Visit Nigeria · Fact sheet · 36 states + FCT
Nigeria at a glance
Federal Republic of Nigeria — Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress. ≈223 million (2024 est.) — Africa's most populous country and the world's 6th largest. Africa's largest economy and cultural powerhouse. Use the map below to open a fact sheet + travel guide for every state.
Legend — 6 geopolitical zones + FCT
Click a zone to highlight its states on the map.
Nigeria fact sheet
Population
≈223 million (2024 est.) — Africa's most populous country and the world's 6th largest.
Size
≈923,768 km² — roughly the size of Venezuela, or 4× the UK.
Capital
Abuja (since 1991; Lagos remains the commercial capital)
Currency
Naira (₦, NGN)
Independence
1 October 1960 (from Britain)
Nominal GDP
≈US$253 billion nominal (2023, IMF). Largest economy in West Africa.
Time zone
West Africa Time (WAT, UTC+1) — no daylight saving
Calling code
+234
Largest city
Lagos (≈20+ million metro)
Languages
- English (official)
- Hausa (~60m speakers)
- Yoruba (~40m)
- Igbo (~30m)
- Fulfulde, Kanuri, Ibibio, Tiv, Nupe, Edo — 500+ languages total
Ethnic groups
- Hausa-Fulani (~30%)
- Yoruba (~15%)
- Igbo (~15%)
- Ijaw, Kanuri, Ibibio, Tiv, Efik, Nupe, Edo — 250+ ethnic groups
Religions
- Islam (~50%, majority north)
- Christianity (~46%, majority south)
- Traditional beliefs (~4%)
Iconic foods
- Jollof rice — Nigeria vs. Ghana debate settled every day
- Egusi soup with pounded yam
- Suya (spiced grilled beef)
- Pepper soup (goat, catfish, or offal)
- Amala with ewedu and gbegiri
- Moi moi (steamed bean pudding)
- Akara + pap (bean cakes + fermented corn pudding)
- Nkwobi (spiced cow foot)
- Ofada rice with ayamase sauce
- Chin chin, puff-puff, meat pie
Natural resources
- Petroleum & natural gas (Niger Delta) — largest oil producer in Africa
- Solid minerals: tin, limestone, coal, iron ore, lead-zinc, gold, barytes, gypsum
- Agricultural: cocoa, palm oil, groundnuts, rubber, sesame, cassava (world's largest producer), yam (world's largest producer)
- Fisheries and livestock
- Bitumen (world's second-largest reserve, largely untapped)
Culture & values
- Family and community first — extended family networks central to daily life
- Respect for elders (kneeling/prostrating varies by ethnic group)
- Hospitality — refusing food/water offered is considered rude in most cultures
- Traditional titles and chieftaincy still deeply respected
- Communal celebration — weddings, funerals, naming ceremonies are large affairs
- Religious observance visible in daily life (church, mosque, traditional festivals)
- Music, dance, fashion — Afrobeats, ankara, gele, agbada, isi-agu, kaftan
- Entrepreneurship ("hustling") celebrated — millions run small businesses
Notable Nigerians
- Chinua Achebe (author of Things Fall Apart)
- Wole Soyinka (Nobel Laureate in Literature, 1986)
- Fela Kuti (Afrobeat pioneer)
- Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (author, feminist)
- Nnamdi Azikiwe (first President)
- Aliko Dangote (industrialist, Africa's richest person)
- Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (WTO Director-General)
- Burna Boy, Wizkid, Davido, Tems, Rema, Ayra Starr (Afrobeats to the world)
- Anthony Joshua, Israel Adesanya (boxing / MMA)
- Ken Saro-Wiwa (writer and environmental activist)
- Genevieve Nnaji, Rita Dominic, Ramsey Nouah (Nollywood)
Explore all 36 states + FCT
Grouped by geopolitical zone. Click any state to see its fact sheet + places to visit.