Demographics of Nigeria

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Nigeria population pyramid in 2020

Nigeria is one of the most densely populated countries in Africa, with approximately 212 million people in an area of 923,768 km2 (356,669 sq mi),[1] and is also the country with the largest population in Africa[2] and the seventh largest population in the world.[3]

Approximately 50% of Nigerians are urban dwellers, with the rate of urbanization being estimated at 4.3%.[2] Nigeria is home to over 250 ethnic groups, with over 500 languages,[2] and the variety of customs, and traditions among them gives the country great cultural diversity. The three largest ethnic groups are the Hausa 27.4% of the population; along with the Yoruba 21% and Igbo 18%.[2] The Efik, Ibibio, Annang, and Ijaw constitute other Southeastern populations. The Tiv, Urhobo-Isoko, Edo and Itsekiri constitute Nigerian's Midwest.[4] Over 1 million people living in Nigeria (0.5% of its total population, or 1 in every 200 people living in Nigeria) is from another continent than Africa. 800,000 people living in Nigeria are from India,[5] 100,000 people from the United States,[6] 75,000 people from Lebanon,[7] 60,000 people from China[8] and 16,000 people from the United Kingdom[9]

Most of the population is a young population, with 42.54% between the ages of 0–14.[2][10] There is also a very high dependency ratio of the country at 88.2 dependants per 100 non-dependants.[2] Three of the main religious groups are Muslim at 45%, Christian at 45% and other indigenous beliefs at 10%.[11] The predominantly Christian Igbo are found in the southeast.[12] Roman Catholicism is the largest Christian denomination in Igboland, but Anglicanism is also strong, as are Pentecostal and other Evangelical denominations.

Persons of different ethnic backgrounds most commonly communicate in English, although knowledge of two or more Nigerian languages is widespread. Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba are the most widely used Nigerian languages. Nigerian Pidgin is used widely as an unofficial medium of communication especially in the Nigerian cities of Warri, Sapele, Ughelli, Benin and Port Harcourt.[13]

Population[]

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
195230,403,305—    
196354,959,426+5.53%
199188,992,220+1.74%
2006140,431,790+3.09%
2011162,805,000+3.00%
2016185,960,000+2.70%
2021211,401,000+2.60%
Total population by state
Demographics of Nigeria, data of FAO, year 2005; number of permanent inhabitants in thousands.

Nigeria's population has been increasing rapidly for at least the last 5 decades due to very high birth rates, quadrupling its population during this time. Growth was fastest in the 1980s, after child mortality dropped rapidly, and has slowed slightly since then as the birth rate has declined slightly. According to the 2017 revision of the World Population Prospects the total population was 185,989,640 in 2016, compared to only 37,860,000 in 1950. The proportion of children under the age of 15 in 2010 was 44.0%, 53.2% were between 15 and 65 years of age, while 2.7% were 65 years or older. There is a large population momentum, with 3.2 percent growth leading to the projected population.[14][2][15]

Abuja has not elected to implement the type of controversial family planning programs undermining the demographic potential of other developing nations, a result due to lackluster political support and a cultural preference for large families. Rising educational levels and health care improvements may enable future parents to opt for smaller families.[11]

The former Nigeria's Chairman of National Population Commission, Eze Duruiheoma, delivering Nigeria's statement in New York on Sustainable Cities, Human Mobility and International Migration in the 51st Session of Commission on Population and Development, said that "Nigeria remains the most populous in Africa, the seventh globally with an estimated population of over 198 million. The World Population Prospects predicts that by 2050, Nigeria will become the third most populated country in the world. Over the last 50 years, the Nigeria's urban population has grown at an average annual growth rate of more than 6.5% without commensurate increases in social amenities and infrastructure." He also stated that the population "grew substantially from 17.3% in 1967 to 49.4% in 2017."[16]

