Nigeria

Africa's most populous country — the 'Giant of Africa'

Nigeria is Africa's most populous country: 223 million people — one in every five Africans is Nigerian! More than 500 languages are spoken here. Nigeria's film industry, 'Nollywood', makes 2,500 films a year — more than Hollywood! Lagos is one of Africa's biggest cities (20 million). Nigerian footballers and music (Afrobeats) are famous around the world. The Niger River gave the country its name.

Capital: Abuja. Language: English + 500 languages (Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo).

The Federal Republic of Nigeria covers 923,768 km² with 223 million people (1st in Africa, 6th in the world, median age 18; projected 400 million by 2050), 36 states, over 250 ethnic groups (Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba, Igbo) and 500+ languages. Nature: the Niger and Benue rivers, the mangrove delta (Africa's largest), savanna (north), rainforest (south), the Sahel. History: the Nok culture (1500 BC — terracotta), Ife and Benin (bronzes, 13th–15th centuries), Kanem-Bornu, the Hausa city-states, the Sokoto Caliphate (1804), Britain (amalgamation 1914), independence in 1960, the Biafran War 1967–1970, democracy since 1999, the capital moved from Lagos to Abuja in 1991. Economy: 1st–2nd in Africa, oil (1st in Africa), Nollywood (2,500 films a year, 2nd in the world), fintech (Flutterwave). Culture: Afrobeats (Burna Boy, Wizkid), Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka (Nobel 1986). Football: 3-time African champions, Olympic gold in 1996. Religion: Islam (north) and Christianity (south) in equal measure.

Fun facts

• One in five Africans is Nigerian.
• Nollywood makes 2,500 films a year — more than Hollywood.
• Over 500 languages are spoken in Nigeria.