AN OVERVIEW OF NIGERIA
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.
Nationality: |
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noun: Nigerian(s)
adjective:
Nigerian |
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Ethnic groups: |
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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% |
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Languages: |
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English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani, over 500 additional indigenous languages |
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Religions: |
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Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous beliefs 10% |
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Population: |
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174,507,539 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
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 |
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Age structure: |
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0-14 years: 43.8% (male 39,127,615/female 37,334,281)
15-24 years:
19.3% (male 17,201,067/female 16,451,357)
25-54 years:
30.1% (male 25,842,967/female 26,699,432)
55-64 years:
3.8% (male 3,016,896/female 3,603,048)
65 years and over:
3% (male 2,390,154/female 2,840,722) (2013 est.) |
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Median age: |
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total: 17.9 years
male:
17.4 years
female:
18.4 years (2013 est.) |
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Population growth rate: |
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2.54% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28 |
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Birth rate: |
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38.78 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13 |
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Death rate: |
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13.2 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18 |
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Net migration rate: |
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-0.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118 |
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Urbanization: |
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urban population: 50% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:
3.5% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.) |
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Major urban areas - population: |
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Lagos 10.203 million; Kano 3.304 million; Ibadan 2.762 million; ABUJA (capital) 1.857 million; Kaduna 1.519 million (2009) |
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Sex ratio: |
< |
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years:
1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years:
1.05 male(s)/female
25-54 years:
0.97 male(s)/female
55-64 years:
0.85 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.85 male(s)/female
total population:
1.01 male(s)/female (2013 est.) |
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Maternal mortality rate: |
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630 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 10 |
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Infant mortality rate: |
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total: 72.97 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 15
male:
77.98 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
67.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth: |
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total population: 52.46 years
country comparison to the world: 211
male:
49.35 years
female:
55.77 years (2013 est.) |
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Total fertility rate: |
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5.31 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13 |
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Health expenditures: |
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5.1% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world: 139 |
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Physicians density: |
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0.4 physicians/1,000 population (2008) |
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Hospital bed density: |
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0.53 beds/1,000 population (2004) |
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Drinking water source: |
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improved:
urban: 74% of population
rural: 43% of population
total: 58% of population
unimproved:
urban: 26% of population
rural: 57% of population
total: 42% of population (2010 est.) |
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Sanitation facility access: |
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improved:
urban: 35% of population
rural: 27% of population
total: 31% of population
unimproved:
urban: 65% of population
rural: 73% of population
total: 69% of population (2010 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |
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3.6% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17 |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: |
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3.3 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2 |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths: |
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220,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2 |
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Major infectious diseases: |
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degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases:
bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease:
malaria and yellow fever
respiratory disease:
meningococcal meningitis
aerosolized dust or soil contact disease:
one of the most highly endemic areas for Lassa fever
water contact disease:
leptospirosis and shistosomiasis
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) |
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Obesity - adult prevalence rate: |
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6.5% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 146 |
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Children under the age of 5 years underweight: |
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26.7% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 23 |
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Education expenditures: |
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NA |
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Literacy: |
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
61.3%
male:
72.1%
female:
50.4% (2010 est.) |
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School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): |
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total: 9 years
male:
10 years
female:
8 years (2005) | |
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Economy - overview: |
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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, removing subsidies, and resolving regional disputes over the distribution of earnings from the oil industry. GDP rose strongly in 2007-12 because of growth in non-oil sectors and robust global crude oil prices. President JONATHAN has established an economic team that includes experienced and reputable members and has announced plans to increase transparency, diversify economic growth, and improve fiscal management. Lack of infrastructure and slow implementation of reforms are key impediments to growth. The government is working toward developing stronger public-private partnerships for roads, agriculture, and power. Nigeria''s financial sector was hurt by the global financial and economic crises, but the Central Bank governor has taken measures to restructure and strengthen the sector to include imposing mandatory higher minimum capital requirements. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity): |
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$450.5 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
$420.8 billion (2011 est.)
$391.9 billion (2010 est.)
note:
data are in 2012 US dollars |
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GDP (official exchange rate): |
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$272.6 billion (2012 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate: |
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7.1% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
7.4% (2011 est.)
8% (2010 est.) |
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GDP - per capita (PPP): |
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$2,700 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
$2,600 (2011 est.)
$2,500 (2010 est.)