Total population Population aged 0–14 (%) Population aged 15–64 (%) Population aged 65+ (%)
1950 37 860 000 41.7 55.3 3.0
1955 41 122 000 41.6 55.6 2.8
1960 45 212 000 41.6 55.6 2.8
1965 50 239 000 41.9 55.2 2.9
1970 56 132 000 42.6 54.6 2.8
1975 63 566 000 43.4 53.8 2.8
1980 73 698 000 44.0 53.2 2.8
1985 83 902 000 45.0 52.2 2.8
1990 95 617 000 44.9 52.3 2.9
1995 108 425 000 44.1 53.0 2.9
2000 122 877 000 43.5 53.7 2.8
2005 139 586 000 43.6 53.7 2.7
2010 159 708 000 44.0 53.2 2.7

Fertility and births[]

Total Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted TFR) and Crude Birth Rate (CBR):[17][18] [19] [20][21]

Year CBR (Total) TFR (Total) CBR (Urban) TFR (Urban) CBR (Rural) TFR (Rural)
1960 47 6.35
1965–66 45.9 6.44
1967–69 46.1 6.42
1970 46.3 6.47
1971–73 46.7 6.57
1975 47.2 6.71
1978–82 47 6.78
1978–80 47 6.76
1981–82 46.68 6.78
1983–86 45.67 6.7
1987–90 45.9 6.57
1990 44.2 6.49 (5.8) 34 5.033 (4.8) 40 6.326 (6.1)
1999 43.2 6.13 35.6 4.50 38.5 5.44
2003 42.8 6.04 (5.3) 36.3 4.9 (4.6) 44.5 6.1 (5.7)
2004–07 42.4 5.97
2008 41.8 5.9 (5.3) 36.8 4.7 (4.4) 42.5 6.3 (5.8)
2013 40,2 5.5 (4.8) 35 4.7 (4.1) 42 6.2 (5.3)
2014–15 39.5 5.57
2015–18[22] 38 5.3 34 4.5 42 5.9
Year TFR
1981–1982 6,8
1990 6,4
2003 6,0
2008 5,9
2013 5,7
2015-18 5,3
Variable TFR (Wanted TFR) (2003) TFR (Wanted TFR) (2008) TFR (Wanted TFR) (2013) TFR (Wanted TFR) (2015-18)
Nigeria 5.7 (5.3) 5.7 (5.3) 5.5 (4.8) 5.3 (4.8)
Urban 4.9 (4.6) 4.7 (4.4) 4.7 (4.1) 4.5 (4.0)
Rural 6.1 (5.7) 6.3 (5.8) 6.2 (5.3) 5.9 (5.4)
Region – North Central 5.7 5.4 5.3 5.0 (4.7)
Region – North East 7.0 7.2 6.3 6.1 (5.6)
Region – North West 6.7 7.3 6.7 6.6 (5.9)
Region – South East 4.1 4.8 4.7 4.7 (4.3)
Region �� South South 4.6 4.7 4.3 4.0 (3.6)
Region – South West 4.1 4.5 4.6 3.9 (3.5)

Fertility data as of 2013 (DHS Program):[23]

State Total fertility rate Percentage of women age 15–49 currently pregnant Mean number of children ever born to women age 40–49
Abuja 3.8 8.3 4.7
Benue 5.2 13.0 6.8
Kogi 4.2 9.4 5.7
Kwara 5.1 7.2 5.2
Nasarawa 5.4 10.8 5.8
Niger 6.1 14.8 5.8
Plateau 5.4 11.2 5.6
Adamawa 5.8 15.6 6.7
Bauchi 8.1 16.9 8.4
Borno 4.7 12.7 5.2
Gombe 7.0 14.3 7.9
Taraba 6.0 10.6 7.1
Yobe 6.6 13.4 7.4
Jigawa 7.6 15.1 7.6
Kaduna 4.1 21.0 5.7
Kano 6.8 12.6 7.7
Katsina 7.4 17.3 8.4
Kebbi 6.7 16.9 8.2
Sokoto 7.0 14.1 7.3
Zamfara 8.4 17.0 8.7
Abia 4.2 7.3 5.0
Anambra 4.2 6.0 4.7
Ebonyi 5.3 9.1 7.1
Enugu 4.8 8.4 5.9
Imo 4.8 8.3 5.0
Akwa Ibom 3.9 5.3 5.4
Bayelsa 4.5 11.3 6.1
Cross River 5.4 9.1 5.5
Delta 4.1 10.6 5.6
Edo 4.4 6.3 5.7
Rivers 3.8 9.5 4.9
Ekiti 4.3 7.0 5.2
Lagos 4.1 7.2 4.3
Ogun 5.4 10.6 4.9
Ondo 5.2 9.1 5.2
Osun 4.1 6.8 4.3
Oyo 4.5 11.9 5.1

