Nigeria is located in western Africa, bordering the Gulf of
Guinea, between Benin and Cameroon. The climate varies with
altitude; equatorial in the south, tropical in the center, and arid
in the north. Natural resources include natural gas, petroleum,
tin, iron ore, coal, limestone, niobium, lead, zinc, arable land.
Natural hazards consist of periodic droughts and flooding. The
government is a federal republic. Nigeria declared their
independence from the United Kingdom on October 1, 1960. Nigeria is
Africa’s most populated country with a total population of
149,299,090 which is ranked 8th worldwide. Languages include
English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), and Fulani.
Industries in Nigeria primarily focus on the production of crude
oil, coal, tin, palm oil, peanuts, cotton, rubber, wood, and small
commercial ship construction and repair. As of 2007, it is
estimated that 70% of Nigeria population is below the poverty
line.
GDP (purchasing power parity): $335.4
billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,300 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
Currency:
1 United States Dollar = 152
Nigerian Naira (NGN)
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
Infant Mortality Rate
total: 94.35 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 13
male: 100.38 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 87.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life Expectancy at Birth
total population: 46.94 years
country comparison to the world: 212
male: 46.16 years
female: 47.76 years (2009 est.)
Total Fertility Rate
4.91 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 68%
male: 75.7%
female: 60.6% (2003 est.)
Unemployment Rate
4.9% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60