Nigeria

Federal Republic of Nigeria

republic transitioning from military to civilian ruleIndependence 1 October 1960 (from UK)

Nigeria as the 2000 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 109 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

Area923,768 sq km

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

Populationas each edition published it

123.34 million July 2000 est. · 118.82m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.67% 2000 est. · 3.13% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 18 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

51.56 years 2000 est. · 54.7 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

5.66 children per woman 2000 est. · 6.5 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

74.18 deaths per 1,000 live births 2000 est. · 119 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$970 1999 est. · $300 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

2.7% 1999 est. · 3.6% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

Following nearly 16 years of military rule, a new constitution was adopted in 1999 and a peaceful transition to civilian government completed. The new president faces the daunting task of rebuilding a petroleum-based economy, whose revenues have been squandered through corruption and mismanagement, and institutionalizing democracy. In addition, the OBASANJO administration must defuse longstanding ethnic and religious tensions, if it is to build a sound foundation for economic growth and political stability.

Geography

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

17 fields

Land useshare of 923,768 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

923,768sq km

land: 910,768 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: 12 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

Geographic coordinates

10 00 N, 8 00 E

Map references

Africa

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, hydropower, arable land

Natural hazards

periodic droughts

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

123,337,822

growth rate: 2.67% (2000 est.)

Note

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 and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2000 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2000 est.)

Birth

40.16Death

13.72Net migration

0.28

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2000 est.)51.56

51.58 · 51.55

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:: 44% (male 27,181,020; female 26,872,317)
15-64 years:: 53% (male 33,495,794; female 32,337,193)
65 years and over:: 3% (male 1,729,149; female 1,722,349) (2000 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 male(s)/female
total population:: 1.02 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Infant mortality rate

74.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.66 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Nigerian(s)
adjective:: Nigerian

Ethnic groups

Nigeria, which is 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%

Languages

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

Government

Republic transitioning from military to civilian rule; President Olusegun OBASANJO (since 29 May 1999); President Olusegun OBASANJO (since 29 May 1999)

18 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

62.8%

Olusegun OBASANJO 62.8%Olu FALAE (APP-AD) 37.2%election last held 27 February 1999 (next to be held NA 2003)

Senate, 360 seats, elected 20-24 February 1999seats by party

PDP 215APP 75AD 70

Percent of vote

PDP 58%APP 23%AD 19%

Country name

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

Data code

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

Administrative divisions

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

Independence

1 October 1960 (from UK)

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 October (1960)

Constitution

NA 1999 new constitution adopted

Legal system

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:: President Olusegun OBASANJO (since 29 May 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:: President Olusegun OBASANJO (since 29 May 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet:: Federal Executive Council
elections:: president is elected by popular vote for no more than two four-year terms; election last held 27 February 1999 (next to be held NA 2003)
election results:: Olusegun OBASANJO (PDP) elected president; percent of vote - Olusegun OBASANJO 62.8%, Olu FALAE (APP-AD) 37.2%

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 four-year terms) and House of Representatives (360 seats, members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections:: Senate - last held 20-24 February 1999 (next to be held NA 2003); House of Representatives - last held 20-24 February 1999 (next to be held NA 2003)
election results:: Senate - percent of vote by party - PDP 58%, APP 23%, AD 19%;
seats by party - PDP 65, APP 24, AD 20;
House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PDP 58%, APP 30%, AD 12%;
seats by party - PDP 215, APP 75, AD 70

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

All People's Party or APP [Alhaji Yusuf ALI];
Alliance for Democracy or AD [Yusuf MAMMAN];
People's Democratic Party or PDP [Barnabas GEMADE]

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, C, 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, NAM, OAU, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Jibril AMINU
chancery:: 1333 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:: [1] (202) 986-8400
FAX:: [1] (202) 775-1385
consulate(s) general:: Atlanta and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador William H. TWADDELL
embassy:: 2 Walter Carrington Crescent, Lagos
mailing address:: P. O. Box 554, Lagos
telephone:: [234] (1) 261-0097
FAX:: [234] (1) 261-0257

Flag description

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

Economy

The oil-rich Nigerian economy, long hobbled by political instability, corruption, and poor macroeconomic management, is undergoing substantial economic reform under the new civilian administration.