Source: Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS)[24]

Fertility rate by state[]

Variable TFR (2008) TFR (2011)* TFR (2013) TFR (2016)* TFR (2018)
Nigeria 5.7 5.7 5.5 5.8 5.3
Urban 4.7 4.7 4.7 4.9 4.5
Rural 6.3 6.3 6.2 6.3 5.9
Region – North Central 5.4 4.9 5.3 5.3 5.0
Abuja (FCT) 4.0 3.8 4.5 4.6 4.3
Benue 5.9 4.9 5.2 4.8 4.5
Kogi 4.2 3.9 4.2 3.7 4.8
Kwara 4.5 5.1 5.1 4.4 5.2
Nasarawa 4.7 5.5 5.4 5.7 5.3
Niger 7.5 6.1 6.1 6.4 5.8
Plateau 5.3 4.5 5.4 5.6 4.7
Region – North East 7.2 6.7 6.3 6.4 6.1
Adamawa 6.8 5.6 5.8 5.5 6.1
Bauchi 8.1 8.6 8.1 6.8 7.2
Borno 7.1 6.7 4.7 6.1 5.2
Gombe 7.4 5.6 7.0 7.3 6.6
Taraba 5.9 5.3 6.0 5.5 5.4
Yobe 7.5 7.9 6.6 6.8 5.9
Region – North West 7.3 7.2 6.7 7.3 6.6
Jigawa 7.1 6.7 7.6 8.5 7.1
Kaduna 6.3 7.9 4.1 5.6 5.9
Kano 8.1 7.5 6.8 7.7 6.5
Katsina 7.2 8.2 7.4 7.5 7.3
Kebbi 6.0 7.0 6.7 7.7 6.5
Sokoto 8.7 5.2 7.0 7.3 7.0
Zamfara 7.5 6.5 8.4 7.3 6.4
Region – South East 4.8 5.1 4.7 4.6 4.7
Abia 4.4 5.2 4.2 5.1 4.9
Anambra 5.0 5.7 4.2 4.3 4.7
Ebonyi 5.6 6.1 5.3 5.2 5.4
Enugu 4.4 4.3 4.8 3.8 4.1
Imo 4.8 4.6 4.8 5.1 4.5
Region – South South 4.7 4.9 4.3 4.3 4.0
Akwa Ibom 4.0 4.0 3.9 4.5 3.6
Bayelsa 5.8 6.7 4.5 4.8 4.4
Cross River 5.4 5.8 5.4 4.4 3.7
Delta 4.5 5.3 4.1 5.2 4.4
Edo 5.3 5.3 4.4 3.8 4.8
Rivers 4.3 4.3 3.8 3.3 3.9
Region – South West 4.5 5.1 4.6 4.4 3.9
Ekiti 5.0 4.8 4.3 4.4 4.6
Lagos 4.0 4.7 4.1 4.0 3.4
Ogun 5.4 5.6 5.4 4.5 3.8
Ondo 4.9 3.9 5.2 4.5 4.1
Osun 4.0 4.9 4.1 4.7 3.8
Oyo 5.0 6.4 4.5 4.9 4.5

∗ MICS surveys

Contraceptive prevalence[]

Contraceptive prevalence, any methods (% of women ages 15–49)

Year 1982 1990 1994 1999 2003 2007 2008 2011 2012 2013 2016 2017
% of women ages 15–49 6.8 % 6.0 % 13.4 % 15.3 % 12.6 % 14.7 % 14.6 % 14.1 % 13.5 % 15.1 % 20.4 % 13.4 %

UNICEFs State of the Worlds Children and Child info, United Nations Population Divisions World Contraceptive Use, household surveys including Demographic and Health Surveys and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys.[25]

Population projections[]

The total population in sub-Saharan Africa is projected to increase to almost one billion people, making it the most populated region outside of South-Central Asia.[26] According to the United Nations, the population of Nigeria will reach 411 million by 2050. Nigeria might then be the 3rd most populous country in the world. In 2100, the population of Nigeria may reach 794 million.[27]While the overall population is expected to increase, the growth rate is estimated to decrease from 1.2 percent per year in 2010 to 0.4 percent per year in 2050.[26] The birth rate is also projected to decrease from 20.7 to 13.7, while the death rate is projected to increase from 8.5 in 2010 to 9.8 in 2050.[26] Life expectancy is all expected to increase from 67.0 years in 2010 to 75.2 years in 2050. By 2050, 69.6% of the population is estimated to be living in urban areas compared to 50.6% in 2010.[26]

Vital statistics[]

Registration of vital events in Nigeria is not complete. The Population Department of the United Nations prepared the following estimates.[28]

Period Live births per year Deaths per year Natural change per year CBR* CDR* NC* TFR* IMR*
1950–1955 1 821 000 1 169 000 652 000 46.1 29.6 16.5 6.35 200.7
1955–1960 1 998 000 1 181 000 817 000 46.3 27.3 19.0 6.35 186.6
1960–1965 2 202 000 1 197 000 1 005 000 46.1 25.1 21.0 6.35 172.9
1965–1970 2 431 000 1 244 000 1 187 000 45.7 23.4 22.3 6.35 159.6
1970–1975 2 801 000 1 306 000 1 495 000 46.8 21.8 25.0 6.61 147.3
1975–1980 3 232 000 1 377 000 1 855 000 47.1 20.1 27.0 6.76 134.2
1980–1985 3 642 000 1 467 000 2 175 000 46.2 18.6 27.6 6.76 125.3
1985–1990 4 018 000 1 657 000 2 361 000 44.8 18.5 26.3 6.60 126.0
1990–1995 4 446 000 1 866 000 2 580 000 43.6 18.3 25.3 6.37 126.0
1995–2000 4 984 000 2 075 000 2 909 000 43.1 17.9 25.2 6.17 118.6
2000–2005 5 606 000 2 230 000 3 376 000 42.7 17.0 25.7 6.05 104.0
2005–2010 6 309 000 2 224 000 4 085 000 42.2 14.9 27.3 6.01 89.9
2010–2015 5.74
* CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); CDR = crude death rate (per 1000); NC = natural change (per 1000); IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000 births; TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman)

Life expectancy at birth[]

Life expectancy from 1950 to 2015 (UN World Population Prospects):[29]

Period Life expectancy in
Years
1950–1955 33.81
1955–1960 Increase 35.80
1960–1965 Increase 38.13
1965–1970 Increase 39.97
1970–1975 Increase 42.03
1975–1980 Increase 44.29
1980–1985 Increase 46.02
1985–1990 Decrease 45.95
1990–1995 Decrease 45.87
1995–2000 Increase 46.00
2000–2005 Increase 46.94
2005–2010 Increase 49.75
2010–2015 Increase 51.88

Other demographic statistics[]

The following demographic statistics of Nigeria in 2019 are from the World Population Review.[30]

  • One birth every 4 seconds
  • One death every 14 seconds
  • One net migrant every 9 minutes
  • Net gain of one person every 6 seconds

The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated.[11]

Population[]

203,452,505 (July 2018 est.)
178.5 million (2014 est.)[31]
174,507,539 (July 2013 est.)

Population distribution[]

Nigeria is Africa's most populous country. Significant population clusters are scattered throughout the country, with the highest density areas being in the south and southwest.

