harcourt	2.343
Benin City	1.628

Nigeria's Economy

Skyline of Abuja, Nigeria's capital.

Nigeria has a mixed economy. This means it has both private businesses and government involvement. The World Bank says Nigeria is a lower-middle-income country. It has many natural resources. It also has good financial, legal, and transport systems. The Nigerian Stock Exchange is the second largest in Africa.

Nigeria is working to end poverty by 2030. This is part of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Farming and Food

Farm Ploughing in Kwara State.

In 2021, farming, forestry, and fishing made up about 23.4% of Nigeria's economy. Nigeria grows the most cassava in the world. Other important crops include maize, rice, millet, yam beans, and guinea corn (sorghum).

Cocoa is the main farm product Nigeria sells to other countries. Nigeria also sells natural rubber.

Before the Nigerian Civil War, Nigeria grew enough food for itself. But now, with more people, Nigeria buys a lot of food from other countries. The government is trying to help farmers grow more food.

Oil and Gas

Oando Head Office in Victoria Island, Lagos.

Nigeria is one of the world's largest producers of oil. It is also a big exporter of oil. Oil is very important to Nigeria's economy. It brings in about 80% of the government's money.

Nigeria also has a lot of natural gas. This gas could help Nigeria's economy grow even more. However, Nigeria loses money from gas flaring and oil theft. This causes problems in the Niger Delta, where most of the oil is found.

Overflight photo of the creeks of the Niger Delta.

Nigeria has many oil fields and wells. Most of these are in the coastal Niger Delta Basin. Many of Nigeria's oil fields are small. Until 2021, petrol was Nigeria's main import.

Oil facility at Bonny Island, Rivers State.

Mining Resources

Topaz from the Jos Plateau in Plateau State.

Nigeria has many mineral resources that are not fully used. These include natural gas, coal, bauxite, gold, tin, and iron ore. Even with these large amounts, the mining industry in Nigeria is still small.

Factories and Technology

Ajaokuta factory.

Nigeria has factories that make leather and textiles. These are mainly in Kano, Abeokuta, Onitsha, and Lagos. Nigeria also has its own car company, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing. It makes buses and SUVs.

Nigeria also has electronic makers like Zinox. This company makes Nigerian computers and tablets.

Government Satellites

The Nigerian government has launched four satellites. The Nigeriasat-1 was the first. It was launched from Russia in 2003. It helped monitor disasters around the world.

NigeriaSat-2 was built by a UK company. It is a high-resolution earth satellite. NigComSat-1 was Nigeria's third satellite. It was Africa's first communication satellite.

Nigerian Society

Population and People

Nigeria's population grew a lot from 1990 to 2008. By 2017, it was 191 million people. Nigeria is the most populated country in Africa. It has about 17% of all people on the continent.

Nigeria's biggest city is Lagos. Lagos grew from about 300,000 people in 1950 to an estimated 13.4 million in 2017.

Different Ethnic Groups


A Hausa harpist.	Igbo men.	Yoruba drummers.

Nigeria has over 250 ethnic groups. Each group has its own languages and customs. This makes Nigeria a country with rich diversity. The largest groups are the Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, and Fulani. Together, they make up more than 70% of the population.

Other groups like the Urhobo-Isoko, Edo, Ijaw, and Kanuri make up 25 to 30%. The rest are smaller groups.

In the mid-1800s, some former slaves from Cuba, Brazil, and Sierra Leone came to Nigeria. They started communities in Lagos. Many of these immigrants became important traders and missionaries.

Languages Spoken in Nigeria

Nigeria has had 525 languages spoken. Eight of these languages are now gone. In some parts of Nigeria, people speak more than one language. The official language is English. It was chosen to help unite the country. This is because Britain ruled Nigeria until 1960.

Most languages in Nigeria are from the Niger-Congo family. These include Igbo, Yoruba, and Ijaw. Kanuri is spoken in the northeast. It is part of the Nilo-Saharan family. Hausa is an Afroasiatic language.

Even though people prefer their own languages, English is used for school, business, and official work. Only a small number of people in cities speak English as their first language. In some rural areas, English is not spoken at all. Hausa is the most widely spoken of the three main languages in Nigeria.

Most Nigerians live in rural areas. So, the main languages for talking are the local ones.

Religions in Nigeria

Nigeria has many different religions. Nigerians are almost equally divided into Muslims and Christians. A small number of people follow traditional African religions.

A 2012 study showed that in 2010, about 49.3% of Nigerians were Christian. About 48.8% were Muslim. And 1.9% followed local religions or other beliefs.

National Anthems of Nigeria

Nigeria has had two national anthems. The first one was "Nigeria We Hail Thee." The current anthem is "Arise O' Compatriots." The first anthem was written by Lilian Jean William. It was set to music by Frances Berda.

The second anthem was written by five people. The Police band composed its music. "Arise O' Compatriots" was first heard when Nigeria became independent.

Tourism in Nigeria

Meridien Akwa Ibom golf course park.

African Bush Elephants in Yankari National Park, Bauchi State.

Tourism in Nigeria focuses on events because of its many ethnic groups. But it also has rain forests, savannah, waterfalls, and other natural sights.

Jabi lake.

Lekki Beach in Lagos.

Abuja has many parks and green areas. The biggest is Millennium Park. It was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 2003. Another park is City Park in Wuse 2. It has fun things like a 4D cinema and sports courts.

The Peak of Obudu Mountain, Cross River State.

