Population of Nigeria: strength. Density of population in Nigeria

Nigeria is one of the largest and one of the most interesting countries on the African continent. The indigenous population of Nigeria is about 250 nationalities! It is this ethnic diversity that attracts the bulk of tourists to this country. What is the density and population of Nigeria? You will learn about this from our article.

Nigeria - the largest country in Africa

Nigeria is a federal republic located in the equatorial belt of the mainland. The climate of the country is characterized by high humidity, as well as average annual temperature indicators. The state has direct access to the Atlantic Ocean (to its Gulf of Guinea).

The country is the most populated in Africa. And the population of Nigeria is growing rapidly. Nigeria is a multinational and polylinguistic country. Even in neighboring villages they can speak different local dialects. Nigeria is also characterized by religious diversity. Thus, about 40% of the population consider themselves Muslims, 40% - Christians, and another 20% are adherents of various local beliefs.

Nigeria: the population of the country (basic statistical indicators)

The demographic situation of this country is characterized by high mortality rates. But at the same time, Nigeria is characterized by very high fertility rates. As a result, the dynamics of the number of residents is positive.

Every year, the population of Nigeria increases by an average of one million people. Every day about 9,000 babies are born in the country.

The demographic situation in Nigeria is complicated by a number of acute and urgent problems. Thus, for the country, high rates of child and maternal mortality are typical. According to statistics, about 5-6 percent of Nigeria's population is infected with the HIV virus. The average life expectancy in the country is low and is 47 years.

One of the indicators that determine the economic well-being of a country is the size of the gross domestic product (GDP per capita). Nigeria in the ranking of countries in this indicator is not the worst. So, as of 2015, the GDP per capita here is about 900 US dollars. For countries in Africa, this is quite a high figure. Here it is worth recalling that the state's economy is based on the oil industry (Nigeria is one of the leaders in oil production in Africa).

Population dynamics in Nigeria by years

The population of Nigeria is growing rapidly every year. The data on how it has changed over the past 50 years are presented in the table below.

As can be seen from the table, the most active population growth in Nigeria began around the end of the last millennium. As of April 2015, the population counter of Nigeria stopped at 174.5 million mark. And this figure, according to the forecasts of demographers, will continue to increase rapidly in the coming years.

Density of population in Nigeria

The average density of the population of Nigeria is 188 people / km ² . This is a rather high indicator not only for Africa, but for the whole world.

The density of the population of Nigeria is very different in the regions of the country. So, its maximum indicators are characteristic for the so-called coastal states, which have access to the ocean. For comparison: in the state of Taraba, which is located in the interior of the country, the population density is about 40 people / km ² , but in Lagos state on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea this figure exceeds 2,000 people / km ² .

In general, the entire southeast of Nigeria is characterized by a high population density. In the south-western part of the country it is somewhat lower. But the northern and central states are characterized by an extremely low population. The only exception in the north of the country can be considered the state of Cano, where the population density in some areas reaches 600 people / km ² .

The strip of the weakest population of land in Nigeria starts from the state of Quara, runs along the Niger River valley and ends in the state of Borno.

The level of urbanization and the largest cities in Nigeria

The population of Nigeria (mostly) lives in rural areas. Citizens make up about 40 percent. The leaders in terms of urbanization are the states in the southwestern part of Nigeria. The main and largest cities of the state are Abuja, Lagos, Abeokuta, Ibadan, Zaria, Ivo, Kano and others.

Abuja is a city in the center of the country, which is its modern capital (since 1991). The capital was moved to this small town by the decision of the special commission, within the framework of implementing the regional policy in the country. Abuja was preparing for her new role for a long time. About 15 years (from 1976 to 1991), the reconstruction of the city continued.

More than 1 million people live here today. The area around Abuja is ethnically and religiously neutral. It was this moment that was taken into account by the authorities of Nigeria in choosing a place for the new capital of the state.

To date, the infrastructure of the city is developing rapidly. Abuja already has an international airport, hotels and administrative buildings are being built. With other major cities in Nigeria, Abuja connects several highways.

Lagos is the former capital of Nigeria. Nevertheless, this settlement continues to be the largest not only in its own country, but also throughout Africa. Today, nearly 13 million people live in the city, and at least 20 million within the urban agglomeration of Lagos.

The Portuguese colonists gave the name to this subject. "Lagos" in Portuguese means "lake". Before the European colonization, the city was called Eco, which means "camp".

Lagos is a city of striking contrasts. Here you can see and poor areas - slums, and business quarters with dozens of modern high-rise buildings. In Lagos, about 50% of the total industrial production of Nigeria is concentrated. This is the most important financial, scientific and cultural center of all West Africa.

Ethnic diversity of the country

On the territory of Nigeria there are at least 250 ethnic groups, each of which retained its dialect and cultural traditions. However, the most numerous are only ten of them.

In the northern states of Nigeria, these are the peoples of Fulbe, Tov, Hausa and Kanuri. Representatives of the Hausa people are militant, but Fulbe, on the contrary, is very liberal and conservative. Almost all representatives of these nationalities profess Islam, except those who consider themselves Christians.

In the eastern part of the country live other ethnic groups. Basically it's for, ijo and ibibio-ether. They all live in small villages, headed by their elders. Interesting and a people of Nigeria, like the Yoruba. He managed to preserve his traditions, folk music and vivid religious rituals.

Religious diversity of the country

In addition to Christianity and Islam, numerous local beliefs and religions are also common in Nigeria. Among them - fetishism, animalism and the cult of ancestors. The most interesting and original religious belief in Nigeria is the system of Yoruba people's cults.

Adherents of Islam are concentrated, as a rule, in the northern regions of the country, and Christians - in the southern, as well as in the eastern regions. The modern religious picture of the country is characterized by quite intense competition between these two faiths.

Conclusion

Nigeria is one of the most densely populated countries on the planet. On the African continent, this country is the absolute leader in terms of the number of inhabitants. The population of Nigeria today is over 170 million people and continues to increase.

Nigeria is a state characterized by significant linguistic, ethnic and religious diversity. Apparently, this is what attracts tourists to the country, eager for exotics and adventures.