Age structure[]

Population pyramid of Nigeria in 2017

2018 est.[]

0-14 years: 42.45% (male 44,087,799 /female 42,278,742)
15-24 years: 19.81% (male 20,452,045 /female 19,861,371)
25-54 years: 30.44% (male 31,031,253 /female 30,893,168)
55-64 years: 4.04% (male 4,017,658 /female 4,197,739)
65 years and over: 3.26% (male 3,138,206 /female 3,494,524)

2017 est.[]

0–14 years: 42.5% (male 41,506,288/female 39,595,720)
15–24 years: 19.6% (male 19,094,899/female 18,289,513)
25–54 years: 30.7% (male 30,066,196/female 28,537,846)
55–64 years: 3.9% (male 3,699,947/female 3,870,080)
65 years and over: 3% (male 2,825,134/female 3,146,638)

2013 est.[]

0–14 years: 43.8% (male 39,127,615/female 37,334,281)
15–24 years: 19.3% (male 17,201,067/female 16,451,357)
25–54 years: 30.1% (male 25,842,967/female 26,699,432)
55–64 years: 3.8% (male 3,016,896/female 3,603,048)
65 years and over: 3% (male 2,390,154/female 2,840,722)

Birth rate[]

35.2 births/1,000 population (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 20th
36.9 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)
38.78 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)

Death rate[]

9.6 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 46th
12.4 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)
13.2 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)

Total fertility rate[]

4.85 children born/woman (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 16th
5.07 children born/woman (2017 est.)

Population growth rate[]

2.54% (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 21st
2.43% (2017 est.) Country comparison to the world: 24th
2.54% (2013 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth[]

20.3 years
Note: median age at first birth among women 25–29 (2013 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate[]

13.4% (2016/17)

Net migration rate[]

-0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) Country comparison to the world: 106th

-0.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)

Dependency ratios[]

total dependency ratio: 88.2
youth dependency ratio: 83
potential support ratio: 19.4 (2015 est.)

Urbanization[]

urban population: 50.3% of total population (2018)
rate of urbanization: 4.2% annual rate of change (2015–20 est.)

Life expectancy at birth[]

total population: 59.3 years (2018 est.)
male: 57.5 years (2018 est.)
female: 61.1 years (2018 est.)
total population: 52.05 years
male: 48.95 years
female: 55.33 years (2012 est.)
total population: 46.94 years
male: 46.16 years
female: 47.76 years (2009 est.)
total population: 51.56 years
male: 51.58 years
female: 51.55 years (2000 est.)
Ethnic groups of Nigeria[32]
Ethnic groups percent
Hausa
27.4%
Yoruba
21%
Igbo
14.1%
Fulani
6.3%
Ibibio
2.2%
Tiv
2.2%
Ijaw
2%
Kanuri
1.7%

HIV/AIDS[]

adult prevalence rate 2.8% (2017 est.)

people living with HIV/AIDS
2.6 million (2007 est.)
3.3 million (2009 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)[]

total: 15 years
male: 14 years
female: 15 years (2011)

Literacy[]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 59.6%
male: 69.2%
female: 49.7% (2015 est.)
Total population: 78.6%
Male: 84.35%
Female: 72.65% (2010 est.)[33]

Unemployment, youth ages 15–24[]

total: 12.4% (2016 est.)
male: NA (2016 est.)
female: NA (2016 est.)

Total and percent distribution of population by single year of age (Census 2006)[]

[34]