31 fields

Real growth rate

2.7%

(1999 est.)industrial production growth: NA%

Inflation, consumer prices

12.5%

(1999 est.)

Unemployment rate

28%

(1992 est.)

Population below poverty line

34.1%

(1992-93 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(1997 est.)

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

Electricity

fossil fuel 61.69%hydro 38.31%nuclear 0% · other 0%

Electricity production

14.75 billion (1998)Electricity consumption

13.717 billion (1998)

Economy - overview

The oil-rich Nigerian economy, long hobbled by political instability, corruption, and poor macroeconomic management, is undergoing substantial economic reform under the new civilian administration. Nigeria's former military rulers failed to diversify the economy away from overdependence on the capital-intensive oil sector, which provides 20% of GDP, 95% of foreign exchange earnings, and about 65% of budgetary revenues.

The largely subsistence agricultural sector has not kept up with rapid population growth, and Nigeria, once a large net exporter of food, now must import food. In 2000, Nigeria is likely to receive a debt-restructuring deal with the Paris club and a $1 billion loan from the IMF, both contingent on economic reforms. Increased foreign investment combined with high world oil prices should push growth to over 5% in 2000-01.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $110.5 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $970 (1999 est.)

Labor force

42.844 million

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 54%, industry 6%, services 40% (1999 est.)

Budget

revenues:: $NA
expenditures:: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

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

$13.1 billion (f.o.b., 1999)

Exports - commodities

petroleum and petroleum products 95%, cocoa, rubber

Exports - partners

US 35%, Spain 11%, India 9%, France 6%, Italy (1998 est.)

Imports

$10 billion (f.o.b., 1999)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

UK 13%, US 12%, Germany 10%, France 9%, Netherlands (1998 est.)

Debt - external

$29 billion (1999 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$39.2 million (1995)

Currency

1 naira (N) = 100 kobo

Exchange rates

nairas (N) per US$1 - 96.261 (October 1999), 99 (1999), 21.886 (1998), 21.886 (1997), 21.895 (1995)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

8 fields

Mobile cellular

10,000

(1999)

Internet users

(1999)

Fixed lines

405,000

(1995)

Telephone system

an inadequate system, further limited by poor maintenance; major expansion is required and a start has been made

domestic:: intercity traffic is carried by coaxial cable, microwave radio relay, a domestic communications satellite system with 19 earth stations, and a coastal submarine cable;
mobile cellular facilities and the Internet are available
international:: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean); coaxial submarine cable SAFE (South African Far East)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 82, FM 35, shortwave 11 (1998)

Radios

23.5 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations

2 government-controlled; note - in addition, in 1993, 14 licenses to operate private television stations were granted (1999)

Televisions

6.9 million (1997)

Transportation

10 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

over 3,047 m

2,438 to 3,047 m

1,524 to 2,437 m

914 to 1,523 m

under 914 m

Paved 37Unpaved 34

Networkskm

Highways

194,394Railways

3,557

Highways: paved: 60,068 km (including 1,194 km of expressways) · unpaved: 134,326 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 usable · Railways: narrow gauge: 3,505 km 1.067-m gauge · standard gauge: 52 km 1.435-m gauge 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

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:: 194,394 km
paved:: 60,068 km (including 1,194 km of expressways)
unpaved:: 134,326 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 usable

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

Ports and harbors

Calabar, Lagos, Onne, Port Harcourt, Sapele, Warri

Merchant marine

total:: 40 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 360,505 GRT/644,471 DWT
ships by type:: bulk 1, cargo 12, chemical tanker 4, petroleum tanker 22, specialized tanker 1 (1999 est.)

Airports

71 (1999 est.)

Heliports

1 (1999 est.)

Military

Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Force

7 fields

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.7%

(FY99)

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, has been 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 ICJ;
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 [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Central Intelligence Agency. “Nigeria.” The World Factbook 2000. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/nigeria/2000.

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