Lagos is becoming a big tourist spot. It is one of the largest cities in Africa. Many festivals are held in Lagos. These include the Eyo Festival and the Lagos Carnival. There are also film and music festivals. These events offer dance and song for visitors.

Lagos has sandy beaches along the Atlantic Ocean. These include Elegushi Beach and Alpha Beach. There are also private beach resorts. Lagos has many hotels, from three-star to five-star.

Obudu Mountain Resort is a ranch and resort in Cross River State. It was started in 1951. A cable car takes visitors up the mountain. It gives great views and avoids the winding road.

Mini waterfall at the grotto in Becheve Nature Reserve on Obudu Plateau.

Kajuru Castle, Kaduna, built in 1978.

The resort is near the Cameroon border. It is about 30 minutes from Obudu town. You can also fly to Bebi Airport nearby. The Cross-River State Government has improved the resort. This has made it a popular holiday spot.

Nigerian Culture

Music in Nigeria

A Sango priestess.

The music of Nigeria has many kinds of folk and popular music. Some of it is known around the world. The singer and activist Fela Kuti was very important in Nigerian music.

Traditional musicians use many different instruments. These include Gongon drums, the kora, and the kakaki.

Other cultural expressions are found in masquerades. Examples are the Eyo masquerades and the Gelede masquerades.

Nigerian Food

A Plate of Pounded Yam (Iyan) and Egusi Soup with Tomatoes Stew.

Nigerian food is known for being rich and varied. Many spices, herbs, and flavors are used. They often use palm oil or groundnut oil. This creates tasty sauces and soups. These are often made very spicy with chili peppers. Nigerian feasts are colorful and grand. You can also find many tasty snacks cooked on barbecues or fried.

Clothing in Nigeria

Women in north Nigeria.

Women in northern Nigeria wear long, flowing robes and headscarves. These are made from fabrics dyed and woven locally.

Women in southern Nigeria often wear Western-style clothes. Young people in cities mainly wear jeans and T-shirts.

Other Nigerian men and women often wear a traditional style called Buba. For men, this is a loose shirt that goes down to the middle of the thigh. For women, it is a loose blouse that goes a little below the waist. Women also wear a gele, which is a headscarf. Men wear a traditional cap called fila.

The style and colors of clothes can change for different events.

Sports in Nigeria

A friendly match between Nigeria and Algeria at the Abuja National Stadium, in 2004.

Football (soccer) is Nigeria's national sport. The country has its own Premier League. Nigeria's men's national football team, called the Super Eagles, has played in the World Cup five times. They won the African Cup of Nations in 1980, 1994, and 2013. They also won the gold medal for football at the 1996 Summer Olympics.

Nigeria also plays other sports like basketball, cricket, and track and field. Boxing is also important. Dick Tiger and Samuel Peter are famous Nigerian boxers who were World Champions.

Images for kids

Nok sculpture, terracotta
Depiction of Benin City by a Dutch illustrator in 1668. The wall-like structure in the centre probably represents the walls of Benin, housing the Benin bronze decorated historic Benin City Palace.
Flag of the Lagos Colony
The Lord and Lady Lugard, 1908
1953 postage stamp with portrait of Queen Elizabeth II
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, prime minister of Nigeria, 1962
The Republic of Biafra in June 1967, when it declared its independence from the rest of Nigeria
Yakubu Gowon, civil war national leader of Nigeria
Flag of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, 1979
Moshood Abiola, Hope campaign poster in 1993
Abdulsalami Abubakar, military ruler in 1998 saw the return to democracy in 1999
Olusegun Obasanjo served as president of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007.
Goodluck Jonathan in a handshake with his successor, Buhari at the inauguration in 2015
Muhammadu Buhari was president of Nigeria, serving from 2015 to 2023.
Topography of Nigeria
Climate map of Nigeria
Shrinking of Lake Chad in north-eastern Nigeria, with the outline of the British Isles for size comparison
Photo of Lake Chad from Apollo 7, 1968
The Obudu mountains in the southern region of Nigeria
The Mambilla Plateau in the North-Eastern region of Nigeria
Deforestation in Nigeria 1981–2020
Coat of arms of Nigeria in current use
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja
Nigerian Army self-propelled anti-aircraft gun
Nigerian Air Force attack helicopter
Attacks by Boko Haram, 2011 to date (as of October 2022), each figure represents 1,000 deaths.
GDP per capita in West Africa, 2019
Nigerian palm nuts put out to dry
Oil and gas fields in the Niger delta
Overflight photo of the creeks of the Niger Delta
Kainji Dam on the Niger River, built in the 1960s
Nigeria EduSat-1, the first satellite built by Nigeria by the Federal University of Technology Akure
Òwú waterfalls, visited by Nigerian undergraduates
Second Niger bridge under-construction (completed as at 2022)
Third Mainland bridge across the Lagos lagoon
Abuja Light Rail in Idu Station
An A340-500 of Arik Air
B737-300 of Air Peace
Population density (persons per square kilometer) in Nigeria
Map of Nigeria's linguistic groups
Paediatric ward, General hospital, Ilorin
Abisogun Leigh Science Building, for the Lagos State University's Faculty of Science
End SARS is a decentralised social movement and series of mass protests against police brutality in Nigeria.
Chinua Achebe, winner Booker Prize 2007 and Peace Award of the German book trade 2002
An Eyo Iga Olowe Salaye masquerade jumping in 2011
Nigeria at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
Nigerian football supporters at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia