2010 Edition

Background

British influence and control over what would become Nigeria and Africa's most populous country grew through the 19th century. A series of constitutions after World War II granted Nigeria greater autonomy; independence came in 1960. Following nearly 16 years of military rule, a new constitution was adopted in 1999, and a peaceful transition to civilian government was completed. The government continues to face the daunting task of reforming a petroleum-based economy, whose revenues have been squandered through corruption and mismanagement, and institutionalizing democracy. In addition, Nigeria continues to experience longstanding ethnic and religious tensions. Although both the 2003 and 2007 presidential elections were marred by significant irregularities and violence, Nigeria is currently experiencing its longest period of civilian rule since independence. The general elections of April 2007 marked the first civilian-to-civilian transfer of power in the country's history. In January 2010, Nigeria assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2010-11 term.

Area

land

910,768 sq km

total

923,768 sq km

water

13,000 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly more than twice the size of California

Climate

varies; equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in north

Coastline

853 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Chappal Waddi 2,419 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

soil degradation; rapid deforestation; urban air and water pollution; desertification; oil pollution - water, air, and soil; has suffered serious damage from oil spills; loss of arable land; rapid urbanization

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

61 cu m/yr (2000)

total

8.01 cu km/yr (21%/10%/69%)

Geographic coordinates

10 00 N, 8 00 E

Geography - note

the Niger enters the country in the northwest and flows southward through tropical rain forests and swamps to its delta in the Gulf of Guinea

Irrigated land

2,820 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

border countries

Benin 773 km, Cameroon 1,690 km, Chad 87 km, Niger 1,497 km

total

4,047 km

Land use

arable land

33.02%

other

63.84% (2005)

permanent crops

3.14%

Location

Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin and Cameroon

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

continental shelf

200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

periodic droughts; flooding

Natural resources

natural gas, petroleum, tin, iron ore, coal, limestone, niobium, lead, zinc, arable land

Terrain

southern lowlands merge into central hills and plateaus; mountains in southeast, plains in north

Total renewable water resources

286.2 cu km (2003)

Age structure

0-14 years: 41.5% (male 31,624,050/female 30,242,637) 15-64 years: 55.5% (male 42,240,641/female 40,566,672) 65 years and over: 3.1% (male 2,211,840/female 2,343,250) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

36.07 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

16.31 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

0.9% of GDP (1991)

Ethnic groups

Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, is composed of more than 250 ethnic groups; the following are the most populous and

politically influential

Hausa and Fulani 29%, Yoruba 21%, Igbo (Ibo) 18%, Ijaw 10%, Kanuri 4%, Ibibio 3.5%, Tiv 2.5%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

3.1% (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

170,000 (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

2.6 million (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

86.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

98.94 deaths/1,000 live births

total

92.99 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani, over 500 additional indigenous languages

Life expectancy at birth

female

48.08 years (2010 est.)

male

46.46 years

total population

47.24 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

60.6% (2003 est.)

male

75.7%

total population

68%

Major infectious diseases

aerosolized dust or soil contact disease

one of the most highly endemic areas for Lassa fever

animal contact disease

rabies note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever

respiratory disease

meningococcal meningitis

vectorborne disease

malaria and yellow fever

water contact disease

leptospirosis and shistosomiasis

Median age

female

19.2 years (2010 est.)

male

19 years

total

19.1 years

Nationality

adjective

Nigerian

noun

Nigerian(s)

Net migration rate

-0.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

152,217,341 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

1.966% (2010 est.)

Religions

Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous beliefs 10%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

8 years (2005)

male

10 years

total

9 years

Sex ratio

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female

total population

1.04 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.82 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

3.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

48% of total population (2008)

Administrative divisions

36 states and 1 territory*; Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Federal Capital Territory*, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nassarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara

Capital

geographic coordinates

9 05 N, 7 32 E

name

Abuja

time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

adopted 5 May 1999; effective 29 May 1999

Country name

conventional long form

Federal Republic of Nigeria

conventional short form

Nigeria

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Robin R. SANDERS

embassy

1075 Diplomatic Drive, Central District Area, Abuja

FAX

[234] (9) 461-4036

mailing address

P. O. Box 5760, Garki, Abuja

telephone

[234] (9) 461-4000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

3519 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Adebowale Ibidapo ADEFUYE

consulate(s) general

Atlanta, New York

FAX

[1] (202) 775-1385

telephone

[1] (202) 986-8400

Executive branch

cabinet

Federal Executive Council (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

President Goodluck JONATHAN (since 5 May 2010, acting since 9 February 2010); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; JONATHAN assumed the presidency on 5 May 2010 following the death of President YAR'ADUA, he was declared Acting President on 9 February 2010 by the National Assembly during the extended illness of the former president

election results

Umaru Musa YAR'ADUA elected president; percent of vote - Umaru Musa YAR'ADUA 69.8%, Muhammadu BUHARI 18.7%, Atiku ABUBAKAR 7.5%, Orji Uzor KALU 1.7%, other 2.3%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 21 April 2007 (next to be held on 22 January 2011)

head of government

President Goodluck JONATHAN (since 5 May 2010, acting since 9 February 2010)

