Nigeria by the Numbers
by NIFES
The following facts are from NIFES, Nigerian Fellowship of Evangelical Students, an indigenously Nigerian student movement, affiliated as peers of Inter-Varsity Canada and InterVarsity USA.
Population
- In 2000 Nigeria's estimated population was 117,170,948.
- By 2025 the population is projected to grow to 203 million.
- The population is growing at an average of 3 percent annually.
- Birth rate of 41.4 per 1,000; death rate of 13 per 1,000.
- An infant mortality rate of 68 per 1,000 live births.
- 300-plus ethnic groups account for the final one-fifth of the population.
- The average life expectancy is 53 years.
Language
- Most Nigerians speak more than one language.
- English is the country's official language.
- Although, about 400 other native Nigerian languages have been identified.
Religion
- Islam, Christianity, and other indigenous religions are central to how Nigerians identify themselves.
- Clashes between religious groups have increased in the twentieth century.
- The largest clash happened in 1980 when radicals seized part of the city, Kano. The army quelled the uprising ten days later, with more than 4,000 casualties.
Society
- Nearly half of Nigerians are younger than 15 years.
- The average Nigerian woman gives birth six times in her lifetime.
- One-fifth of Nigerian children die before the age of five, primarily from treatable diseases such as malaria, measles, whooping cough, diarrhea, and pneumonia.
- Less than one half of infants are immunized against measles. Malnutrition affects more than 40 percent of children under the age of five.
- Wealth and power are distributed very unevenly in Nigerian society.
- The great majority of Nigerians, preoccupied with daily struggles to earn a living, have few material possessions and little chance of improving their lot.
- 42% of the population lives in cities.
- Nigeria is divided into 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
- The capital of Nigeria is Abuja.
- Lagos is the country's economic and cultural center.
- In 1998 Nigeria's gross national product (GNP) per capita was only $300, among the 20 lowest in the world.
NIFES says: "As you can see by these facts, the Nigerian people
need help, but most of all they need salvation. Help us help them, become involved
in NIFES. Your help can make a difference in the everyday struggles of life
in Nigeria."
Unless otherwise noted, all materials on the urbana.org web site are Copyright InterVarsity Christian Fellowship / USA. All rights reserved.
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