The Federal Republic of Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, gained independence from the UK in October 1960. The country's army was a dominant political player until 1999, when civilian rule was instituted. The country is Africa's leading oil producer, but poverty is widespread. Ethnic and religious tensions are evident. The country's official language is English, with Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), and Fulani widely spoken.

Leader: President Goodluck Jonathan
Capital city: Abuja

Economic profile

Monetary unit: Nigerian naira
GDP per capita: $2 500 (2010) (CIA)
GDP composition by sector:
Agriculture: 31.9% (2010) (CIA)
Industry: 32.9%(2010) (CIA)
Services: 35.2% (2010) (CIA)
GDP growth rate: 8.4% (2010) (CIA)
Budget:
Government revenue, excluding grants: $18.16-billion (2010) (CIA)
Government expenditure: $29.55-billion (2010) (CIA)
Consumer price inflation: 11.6% (2010) (CIA)
Industries: Crude oil, coal, tin, columbite; palm oil, peanuts, cotton, rubber, wood; hides and skins, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food products, footwear, chemicals, fertilizer, printing, ceramics, steel, small commercial ship construction and repair
Exports of goods and services: $76.33-billion (2010) (CIA)
Imports of goods and services: $34.18-billion (2010) (CIA)
Export commodities: Petroleum and petroleum products 95%, cocoa, and rubber
Import commodities: Machinery, chemicals, transport equipment, manufactured goods, food and live animals
Trade balance: $27.77-billion (2010) (CIA)
Reserves: $43.36-billion (2010) (CIA)
Total investment: 11.6% of GDP (2010) (CIA)
Market capitalisation of listed companies: $33.32-billion (2009) (CIA)

Social profile

Population: 154,72- million (2011) (World Bank)
Population growth: 2.3% (2011) (World Bank)
Life expectancy at birth: 48.1 years (2011) (World Bank)
Adult literacy: 60.1% (2009) (World Bank)
School enrolment primary: 93.1% (2008) (World Bank)
School enrolment secondary: 30.5% (2008) (World Bank)
Unemployment: 4.9% (2007) (UNStats)
Number of people living with HIV/Aids: 3.3-million (2009) (Unicef)

Election profile

Postelection report