Flag description

three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green; the color green represents the forests and abundant natural wealth of the country, white stands for peace and unity

Government type

federal republic

Independence

1 October 1960 (from the UK)

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, D-8, ECOWAS, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (judges recommended by the National Judicial Council and appointed by the president); Federal Court of Appeal (judges are appointed by the federal government from a pool of judges recommended by the National Judicial Council)

Legal system

based on English common law, Islamic law (in 12 northern states), and traditional law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Legislative branch

bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (109 seats, 3 from each state plus 1 from Abuja; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and House of Representatives (360 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDP 85, ANPP 16, AC 6, PPA 1, ACCORD 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PDP 65.1%, ANPP 21.6%, AC 8.8%, PPA 0.8%, LP 0.8%; seats by party - PDP 263, ANPP 63, AC 30, PPA 3, LP 1

elections

Senate - last held on 21 April 2007 (next to be held in April 2011); House of Representatives - last held on 21 April 2007 (next to be held on 15 January 2011)

National anthem

lyrics/music

John A. ILECHUKWU, Eme Etim AKPAN, B. A. OGUNNAIKE, Sotu OMOIGUI and P. O. ADERIBIGBE/Benedict Elide ODIASE note: adopted 1978; the lyrics are a mixture of five of the top entries in a national contest

name

"Arise Oh Compatriots, Nigeria's Call Obey"

National holiday

Independence Day (National Day), 1 October (1960)

Political parties and leaders

Accord Party [Augustine MAZIE, acting]; Action Congress or AC [Bisi AKANDE]; All Nigeria Peoples Party or ANPP [Edwin UME-EZEOKE]; All Progressives Grand Alliance or APGA [Victor C. UMEH]; Alliance for Democracy or AD [Mojisoluwa AKINFENWA]; Conference of Nigerian Political Parities or CNPP [Abdulkadir Balarabe MUSA]; Democratic Peoples Party or DPP [Jeremiah USENI]; Fresh Democratic Party [Chris OKOTIE]; Labor Party [Dan NWANYANWU]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Aliyu Habu FARI]; Peoples Democratic Party or PDP [Vincent OGBULAFOR]; Peoples Progressive Alliance [Larry ESIN]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Academic Staff Union for Universities or ASUU; Campaign for Democracy or CD; Civil Liberties Organization or CLO; Committee for the Defense of Human Rights or CDHR; Constitutional Right Project or CRP; Human Right Africa; National Association of Democratic Lawyers or NADL; National Association of Nigerian Students or NANS; Nigerian Bar Association or NBA; Nigerian Labor Congress or NLC; Nigerian Medical Association or NMA; the press; Universal Defenders of Democracy or UDD

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

cocoa, peanuts, cotton, palm oil, corn, rice, sorghum, millet, cassava (tapioca), yams, rubber; cattle, sheep, goats, pigs; timber; fish

Central bank discount rate

6% (31 December 2009) 9.75% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

18.36% (31 December 2009 est.) 15.48% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

$27.77 billion (2010 est.) $22.89 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$11.02 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $10.11 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

43.7 (2003) 50.6 (1997)

Economy - overview

Oil-rich Nigeria has been hobbled by political instability, corruption, inadequate infrastructure, and poor macroeconomic management but in 2008 began pursuing economic reforms. Nigeria's former military rulers failed to diversify the economy away from its overdependence on the capital-intensive oil sector, which provides 95% of foreign exchange earnings and about 80% of budgetary revenues. Following the signing of an IMF stand-by agreement in August 2000, Nigeria received a debt-restructuring deal from the Paris Club and a $1 billion credit from the IMF, both contingent on economic reforms. Nigeria pulled out of its IMF program in April 2002, after failing to meet spending and exchange rate targets, making it ineligible for additional debt forgiveness from the Paris Club. In November 2005, Abuja won Paris Club approval for a debt-relief deal that eliminated $18 billion of debt in exchange for $12 billion in payments - a total package worth $30 billion of Nigeria's total $37 billion external debt. Since 2008 the government has begun to show the political will to implement the market-oriented reforms urged by the IMF, such as modernizing the banking system, curbing inflation by blocking excessive wage demands, and resolving regional disputes over the distribution of earnings from the oil industry. GDP rose strongly in 2007-10 because of increased oil exports and high global crude prices in 2010. President JONATHAN has pledged to continue the economic reforms of his predecessor with emphasis on infrastructure improvements. Infrastructure is the main impediment to growth and in August 2010 JONATHAN unveiled a power sector blueprint that includes privatization of the state-run electricity generation and distribution facilities. The government also is working toward developing stronger public-private partnerships for roads. Nigeria's financial sector was hurt by the global financial and economic crises and the Central Bank governor has taken measures to strengthen that sector.

