Nigeria

Federal Republic of Nigeria

republic transitioning from military to civilianIndependence 1 October 1960 (from UK)

Nigeria as the 1999 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 106 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalAbuja

Position10 00 N, 8 00 E

Area923,770 sq km

LocationWestern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between

Populationas each edition published it

113.83 million July 1999 est. · 118.82m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.92% 1999 est. · 3.13% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 18 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

53.3 years 1999 est. · 54.7 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

6.02 children per woman 1999 est. · 6.5 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

69.46 deaths per 1,000 live births 1999 est. · 119 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$960 1998 est. · $300 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

1.6% 1998 est. · 3.6% in 1993

Geography

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

17 fields

Land useshare of 923,770 sq km

arable land 33%permanent crops 3%permanent pastures 44%forests and woodland 12%other 8% (1993 est.)irrigated 9,570 sq km (1993 est.)

Area

923,770sq km

land: 910,770 sq kmwater: 13,000 sq kmslightly more than twice the size of California

Coastline

853km

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 30 nm

Highest point

2,419m

Chappal Waddilowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Land boundaries

4,047km

border countries: Benin 773 km, Cameroon 1,690 km, Chad 87 km, Niger 1,497 km

Location

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

Climate

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

Terrain

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

Natural resources

petroleum, tin, columbite, iron ore, coal, limestone, lead, zinc, natural gas

Environment--current issues

soil degradation;
rapid deforestation;
desertification;
recent droughts in north severely affecting marginal agricultural activities

Environment--international agreements

party to:: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified:: none of the selected agreements

People

15 fields

Population

113,828,587

(July 1999 est.)growth rate: 2.92% (1999 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1999 est.)

Birth

41.84Death

12.98Net migration

0.31

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (1999 est.)53.3

52.55 · 54.06

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1995 est.)57.1%

67.3% · 47.3%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Religions

Muslim 50%Christian 40%indigenous beliefs 10%

Age structure

0-14 years:: 45% (male 25,613,974; female 25,397,166)
15-64 years:: 52% (male 30,272,539; female 29,197,611)
65 years and over:: 3% (male 1,678,732; female 1,668,565) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 1.01 male(s)/female
total population:: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate

69.46 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Nigerian(s)
adjective:: Nigerian

Ethnic groups

Hausa, Fulani, Yoruba, Ibo, Ijaw, Kanuri, Ibibio, Tiv

Languages

English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Ibo, Fulani

Government

Republic transitioning from military to civilian

18 fields

Legislature, 360 seatsseats by party

-PDP 206APP 74AD 68others 12

Country name

conventional long form:: Federal Republic of Nigeria
conventional short form:: Nigeria

Government type

republic transitioning from military to civilian rule

Capital

Abuja note: on 12 December 1991 the capital was officially moved from Lagos to Abuja; many government offices remain in Lagos pending completion of facilities in Abuja

30 states and 1 territory*; Abia, Abuja Federal Capital Territory*, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe; note: the government has announced the creation of six additional states named Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Gombe, Nassarawa, and Zamfara as part of the process of transition to a civilian government

Independence

1 October 1960 (from UK)

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 October (1960)

Constitution

1979 constitution still partially in force

Legal system

based on English common law, Islamic law, and tribal law

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:: Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council and Commander in Chief of Armed Forces Gen. Abdulsalami ABUBAKAR (since 9 June 1998) will remain chief of state and head of government until 29 May 1999 when President-elect Olusegun OBASANJO will be inaugurated
head of government:: Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council and Commander in Chief of Armed Forces Gen. Abdulsalami ABUBAKAR (since 9 June 1998) will remain chief of state and head of government until 29 May 1999 when President-elect Olusegun OBASANJO will be inaugurated
cabinet:: Federal Executive Council
elections:: the president is elected by popular vote for no more than two four-year terms; election last held 27 February 1999 (next election to be held NA 2003)
election results:: Olusegun OBASANJO (PDP) won the election with NA% of the vote, Olu FALAE (APP-AD) NA%

Legislative branch

bicameral National Assembly consists of Senate (109 seats, three from each state and one from the Federal Capital Territory; members elected by popular vote to serve seven-year terms) and House of Representatives (360 seats, members elected by popular vote to serve seven-year terms)

elections:: Senate--last held 20-24 February 1999 (next to be held NA 2006); House of Representatives--last held 20-24 February 1999 (next to be held NA 2006)
election results:: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA;
seats by party--PDP 61, APP 24, AD 20, other 4;
House of Representives--percent of vote by party--NA;
seats by party--PDP 206, APP 74, AD 68, others 12

note: the National Assembly was suspended by the military government following the military takeover on 17 November 1993; the new civilian government which was elected on 20 February 1999 is expected to be inaugurated on 29 May 1999

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, judges appointed by the Provisional Ruling Council;
Federal Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the federal government on the advice of the Advisory Judicial Committee

Political parties and leaders

political parties, suppressed by the military government, were allowed to form in July 1998;
three parties were registered by the Provisional Ruling Council for participation in local, state and national elections;
All People's

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, C (suspended), CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUA, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNPREDEP, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Wakili Hassan ADAMU
chancery:: 1333 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
consulate(s) general:: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador William H. TWADDELL
embassy:: 2 Eleke Crescent, Lagos
mailing address:: P. O. Box 554, Lagos

Flag description

three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green

Economy

The oil-rich Nigerian economy continues to be | hobbled by political instability, corruption, and poor macroeconomic | management.

31 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$960

purchasing power parity? · (1998 est.)