Age Population Percent
Total 140.431.790 100
0–4 22.594.967 16.09
0 3.004.421
1 4.766.927
2 4.874.939
3 4.823.910
4 5.124.770
5–9 20.005.380 14.25
5 4.578.252
6 4.239.954
7 3.641.713
8 4.274.377
9 3.271.084
10–14 16.135.950 11.49
10 4.782.673
11 2.103.323
12 3.690.772
13 2.731.481
14 2.827.701
15–19 14.899.419 10.61
15 4.000.138
16 2.646.846
17 2.387.754
18 3.777.608
19 2.087.073
20–24 13.435.079 9.57
20 5.825.512
21 1.692.905
22 2.372.385
23 1.878.601
24 1.665.676
25–29 12.211.426 8.70
25 4.950.958
26 1.685.645
27 1.891.707
28 2.348.975
29 1.334.141
30–34 9.467.538 6.74
30 5.538.220
31 807.082
32 1.561.540
33 817.720
34 742.976
35–39 7.331.755 5.22
35 3.538.869
36 894.320
37 878.533
38 1.255.414
39 764.619
40–44 6.456.470 4.60
40 4.156.871
41 486.496
42 918.443
43 536.525
44 358.135
45–49 4.591.293 3.27
45 2.359.627
46 517.645
47 503.723
48 746.592
49 463.706
50–54 4.249.219 3.03
50 2.862.363
51 290.004
52 534.394
53 281.811
54 280.647
55–59 2.066.247 1.47
55 967.161
56 320.949
57 251.622
58 324.990
59 201.525
60–64 2.450.286 1.74
60 1.791.258
61 150.477
62 245.662
63 140.134
64 122.755
65–69 1.151.048 0.82
65 645.459
66 102.029
67 138.709
68 171.016
69 93.835
70–74 1.264.937 0.95
70 1.002.176
71 76.808
72 130.975
73 65.660
74 54.978
75–79 579.838 0.41
75 336.831
76 62.741
77 53.839
78 84.521
79 41.906
80–84 760.053 0.54
80 586.064
81 43.174
82 65.942
83 31.895
84 32.978
85+ 715.225 0.51
Age group Population Male Female Percent
0–14 58.736.297 30.462.148 28.274.149 41.83
15–64 77.158.732 38.348.799 38.809.933 54.94
65+ 4.536.761 2.534.541 2.002.220 3.23
Number of children 0–14 Number of women 15–49 Proportion
58.736.297 34.961.107 1.68

Structure of the population (DHS 2013) (males 87 034, females 89 529 = 176 574):

Age Group Male (%) Female (%) Total (%)
0–4 17.4 16.7 17.1
5–9 16.8 15.9 16.3
10–14 12.7 11.9 12.3
15–19 8.6 9.0 8.8
20–24 6.7 7.8 7.2
25–29 6.6 8.3 7.4
30–34 5,9 6,2 6,1
35–39 5,2 5,4 5,3
40–44 4,3 4,0 4,2
45–49 3,9 3,7 3,8
50–54 2,6 3,3 2,9
55–59 2,5 2,3 2,4
60–64 2,3 2,0 2,1
65–69 1,5 1,2 1,3
70–74 1,3 1,0 1,2
75–79 0,7 0,5 0,6
80+ 1,0 0,8 0,9
Age group Male (%) Female (%) Total (%)
0–14 46.9 44.5 45.7
15–64 48.6 52.0 50.3
65+ 4.5 3.5 4.0

Emigration[]

Today millions of ethnic Nigerians live abroad, the largest communities can be found in the United Kingdom (500,000–3,000,000)[35] and the United States (600,000–1,000,000 Nigerians), other countries that followed closely are South Africa, Gambia, and Canada respectively. There are between 90,000 and 100,000 Nigerians in Brazil, many of them living illegally without proper documentation. Additionally, there were around 100,000 Nigerians living in China in 2012, mostly in the city of Guangzhou, but have since declined to about 10,000 due to strict immigration enforcement by Chinese officials as many of them were known for engaging in illegal activities. There are also large groups in Ireland, Portugal and many other countries.[36] Inspiration for emigration is based heavily on socio-economical issues such as warfare, insecurity, economical instability and civil unrest.

