2015 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 and the elections of 2011 were generally regarded as credible. In January 2014, Nigeria assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2014-15 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

89.21 cu m/yr (2005)

total

13.11 cu km/yr (31%/15%/54%)

Geographic coordinates

10 00 N, 8 00 E

Geography - note

the Niger River 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

2,932 sq km (2004)

Land boundaries

border countries (4)

Benin 809 km, Cameroon 1,975 km, Chad 85 km, Niger 1,608 km

total

4,477 km

Land use

arable land 37.3%; permanent crops 7.4%; permanent pasture 33.3%

agricultural land

78%

forest

9.5%

other

12.5% (2011 est.)

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 (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

43.01% (male 39,960,275/female 38,123,266)

15-24 years

19.38% (male 17,978,154/female 17,210,308)

25-54 years

30.56% (male 28,470,583/female 27,018,101)

55-64 years

3.94% (male 3,491,784/female 3,669,348)

65 years and over

3.11% (male 2,687,373/female 2,952,864) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

37.64 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Child labor - children ages 5-14

percentage

29% (2007 est.)

total number

11,396,823

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

31% (2013)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

15.1% (2013)

Death rate

12.9 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

5.1%

potential support ratio

19.5% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

87.7%

youth dependency ratio

82.6%

Drinking water source

urban: 80.8% of population

rural: 57.3% of population

total: 68.5% of population

urban: 19.2% of population

rural: 42.7% of population

total: 31.5% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, is composed of more than 250 ethnic groups; the most populous and politically influential are: Hausa and the Fulani 29%, Yoruba 21%, Igbo (Ibo) 18%, Ijaw 10%, Kanuri 4%, Ibibio 3.5%, Tiv 2.5%

Health expenditures

3.9% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

3.17% (2013 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

209,600 (2013 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

3,228,600 (2013 est.)

Hospital bed density

0.53 beds/1,000 population (2004)

Infant mortality rate

female

67.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

77.55 deaths/1,000 live births

total

72.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

54.1 years (2015 est.)

male

52 years

total population

53.02 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

49.7% (2015 est.)

male

69.2%

total population

59.6%

Major infectious diseases

aerosolized dust or soil contact disease

one of the most highly endemic areas for Lassa fever

animal contact disease

rabies

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

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

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 (2013)

respiratory disease

meningococcal meningitis

vectorborne diseases

malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever

water contact diseases

leptospirosis and schistosomiasis

Major urban areas - population

Lagos 13.123 million; Kano 3.587 million; Ibadan 3.16 million; ABUJA (capital) 2.44 million; Port Harcourt 2.343 million; Benin City 1.496 million (2015)

Median age

female

18.3 years (2014 est.)

male

18.1 years

total

18.2 years

Nationality

adjective

Nigerian

noun

Nigerian(s)

Net migration rate

-0.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

9.7% (2014)

Physicians density

0.41 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

Population

181,562,056

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 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

2.45% (2015 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

urban: 32.8% of population

rural: 25.4% of population

total: 29% of population

urban: 67.2% of population

rural: 74.6% of population

total: 71% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

8 years (2005)

male

10 years

total

9 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.04 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.05 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.95 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.91 male(s)/female

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

1.04 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.19 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

4.66% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

47.8% of total population (2015)

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, Nasarawa, 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

several previous; latest adopted 5 May 1999, effective 29 May 1999; amended 2010 (2010)

Country name

conventional long form

Federal Republic of Nigeria

conventional short form

Nigeria

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador James F. ENTWISTLE (since 26 November 2013)

embassy

Plot 1075 Diplomatic Drive, Central District Area, Abuja

FAX

[234] (9) 461-4171

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 (since 26 March 2010)

consulate(s) general

Atlanta, New York

FAX

[1] (202) 362-6541

telephone

[1] (202) 986-8400

Executive branch

cabinet

Federal Executive Council appointed by the president

chief of state

President Maj. Gen. (ret.) Muhammadu BUHARI (since 29 May 2015); Vice President Oluyemi "Yemi" OSINBAJO (since 29 May 2015); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

election results

Muhammadu BUHARI elected president; percent of vote - Muhammadu BUHARI (CPC) 53%, Goodluck JONATHAN (PDP) 46%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by 'qualified' majority popular vote and at least 25% of the votes cast in 24 of Nigeria's 36 states; president elected for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 28-29 March 2015 (next to be held in February 2019)

head of government

President Maj.Gen. (ret.) Muhammadu BUHARI (since 29 May 2015); Vice President Oluyemi "Yemi" OSINBAJO (since 29 May 2015)

