Nigeria at a glance        0  629 reads

Geography

Area: 923.8 thousand sq. km. (356,700 sq. mi.) about the size of California, Nevada, and Arizona. Cities: Capital--Abuja (pop. est. 1.6 million). Other cities--Lagos (11.4 million), Kano (3.3 million), Ibadan (3.3 million), Benin City (1.2 million), Port Harcourt (1.2 million), Maiduguri (1.1 million), Zaria (1.0 million). Terrain: Ranges from southern coastal swamps to tropical forests, open woodlands, grasslands, and semi-desert in the far north. The highest regions are the Jos Plateau 1,200-2,400 meters above sea level and the mountains along the border with Cameroon. Climate: Annual rainfall ranges from 381 cm. along the coast to 64 cm. or less in the far north.


People

Nationality: Noun and adjective--Nigerian(s). Population (2010): 152 million. Population growth rate (2010): 2.0%. Total fertility rate (avg. number of children per woman in 2010): 4.82. Ethnic groups (250): Hausa-Fulani, Igbo, Yoruba, and Kanuri are the largest. Religions: Muslim, Christian, indigenous African. Languages: English (official), Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, Fulani, Kanuri, others. Education: Attendance (secondary)--male 32%, female 27%. Literacy--39%-51%. Health: Life expectancy (2010)--47 years.


Government

Type: Federal republic. Independence: October 1, 1960. Constitution: The 1999 constitution (based largely on the 1979 constitution) was promulgated by decree on May 5, 1999 and came into force on May 29, 1999. Subdivisions: 36 states plus Federal Capital Territory (Abuja); states divided into a total of 774 local government areas. Budget (2009): $21.3 billion, of which recurrent expenditures constitute $11.1 billion, capital expenditures $7 billion, statutory transfers $1.1 billion, and debt service $2 billion. Critical sectors--security and the Niger Delta (20%); education (8%); transportation (7%); agriculture and water (5%); and energy (5%). Indebtedness, including federal/state government debt, as percentage of GDP: 3%.


Economy

GDP (2009): $339 billion (agriculture 33%; industry 34%; services 23%). Real GDP growth rate (2009): 6.1%. Per capita GDP (2009): $2,300. Inflation (2009): 11.5%. Natural resources: Oil and natural gas (37% of 2006 GDP), tin, columbite, iron ore, coal, limestone, lead, zinc. Agriculture: Products--cocoa, palm oil, yams, cassava, sorghum, millet, corn, rice, livestock, groundnuts, cotton. Industry: Types--textiles, cement, food products, footwear, metal products, lumber, beer, detergents, car assembly. Trade (2007): Exports--$65.5 billion: fuels and mining products (97%); agricultural products (cocoa, rubber, oil, nuts) (2.2%); manufactures (0.8%). Partners--United States (38.3%); European Union (21.8%); India (9.9%); Brazil (6.8%); Japan (4%). Imports--$29.5 billion: machinery; chemicals; transport equipment; manufactured goods (72.3%); agricultural products (23.7%), fuels and mining products (4%). Partners--European Union (33.2%); United States (15.6%); China 7.2%; Korea (2.8%); U.A.E. (2.6%); others (15%). Foreign direct investment (FDI, 2008): 29.5% of GDP. Official development assistance (2006): $11.434 billion. Currency: Naira (150 Naira = U.S. $1 as of March 23, 2010).

Background

British influence and control over what would become Nigeria 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.

National bird" black crowned crane, Balearica pavonina "

National colours > Some well-known national colours > Primary colours

SOURCES
All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008; New Zealand Birds; Wikipedia: National colours

ALTERNATIVE NAMES

Nigeria, Federal Republic of Nigeria

Identification
 

15 character
Nigeria
30 character
Nigeria
Country name Nigeria
Country name > Conventional long form
Federal Republic of Nigeria
Country name > Conventional short form Nigeria
ISO code 566
ISO long NGA
ISO short NG
Native names Nigeria
Oceanographic code NI
Translation > Catalan Nigeria
Translation > French Nigeria
Translation > German
Nigeria
Translation > Italian
Nigeria
Translation > Portugese Nigeria
Translation > Spanish
Nigeria
UN code 566


 

SOURCES
CIA World Factbook, 28 July 2005; All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008; Microsoft.com; Wkipedia; IOC country codes

ALTERNATIVE NAMES

Nigeria, Federal Republic of Nigeria

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Nigeria at a glance
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Economy(2)
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