note:
data are in 2012 US dollars |
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GDP - composition by sector: |
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agriculture: 30.9%
industry:
43%
services:
26% (2012 est.) |
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Labor force: |
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53.83 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11 |
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Labor force - by occupation: |
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agriculture: 70%
industry:
10%
services:
20% (1999 est.) |
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Unemployment rate: |
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23.9% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
4.9% (2007 est.) |
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Population below poverty line: |
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70% (2010 est.) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share: |
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lowest 10%: 1.8%
highest 10%:
38.2% (2010 est.) |
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Distribution of family income - Gini index: |
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43.7 (2003)
country comparison to the world: 47
50.6 (1997) |
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Investment (gross fixed): |
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18.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112 |
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Budget: |
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revenues: $23.48 billion
expenditures:
$31.61 billion (2012 est.) |
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Taxes and other revenues: |
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8.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212 |
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Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): |
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-3% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112 |
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Public debt: |
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18.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
17.8% of GDP (2011 est.) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices): |
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12.1% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
10.8% (2011 est.) |
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Central bank discount rate: |
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4.25% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
6% (31 December 2009 est.) |
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Commercial bank prime lending rate: |
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16% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
16.02% (31 December 2011 est.) |
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Stock of narrow money: |
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$40.66 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
$38.87 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
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Stock of broad money: |
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$80.1 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
$74.08 billion (31 December 2010 est.) |
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Stock of domestic credit: |
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$95.2 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
$89.37 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
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Market value of publicly traded shares: |
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$39.27 billion (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 51
$50.88 billion (31 December 2010)
$33.32 billion (31 December 2009) |
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Agriculture - products: |
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cocoa, peanuts, cotton, palm oil, corn, rice, sorghum, millet, cassava (tapioca), yams, rubber; cattle, sheep, goats, pigs; timber; fish |
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Industries: |
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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 |
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Industrial production growth rate: |
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2.5% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104 |
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Current account balance: |
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$6.158 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
$8.686 billion (2011 est.) |
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Exports: |
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$97.46 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
$92.47 billion (2011 est.) |
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Exports - commodities: |
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petroleum and petroleum products 95%, cocoa, rubber |
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Exports - partners: |
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US 29.1%, India 11.6%, Brazil 7.8%, Spain 7.1%, France 5%, Netherlands 4.3% (2011) |
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Imports: |
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$70.58 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
$61.63 billion (2011 est.) |
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Imports - commodities: |
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machinery, chemicals, transport equipment, manufactured goods, food and live animals |
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Imports - partners: |
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China 17.3%, US 9.1%, India 5%, Netherlands 4.9%, South Korea 4.7% (2011) |
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: |
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$42.8 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
$35.21 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
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Debt - external: |
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$10.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
$9.64 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
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Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: |
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$85.73 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
$78.22 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
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Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: |
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$11.23 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
$10.34 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
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Exchange rates: |
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nairas (NGN) per US dollar -
157.3 (2012 est.)
154.7 (2011 est.)
150.3 (2010 est.)
148.9 (2009)
117.8 (2008) |
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Fiscal year: |
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calendar year | |
Electricity - production: |
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18.82 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
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Electricity - consumption: |
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17.66 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
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Electricity - exports: |
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0 kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
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Electricity - imports: |
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0 kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
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Electricity - installed generating capacity: |
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5.898 million kW (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
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Electricity - from fossil fuels: |
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67.1% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
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Electricity - from nuclear fuels: |
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0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
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Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: |
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32.9% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
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Electricity - from other renewable sources: |
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0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
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Crude oil - production: |
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2.525 million bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
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Crude oil - exports: |
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2.051 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
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Crude oil - imports: |
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0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
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Crude oil - proved reserves: |
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38.5 billion bbl (1 January 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
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Refined petroleum products - production: |
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102,100 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
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Refined petroleum products - consumption: |
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271,600 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
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Refined petroleum products - exports: |
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15,470 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
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Refined petroleum products - imports: |
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133,400 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
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Natural gas - production: |
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29 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
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Natural gas - consumption: |
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4.97 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
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Natural gas - exports: |
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24.02 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
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Natural gas - imports: |
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0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
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Natural gas - proved reserves: |
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5.11 trillion cu m (1 January 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
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Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy: |
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80.51 million Mt (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
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Telephones - main lines in use: |
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719,400 (2011)
country comparison to the world: 89
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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95.167 million (2011)
country comparison to the world: 12
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Telephone system: |
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general assessment: further expansion and modernization of the fixed-line telephone network is needed; network quality remains a problem
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
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)
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Broadcast media: |
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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)
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Internet country code: |
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.ng
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Internet hosts: |
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1,234 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 169
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Internet users: |
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43.989 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 9
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Airports: |
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53 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 89
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Airports - with paved runways: |
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total: 40
over 3,047 m:
10
2,438 to 3,047 m:
12
1,524 to 2,437 m:
9
914 to 1,523 m:
6
under 914 m:
3 (2012)
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Airports - with unpaved runways: |
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total: 13
1,524 to 2,437 m:
3
914 to 1,523 m:
8
under 914 m:
2 (2012)
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Heliports: |
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5 (2012)
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Pipelines: |
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condensate 26 km; gas 2,756 km; liquid petroleum gas 97 km; oil 3,441 km; refined products 4,090 km (2010)
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Railways: |
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total: 3,505 km
country comparison to the world: 49
narrow gauge:
3,505 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)
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Roadways: |
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total: 193,200 km
country comparison to the world: 25
paved:
28,980 km
unpaved:
164,220 km (2004)
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Waterways: |
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8,600 km (Niger and Benue rivers and smaller rivers and creeks) (2011)
country comparison to the world: 15
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Merchant marine: |
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total: 89
country comparison to the world: 54
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)
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Ports and terminals: |
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Bonny Inshore Terminal, Calabar, Lagos
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Transportation - note: |
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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; 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
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Military branches: |
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Nigerian Armed Forces (Forces Armees Nigeriennes, FAN): Army, Nigerien Air Force (Force Aerienne du Niger) (2008)
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Military service age and obligation: |
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18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)
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Manpower available for military service: |
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males age 16-49: 37,087,711
females age 16-49:
35,232,127 (2010 est.)
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Manpower fit for military service: |
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males age 16-49: 20,839,976
females age 16-49:
19,867,683 (2010 est.)
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Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: |
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male: 1,767,428
female:
1,687,719 (2010 est.)
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Military expenditures: |
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0.9% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 140
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Disputes - international: |
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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; location of Benin-Niger-Nigeria tripoint is unresolved
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Refugees and internally displaced persons: |
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refugees (country of origin): 5,299 (Liberia) (2011)
IDPs:
undetermined (communal violence between Christians and Muslims, political violence; flooding; forced evictions; competition for resources; displacement is mostly short-term) (2012)
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Illicit drugs: |
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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
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