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 law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 15 justices)

judge selection and term of office

judges appointed by the president on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, a 23-member independent body of federal and state judicial officials; judge appointments confirmed by the Senate; judges serve until age 65

subordinate courts

Court of Appeal; Federal High Court; High Court of the Federal Capital Territory; Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory; Customary Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory; state court system similar in structure to federal system

Legal system

mixed legal system of English common law, Islamic law (in 12 northern states), and traditional law

Legislative branch

description

bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (109 seats - 3 each for the 36 states and 1 for Abuja; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms) and the House of Representatives (360 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms)

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - All Progressive Congress 60, PDP 49; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - All Progressive Congress 225, PDP 125, other 10

elections

Senate - last held on 28-29 March 2015 (next to be held in February 2019); House of Representatives - last held on 28-29 March 2015 (next to be held in 2019)

National anthem

lyrics/music

John A. ILECHUKWU, Eme Etim AKPAN, B. A. OGUNNAIKE, Sotu OMOIGUI and P. O. ADERIBIGBE/Benedict Elide ODIASE

name

"Arise Oh Compatriots, Nigeria's Call Obey"

note

adopted 1978; lyrics are a mixture of the five top entries in a national contest

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

eagle; national colors: green, white

Political parties and leaders

Accord Party or ACC [Mohammad Lawal MALADO]

Action Congress of Nigeria or ACN [Adebisi Bamidele AKANDE]

All Nigeria Peoples Party or ANPP [Ogbonnaya C. ONU]

All Progressives Congress [Adebisi Bamidele AKANDE, acting]

All Progressives Grand Alliance or APGA [Victor C. UMEH]

Congress for Progressive Change or CPC [Tony MOMOH]

Democratic Peoples Party or DPP [Biodun OGUNBIYI]

Labor Party or LP [Chief Dan NWANYANWU]

Peoples Democratic Party or PDP [Adamu MU'AZU]

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

Universal Defenders of Democracy or UDD

other

the press

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$34.62 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$22.77 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

4.25% (31 December 2010)

6% (31 December 2009)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

17% (31 December 2014 est.)

16.72% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

$12.67 billion (2014 est.)

$21.85 billion (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$22.01 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$18.63 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

43.7 (2003)

50.6 (1997)

Economy - overview

Following an April 2014 statistical "rebasing" exercise, Nigeria has emerged as Africa's largest economy, with 2014 GDP estimated at US$479 billion. Oil has been a dominant source of government revenues since the 1970s. Regulatory constraints and security risks have limited new investment in oil and natural gas, and Nigeria's oil production contracted in 2012 and 2013. Nevertheless, the Nigerian economy has continued to grow at a rapid 6%-8% per annum (pre-rebasing), driven by growth in agriculture, telecommunications, and services, and the medium-term outlook for Nigeria is good, assuming oil output stabilizes and oil prices remain strong. Fiscal authorities pursued countercyclical policies in 2011-13, significantly reducing the budget deficit. Monetary policy has also been contractionary. Following the 2008-9 global financial crises, the banking sector was effectively recapitalized and regulation enhanced. Despite its strong fundamentals, oil-rich Nigeria has been hobbled by inadequate power supply, lack of infrastructure, delays in the passage of legislative reforms, an inefficient property registration system, restrictive trade policies, an inconsistent regulatory environment, a slow and ineffective judicial system, unreliable dispute resolution mechanisms, insecurity, and pervasive corruption. Economic diversification and strong growth have not translated into a significant decline in poverty levels - over 62% of Nigeria's 170 million people live in extreme poverty. President JONATHAN has established an economic team that includes experienced and reputable members and has announced plans to increase transparency, continue to diversify production, and further improve fiscal management. The government is working to develop stronger public-private partnerships for roads, agriculture, and power.

Exchange rates

nairas (NGN) per US dollar -

157.3 (2014 est.)

157.31 (2013 est.)

156.81 (2012 est.)

154.7 (2011 est.)

150.3 (2010 est.)

Exports

$93.01 billion (2014 est.)

$96.74 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum and petroleum products 95%, cocoa, rubber (2012 est.)