Electricity - consumption

19.21 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

21.92 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates

nairas (NGN) per US dollar - 150.88 (2010), 148.84 (2009), 117.8 (2008), 127.46 (2007), 127.38 (2006)

Exports

$76.33 billion (2010 est.) $59.32 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum and petroleum products 95%, cocoa, rubber

Exports - partners

US 35.08%, India 10.43%, Brazil 9.32%, Spain 7.19%, France 4.65% (2009)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

31.9%

industry

32.9%

services

35.2% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$2,400 (2010 est.) $2,300 (2009 est.) $2,200 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

6.8% (2010 est.) 5.6% (2009 est.) 6% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$206.7 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$369.8 billion (2010 est.) $346.2 billion (2009 est.) $327.9 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2% highest 10%: 32.4% (2004)

Imports

$34.18 billion (2010 est.) $29.05 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery, chemicals, transport equipment, manufactured goods, food and live animals

Imports - partners

China 14.89%, US 8.88%, Netherlands 8.18%, South Korea 5.46%, UK 4.63%, France 4.19% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

4% (2010 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

13.9% (2010 est.) 11.5% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

11.6% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

48.33 million (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

70%

industry

10%

services

20% (1999 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$33.32 billion (31 December 2009) $49.8 billion (31 December 2008) $86.35 billion (31 December 2007)

Natural gas - consumption

12.28 billion cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

20.55 billion cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

32.82 billion cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

5.246 trillion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

280,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

2.327 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports

170,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

2.211 million bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

37.5 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

70% (2007 est.)

Public debt

13.4% of GDP (2010 est.) 11.8% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$43.36 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $44.76 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$91.97 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $72.31 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$6.071 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $5.821 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$67.23 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $61.23 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$77.43 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $62.18 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$40.41 billion (31 December 2010 est) $33.61 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

4.9% (2007 est.)

Broadcast media

nearly 70 federal-government-controlled national and regional TV stations; all 36 states operate TV stations; several private TV stations operational; cable and satellite TV subscription services are available; network of federal-government-controlled national, regional, and state radio stations; roughly 40 state-government-owned radio stations typically carry their own programs except for news broadcasts; about 20 private radio stations also operate; transmissions of international broadcasters are available (2007)

Internet country code

.ng

Internet hosts

1,378 (2010)

Internet users

43.989 million (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

the addition of a second fixed-line provider in 2002 resulted in faster growth but subscribership remains only about 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular services growing rapidly, in part responding to the shortcomings of the fixed-line network; multiple cellular providers operate nationally with subscribership reaching 50 per 100 persons in 2009

general assessment

further expansion and modernization of the fixed-line telephone network is needed; network quality remains a problem

international

country code - 234; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) (2009)

Telephones - main lines in use

1.419 million (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

73.099 million (2009)

Airports

54 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

38 over 3,047 m: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 3 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

16 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 2 (2010)

Heliports

4 (2010)

Merchant marine

by type

cargo 4, chemical tanker 30, liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 60, specialized tanker 1

foreign-owned

4 (India 1, Spain 1, UK 2)

registered in other countries

37 (Bahamas 2, Belize 2, Bermuda 11, Comoros 1, Italy 1, Liberia 4, Malaysia 1, Malta 1, North Korea 1, Panama 7, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Seychelles 1, unknown 4) (2010)

total

98

Pipelines

condensate 26 km; gas 2,565 km; liquid petroleum gas 97 km; oil 3,424 km; refined products 4,090 km (2009)

Ports and terminals

Bonny Inshore Terminal, Calabar, Lagos

Railways

narrow gauge

3,505 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)

total

3,505 km

Roadways

paved

28,980 km

total

193,200 km

unpaved

164,220 km (2004)

Transportation - note

the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Niger Delta and Gulf of Guinea as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; crews have been robbed and stores or cargoes stolen

Waterways

8,600 km (Niger and Benue rivers and smaller rivers and creeks) (2009)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 36,203,921 females age 16-49: 34,409,821 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 20,298,351 females age 16-49: 19,355,456 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

1,652,632 (2010 est.)

male

1,731,734

Military branches

Nigerian Armed Forces

Army, Navy, Air Force (2008)

Military expenditures

1.5% of GDP (2006)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2007)

Disputes - international

Joint Border Commission with Cameroon reviewed 2002 ICJ ruling on the entire boundary and bilaterally resolved differences, including June 2006 Greentree Agreement that immediately cedes sovereignty of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon with a phase-out of Nigerian control within two years while resolving patriation issues; the ICJ ruled on an equidistance settlement of Cameroon-Equatorial Guinea-Nigeria maritime boundary in the Gulf of Guinea, but imprecisely defined coordinates in the ICJ decision and a sovereignty dispute between Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon over an island at the mouth of the Ntem River all contribute to the delay in implementation; only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty which also includes the Chad-Niger and Niger-Nigeria boundaries

Illicit drugs

a transit point for heroin and cocaine intended for European, East Asian, and North American markets; consumer of amphetamines; safe haven for Nigerian narcotraffickers operating worldwide; major money-laundering center; massive corruption and criminal activity; Nigeria has improved some anti-money-laundering controls, resulting in its removal from the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF's) Noncooperative Countries and Territories List in June 2006; Nigeria's anti-money-laundering regime continues to be monitored by FATF page last updated on January 24, 2011 ======================================================================

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

undetermined (communal violence between Christians and Muslims since President OBASANJO's election in 1999; displacement is mostly short-term) (2007)

refugees (country of origin)

5,778 (Liberia)