Real growth rate

1.6%

(1998 est.)industrial production growth: 4.1% (1996)

Inflation, consumer prices

15%

(1998 est.)

Unemployment rate

28%

(1992 est.)

GDP--composition by sector(1997 est.)

agriculture 33%industry 42%services 25% (1997 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

35%

14%

11%

Spain

11%

Germany

10%

France

Italy

Netherlands

Exports $9.7 billion (f.o.b., 1998)Imports $9.8 billion (f.o.b., 1998)(1997 est.)

Budget(1998 est.)

Revenues

$13.9 billionExpenditures

$13.9 billion

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA billion

Electricity

fossil fuel 60.94%hydro 39.06%nuclear 0% · other 0%

Electricity production

13.78 billion (1996)Electricity consumption

13.74 billion (1996)Electricity exports

50 million (1996)

Economy--overview

The oil-rich Nigerian economy continues to be hobbled by political instability, corruption, and poor macroeconomic management. Nigeria's unpopular military rulers have failed to make significant progress in diversifying the economy away from overdependence on the capital intensive oil sector which provides 30% of GDP, 95% of foreign exchange earnings, and about 80% of budgetary revenues.

The government's resistance to initiating greater transparency and accountability in managing the country's multibillion dollar oil earnings continues to limit economic growth and prevent an agreement with the IMF and bilateral creditors on a staff-monitored program and debt relief.

The largely subsistence agricultural sector has failed to keep up with rapid population growth, and Nigeria, once a large net exporter of food, now must import food. Growth in 1999 may become negative because of continued low oil prices and persistent inefficiencies in the system.

GDP

purchasing power parity--$106.2 billion (1998 est.)

Population below poverty line

34.1% (1992-93 est.)

Labor force

42.844 million

Labor force--by occupation

agriculture 54%, industry, commerce, and services 19%, government 15%

Industries

crude oil, coal, tin, columbite, palm oil, peanuts, cotton, rubber, wood, hides and skins, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food products, footwear, chemicals, fertilizer, printing, ceramics, steel

Agriculture--products

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

Exports

$9.7 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports--commodities

petroleum and petroleum products 95%, cocoa, rubber

Imports

$9.8 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports--commodities

machinery, chemicals, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food and animals

Debt--external

$32 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid--recipient

$39.2 million (1995)

Currency

1 naira (N) = 100 kobo

Exchange rates

nairas (N) per US$1--21.886 (December 1998), 21.886 (1998), 21.886 (1997), 21.895 (1995), 21.996 (1994)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

6 fields

Fixed lines

405,100

(1995 est.)

Telephone system

average system limited by poor maintenance; major expansion in progress

domestic:: intercity traffic is carried by coaxial cable, microwave radio relay, cellular network, and a domestic communications satellite system with 20 earth stations
international:: satellite earth stations--3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean); 1 coaxial submarine cable

Radio broadcast stations

AM 82, FM 32, shortwave 10 (1998 est.)

Radios

17.2 million (1998 est.)

Television broadcast stations

1 (government-controlled)

Televisions

6.1 million (1998 est.)

Transportation

10 fields

Merchant marine, 38 ships by typeone square, one ship · (1998 est.)

bulk 1cargo 13chemical tanker 3oil tanker 20roll-on/roll-off cargo 1

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

under 914 m

over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 8

Airports by runway lengthunpaved only

under 914 m

over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 16

Networkskm

Highways

51,000Railways

3,557

Highways: paved: 26,000 km (including 2,044 km of expressways) · unpaved: 25,000 km (1998 est.) note: many of the roads reported as paved may be graveled; because of poor maintenance and years of heavy freight traffic (in part the result of the failure of the railroad system), much of the road system is barely useable · Railways: narrow gauge: 3,505 km 1.067-m gauge · standard gauge: 52 km 1.435-m gauge (1995) note: years of neglect of both the rolling stock and the right-of-way have seriously reduced the capacity and utility of the system; a project to restore Nigeria's railways is now underway

Railways

total:: 3,557 km
narrow gauge:: 3,505 km 1.067-m gauge
standard gauge:: 52 km 1.435-m gauge (1995)

note: years of neglect of both the rolling stock and the right-of-way have seriously reduced the capacity and utility of the system; a project to restore Nigeria's railways is now underway

Highways

total:: 51,000 km
paved:: 26,000 km (including 2,044 km of expressways)
unpaved:: 25,000 km (1998 est.)

note: many of the roads reported as paved may be graveled; because of poor maintenance and years of heavy freight traffic (in part the result of the failure of the railroad system),

much of the road system is barely useable

Waterways

8,575 km consisting of the Niger and Benue rivers and smaller rivers and creeks

Pipelines

crude oil 2,042 km;
petroleum products 3,000 km;
natural gas 500 km

Military

Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Force

7 fields

Military expenditures--percent of GDP

0.7%

(1999)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes--international

delimitation of international boundaries in the vicinity of Lake Chad, the lack of which led to border incidents in the past, is completed and awaits ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria;
dispute with Cameroon over land and maritime boundaries around the Bakasi Peninsula is currently before the International Court of Justice;
maritime boundary dispute with Equatorial Guinea because of disputed jurisdiction over oil-rich areas in the Gulf of Guinea

Illicit drugs

facilitates movement of heroin en route from Southeast and Southwest Asia to Western Europe and North America;
increasingly a transit route for cocaine from South America intended for European, East Asian, and North American markets

Central Intelligence Agency. “Nigeria.” The World Factbook 1999. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/nigeria/1999.

How to cite ← 1998 edition 2000 edition →