Between 1400–1900, of 1.4 million of 2 million emigrants were slaves sent to the Americas. This is due to the fact that the land now known as Nigeria was a central point for 4 slave trades during the 19th century. Though bondage represented a great deal, an estimated 30,000 Nigerian inhabitants would relocate to Kano City and Gambia to take advantage of financial opportunities afforded by fertile land and available natural resources. What's more, the presence of gold mines and rail lines along the Gold Coast, present-day Ghana, attracted an estimated 6,500 Nigerian citizens to attain financial gain and opportunity. The population of Nigerians in Ghana rose to roughly 149,000 before the 1969 alien expulsion order would displace nearly the entire population to surrounding countries.[37]

Religion[]

Nigeria is nearly equally divided between Christianity and Islam. The majority of Nigerian Muslims are Sunni and are concentrated in the northern, central and south-western zones of the country, while Christians dominate in some central states (especially Plateau and Benue states), and the south-east and south-south regions. Other religions practiced in Nigeria include African Traditional Religion, Hinduism, Baháʼí Faith, Judaism, The Grail Movement, and the Reformed Ògbóni Fraternity, one of the traditional socio-religious institutions of the Yorùbá people and their Òrìṣà religion known as Ẹ̀sìn Òrìṣà Ìbílẹ̀ in the Yorùbá language.[38]

According to a 2009 Pew survey, 50.4% of Nigeria's population were Muslims.[39] A later Pew study in 2011 calculated that Christians now formed 50.8% of the population.[40][41] Adherents of other religions 1% make up of the population.[42]

The shift of population balance between Muslims and Christians is a result of northern and southern Nigeria being in different stages of demographic transition. The Muslim-dominated north is in an earlier stage of the demographic transition with much higher fertility rates than the south, whose split Christian/Muslim population is further along in the transition, and whose fertility rates are declining. Decreasing fertility can be linked to more access to education, use of contraceptives, and differing beliefs regarding family planning.[14]

The 1999 introduction of Sharia Law in twelve northern Nigerian states led to massive violence and unrest and caused an ethnic and religious rift between Sharia and Non-Sharia states, a divide that has deepened with time.[14]

Crime[]

Nigeria is home to a substantial network of organized crime, active especially in drug trafficking. Nigerian criminal groups are heavily involved in drug trafficking, shipping heroin from Asian countries to Europe and America; and cocaine from South America to Europe and South Africa.[43] The various Nigerian Confraternities or "campus cults" are active in both organized crime and in political violence as well as providing a network of corruption within Nigeria. As confraternities have extensive connections with political and military figures, they offer excellent alumni networking opportunities. The Supreme Vikings Confraternity, for example, boasts that twelve members of the Rivers State House of Assembly are cult members.[44] On lower levels of society, there are the "area boys", these are organized gangs mostly active in Lagos who specialize in mugging and small-scale drug dealing. According to official statistics, gang violence in Lagos resulted in 273 civilians and 84 policemen killed in the period of August 2000 to May 2001.[45]

"The result of factors such as endemic local corruption, which facilitates illicit trafficking; the Biafra civil war, which contributed to a proliferation of firearms; the oil boom of the 1970s, which led to the embezzlement of public funds; and the economic crisis of the 1980s, which was accompanied by a rise in robberies. The expansion of the Nigerian diaspora and organized crime went hand in hand. Global migration boosted prostitution, drug trafficking and fraud, the three main activities of Nigerian syndicates. The smuggling of Nigerian sex workers became a whole industry that now extends from Switzerland to France and Italy (where black prostitutes are called "fireflies"), and has even reached the Prudish Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from which 1,000 women are said to be deported every month by the authorities."[46]

The high crime rate among Nigerian migrants also leads to stereotyping Nigerians as criminals; thus, in Cameroon, Nigerian migrants are perceived collectively by the inhabitants of Cameroon as likely to be oil smugglers or dealers in stolen cars. In the Netherlands, the debate on Nigerian crime reached an intensity described as a "moral panic" by one scholar.[47][48] In Switzerland, the crime rate of Nigerian young males was reported as 620% that of Swiss males in same age group (2009 data), the second highest crime rate of any nationality, just below that of Angolan nationals (at 630%).[49]

Nigeria is also pervaded by political corruption. It is ranked 136 out of 168 countries in Transparency International's 2015 Corruption Perceptions Index.[50]

References[]

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