Exports - partners

India 12.8%, US 11.1%, Brazil 10%, Spain 7.1%, Netherlands 7.1%, Germany 5.1%, France 4.7%, UK 4.5%, South Africa 4.2% (2013)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

14.9%

government consumption

8.4%

household consumption

72.5%

imports of goods and services

-12.1%

investment in fixed capital

16.4%

investment in inventories

0%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

20.6%

industry

25.6%

services

53.8% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$6,000 (2014 est.)

$5,700 (2013 est.)

$5,400 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

6.3% (2014 est.)

5.4% (2013 est.)

4.3% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$573.7 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.049 trillion (2014 est.)

$986.8 billion (2013 est.)

$936.3 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

17.4% of GDP (2014 est.)

18.6% of GDP (2013 est.)

19.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

38.2% (2010 est.)

lowest 10%

1.8%

Imports

$52.79 billion (2014 est.)

$51.38 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

China 20.8%, US 11.2%, India 4.5% (2013)

Industrial production growth rate

4.6% (2014 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)

8.1% (2014 est.)

8.5% (2013 est.)

Labor force

54.97 million (2014 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

70%

industry

10%

services

20% (1999 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$56.39 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$39.27 billion (31 December 2011)

$50.88 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

70% (2010 est.)

Public debt

11.7% of GDP (2014 est.)

10.5% of GDP (2013 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$37.44 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$45.66 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$108.7 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$99.64 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$10.87 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$9.113 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$81.72 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$76.75 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$119.6 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$109.6 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$45.44 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$44.59 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

3.8% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

23.9% (2011 est.)

4.9% (2011 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

86.4 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

2.341 million bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - production

2.367 million bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

37.14 billion bbl (1 January 2014 est.)

Electricity - consumption

23.11 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

67.1% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

32.8% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

5.9 million kW (2011 est.)

Electricity - production

25.7 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

6.916 billion cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - exports

26.79 billion cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - production

33.71 billion cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

5.118 trillion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

302,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

18,750 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

151,700 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

101,300 bbl/day (2010 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; transmissions of international broadcasters are available (2007)

Internet country code

.ng

Internet users

percent of population

37.6% (2014 est.)

total

66.6 million

Radio broadcast stations

AM 83, FM 36, shortwave 11 (2001)

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 base approaching 60 per 100 persons

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) (2010)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

less than 1 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

180,000

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

78 (2014 est.)

total

139 million

Television broadcast stations

3 (the government controls 2 of the broadcasting stations and 15 repeater stations) (2001)

Airports

54 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

9

2,438 to 3,047 m

12

914 to 1,523 m

6

over 3,047 m

10

total

40

under 914 m

3 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

3 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

2

914 to 1,523 m

9

total

14

Heliports

5 (2013)

Merchant marine

by type

cargo 2, chemical tanker 28, liquefied gas 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 56, specialized tanker 1

foreign-owned

3 (India 1, UK 2)

registered in other countries

33 (Bahamas 2, Bermuda 11, Comoros 1, Italy 1, Liberia 4, North Korea 1, Panama 6, Seychelles 1, unknown 6) (2010)

total

89

Pipelines

condensate 124 km; gas 4,045 km; liquid petroleum gas 164 km; oil 4,441 km; refined products 3,940 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

LNG terminal(s) (export)

Bonny Island

major seaport(s)

Bonny Inshore Terminal, Calabar, Lagos

Railways

narrow gauge

3,505 km 1.067-m gauge (2014)

standard gauge

293 km 1.435-m gauge

total

3,798 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 of ships; in 2012, 27 commercial vessels were boarded or attacked compared with 10 attacks in 2011; crews were robbed and stores or cargoes stolen; Nigerian pirates have extended the range of their attacks to as far away as Cote d'Ivoire

Waterways

8,600 km (Niger and Benue Rivers and smaller rivers and creeks) (2011)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

35,232,127 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

37,087,711

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

19,867,683 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

20,839,976

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

1,687,719 (2010 est.)

male

1,767,428

Military branches

Nigerian Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force (2013)

Military expenditures

0.89% of GDP (2012)

0.98% of GDP (2011)

0.89% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)

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 phaseout 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; location of Benin-Niger-Nigeria tripoint is unresolved

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

1,538,982 (Boko Haram attacks and counterinsurgency efforts in northern Nigeria; communal violence between Christians and Muslims in the middle belt region, political violence; flooding; forced evictions; cattle rustling; competition for resources) (2015)