Demography
As the most populous country in Africa, Nigeria accounts for one quarter of Sub-Saharan Africa's people. Although fewer than 25 percent of Nigerians are urban dwellers, at least 24 cities have populations of more than 100,000. The population and growth estimates vary widely. According to government figures, the World Bank estimated 1990 population at 119 million; however, 1991 preliminary census figures published in 1992 gave population total of 88.5 million. The World Gazetteer in 2003 estimated the population to be around 150 million while the CIA World Factbook estimate for July 2003 was closer to 130 million. In 2008, population size was noted to be more than 147 million, according to the World Gazatteer. By 2011, the population of Nigeria exceeded 154 million.
The dominant ethnic group in the northern two-thirds of the country is the Hausa-Fulari, most of whom are Muslims. Other major ethnic groups of the north are the Nupe, Tiv and Kanuri. The Yoruba people are predominant in the southwest. About half the Yorubas are Christian and the other half Muslim. The predominately Catholic Igbos are the largest ethnic group in the southeast, with the Efik, Ibibio and Ijaw comprising a substantial segment of the population in that area as well.
There are between 250 to 400 other recognized ethnic groups, many divided into subgroups of considerable social and political importance. The most important ethno linguistic categories are the Hausa and Fulani in the north, the Yoruba in southwest, and the Igbo in southeast. All of these ethnic groups are further divided on sub ethnic and clan lines. Other important groups include the Kanuri, Ibibio, Tiv and Ijaw.
According to Ethnologue, the number of first languages spoken in Nigeria is 478. Many languages have regional dialects. The most broadly spoken languages are Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo. Hausa is the major language in the north. English is the official language used in government, large-scale business, mass media and education beyond primary school. Diverse local languages are used for primary education. Classical Arabic is taught for use in prayer in the north.
Educated people of different language backgrounds most commonly communicate in English, although knowledge of two or more Nigerian languages is widespread. Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo are the most widely used as a lingua franca.
Human Development
Few people study beyond primary school and the literacy rate is thought to be around 68 percent in Nigeria.
According to recent figures, Nigeria has a life expectancy on average 46.74 years for the total population -- 46.21 years for males and 47.29 years for females. The mortality rate is a high 98.8 deaths/1,000 live births -- 105.69 deaths/1,000 live births for males and 91.7 deaths/1,000 live births for females. The fertility rate is about 5.5 children born per woman.
About 5.8 percent of GDP in this country is spent on health expenditures.
Of the total population, about 60 percent of the population reportedly lives below the poverty line and the risk of infectious diseases is very high. Indeed, food or waterborne diseases affecting the population include bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever. Vectorborne diseases include malaria, respiratory diseases include meningococcal meningitis, and Nigeria is one of the most highly endemic areas for Lassa fever.
The HIV/AIDs infection rate was measured at 5.4 percent in recent years. The Government of United States data source indicated little change from 2003 to the present in regard to the HIV/AIDs infection rate. A secondary source, titled the "Epidemiological Fact Sheet on Nigeria" by UNAIDS and dated 2004, seemed to reflect a similar rate of infection.
The United Nation Development Program's (UNDP) Human Development Index (HDI) reflects this low quality of life. The Human Development Index (HDI), which is formulated by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), is a notable measure of human development. The HDI is a composite of several indicators, which measure a country's achievements in three main areas of human development: longevity, knowledge and education, as well as economic standard of living. In a ranking of 169 countries, the HDI places Nigeria in the low human development category, at 142nd place. Note: Although the concept of human development is complicated and cannot be properly captured by values and indices, the HDI, which is calculated and updated annually, offers a wide-ranging assessment of human development in certain countries, not based solely upon traditional economic and financial indicators.