01
Physical geography
Southern lowlands merge into central hills and plateaus; mountains in southeast, plains in north.
Local timeAbuja ·
Africa / Western Africa · Card 040
Nigeria
Nigeria is a country in Western Africa. Its capital is Abuja.
Find Nigeria
● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
At a glance
- Capital
- Abuja
- Languages
- English
- Currency
- Nigerian naira (NGN)
- Population
- 237.5 million2025 · World Bank
- Area
- 923,768 km²356,669 square miles
- Independence
- 1960from the UK
Nigeria in context
Africa and its surrounding islands. The dot marks Abuja; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapGeography & languages
02
Languages
Languages used in public life include English.
03
Location
Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin and Cameroon.
Flag
Three equal vertical bands of green (left side), white, and green
History & independence
Nigeria became independent from Britain on 1 October 1960 following constitutional negotiations and nationalist campaigning. It became a federal republic in 1963. A civil war followed the attempted secession of Biafra in 1967 and ended in 1970.
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Independence from Britain
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The Nigerian civil war
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Civilian government is restored
Economy
Main activities
Oil and gas are major sources of export earnings, while services, agriculture and manufacturing support a much broader domestic economy. Telecommunications, finance and commerce are important activities in Africa’s most populous country.
Industry and production
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
Population & economic trends
Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.
Population, 1970–2025
Millions of people237.52025 · millions of people
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
View data table
| Year | People | Millions of people |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 55,893,838 | 55.894 |
| 1980 | 73,764,641 | 73.765 |
| 1990 | 97,120,925 | 97.121 |
| 2000 | 126,382,494 | 126.382 |
| 2010 | 166,642,886 | 166.643 |
| 2020 | 213,996,181 | 213.996 |
| 2025 | 237,527,782 | 237.528 |
Real GDP, 1990–2025
Billions of constant 2015 US dollars562.62025 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars
Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.
Sources: World Bank · Real GDP
View data table
| Year | Constant 2015 US$ | Billions of constant 2015 US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 153,178,750,575 | 153.179 |
| 1991 | 153,727,670,613 | 153.728 |
| 1992 | 160,847,095,651 | 160.847 |
| 1993 | 157,573,666,210 | 157.574 |
| 1994 | 154,713,823,160 | 154.714 |
| 1995 | 154,601,400,725 | 154.601 |
| 1996 | 161,088,358,074 | 161.088 |
| 1997 | 165,819,683,304 | 165.820 |
| 1998 | 170,099,910,681 | 170.100 |
| 1999 | 171,093,510,004 | 171.094 |
| 2000 | 179,675,448,843 | 179.675 |
| 2001 | 190,308,075,298 | 190.308 |
| 2002 | 219,480,696,548 | 219.481 |
| 2003 | 235,606,371,240 | 235.606 |
| 2004 | 257,401,275,804 | 257.401 |
| 2005 | 273,974,099,483 | 273.974 |
| 2006 | 290,575,362,868 | 290.575 |
| 2007 | 309,727,563,830 | 309.728 |
| 2008 | 330,679,000,571 | 330.679 |
| 2009 | 357,255,424,172 | 357.255 |
| 2010 | 385,856,064,173 | 385.856 |
| 2011 | 406,337,011,591 | 406.337 |
| 2012 | 423,525,315,758 | 423.525 |
| 2013 | 451,780,110,047 | 451.780 |
| 2014 | 480,286,163,931 | 480.286 |
| 2015 | 493,026,682,801 | 493.027 |
| 2016 | 485,055,087,456 | 485.055 |
| 2017 | 488,964,081,501 | 488.964 |
| 2018 | 498,365,674,278 | 498.366 |
| 2019 | 509,371,727,742 | 509.372 |
| 2020 | 476,930,359,900 | 476.930 |
| 2021 | 482,220,722,032 | 482.221 |
| 2022 | 503,047,012,790 | 503.047 |
| 2023 | 519,727,567,205 | 519.728 |
| 2024 | 540,886,022,092 | 540.886 |
| 2025 | 562,593,735,122 | 562.594 |
Human development
The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.
HDI · 20230.560Medium human developmentRank 164 of 193 · 2025 report
Human Development Index over time
19900.379
20000.435
20100.502
20200.547
20230.560
54.5 yearsLife expectancy at birth
7.6 yearsMean schooling, adults aged 25+
The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.
Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025
Government
Federal presidential republic. National Assembly has two chambers (a bicameral legislature). The president holds executive responsibilities; the legislature makes national laws.
Knowledge check
Three questions about Nigeria.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
Which city is identified as the capital of Nigeria?
Sources & notes
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.