Language
English is the official language, but there are many local languages. The main regional languages are Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide

Population

2009	154.7 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009)
2007	144.3 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006)
2006	143.2 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2005	141.4 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2004	138.0 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2003	134.7 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2002	131.3 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2001	128.0 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2000	124.8 million	U.N. DESA (2006)

Future population estimates
289.1 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)

Ethnic groups
There are around 250 ethnic groups in the country, divided into four main groups: the Hausa and Fulani in the north, the Yoruba in the southwest and the Igbo in the southeast.
Source: NI World Guide

Religion
The north is predominantly Muslim, while the southeast is mainly Christian. There is a mix of Muslims, Christians and followers of traditional African religions in the southwest.
Source: NI World Guide

Percentage urban population

2007	49.8 percent	U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005
2006	49.0 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2005	48.2 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2004	47.3 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2003	46.5 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2002	45.6 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2001	44.8 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2000	43.9 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)

Year women granted right to vote
1958
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.

Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
No data available (2007)

Percentage of population under 15

2005	44.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	44.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	44.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	44.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	44.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	45.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Time zone
GMT +1

Climate description
Relatively high temperatures throughout the year. August and September are the rainiest months throughout the country.

Currency
Naira

Telephone dialling code
(+) 234

Driving (left/right)
Right

Average life expectancy

2005	46.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	43.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	43.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	51.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	51.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	51.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - male

2005	46.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	43.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	43.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	51.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	51.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	51.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - female

2005	47.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	43.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	43.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	52.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	52.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	51.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Infant mortality

2007	97 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	99 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	100 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	101 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	98 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	110 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	110 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	110 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five

2007	189 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	191 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	194 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	197 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	198 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	183 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	184 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Births attended by skilled personnel

1997-2005	35 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1996-2004	35 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1995-2002	42 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	42 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	42 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Maternal mortality

2005	1100 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2000	800 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006

Human development index (HDI rank)

2005	158	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	159	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	158	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	151	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	152	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	148	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)

2000-2007	29 percent	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2000-2006	29 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
1996-2005	29 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
1996-2004	29 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
1995-2003	29 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	No data available percent
1995-2001	27 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	27 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of undernourished population

2003-2005	9 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2008
2002-2004average	9 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006
2001-2003average	9 percent	FAO 2006

Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.

Population with access to improved water

2006	47 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	48 percent	UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006
2002	60 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	62 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Population with access to improved sanitation

2006	30 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	44 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2006
2002	38 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	54 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Literacy - average

2004	No data available percent
2003	66.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	66.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	65.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	63.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - male

2004	No data available percent
2003	74.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	74.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	73.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	72.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - female

2004	No data available percent
2003	59.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	59.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	57.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	55.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Landlines telephones

2008	9 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	11 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	12 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	9 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	8 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	7 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	5 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	5 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	4 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Cellular telephone subscribers

2008	417 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	274 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	224 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	132 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	67 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	24 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	12 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	0.2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Internet users

2008	73 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	68 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	60 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	38 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	14 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	6 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	3 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	1 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	0.7 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)

2008	121 (joint)	Transparency International 2008
2007	147 (joint)	Transparency International 2007
2006	142 (joint)	Transparency International
2005	152 (joint)	Transparency International
2004	144	Transparency International
2003	132	Transparency International
2002	101	Transparency International
2001	90	Transparency International
2000	90	Transparency International

Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
No (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Yes (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day

1990-2005	70.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	70.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	70.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1990-2002	70.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2001	70.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

GNI per capita, Atlas method

2007	920 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	790 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	620 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	530 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	410 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	350 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	310 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	270 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.

GDP

2007	165.5 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	146.9 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	112.2 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	87.8 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	67.7 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	59.1 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	48.0 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	46.0 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Annual GDP growth

2006	5.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005	7.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004	6.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003	10.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002	1.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001	3.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000	5.4 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

Annual inflation

2007	5.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	19.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	19.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	20.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	11.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	31.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	10.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	38.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
1.9 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
33.2 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Physicians

2000-2004	28 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	28 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	27 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2002	19 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)

2007	3.1 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2006	3.1 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2005	3.2 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2004	3.2 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2003	3.2 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008

Malaria
Risk from P.falciparum throughout the year in the whole country. Chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine resistance reported.
Source: WHO

TB cases

2007	311 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2006	319 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2005	327 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2004	331 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2003	328 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2002	314 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2001	294 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2000	272 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009

Number of refugees originating here

2008	14168	UNHCR
2007	13902	UNHCR
2006	13253	Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
2005	22098	UNHCR
2004	23888	UNHCR
2003	24430	UNHCR
2002	24572	UNHCR
2001	6084	UNHCR
2000	5742	UNHCR

Number of refugees residing here

2008	10124	UNHCR
2007	8460	UNHCR
2006	8768	UNHCR
2005	9019	UNHCR
2004	8395	UNHCR
2003	9171	UNHCR
2002	7355	UNHCR
2001	7200	UNHCR
2000	7270	UNHCR

Number of internally displaced people\Estimate

2007	Undetermined	Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) 2008
2006	Undetermined	Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) 2006

Landmine casualties per year

2004	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2005
2003	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2004

Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (2001 )
Source: Landmine Monitor Report

Percentage of GDP spent on military

2005	0.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	1.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	1.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005

Percentage of GDP spent on education
No data available percent

Percentage of GDP spent on health

2004	1.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2003-2004	1.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2002	1.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001	0.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	0.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003