• Nigeria:
• Society

Nigeria - Society

Population: 148,093,000 (2007); 48% lives in urban areas and 12% in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million people; growth 2.9% p.a. 1970–90 and 2.5% p.a. 1990–2004; birth rate (2005) 41 per 1,000 people (48 in 1970); life expectancy 43 years (43 in 1970). Nigeria is one of the most ethnically diverse countries. There are some 250 ethnic groups, with the Hausa–Fulani, Yoruba and Igbo making up 70%.

Religion: Muslims (mainly in the north and west) 50%, Christians (mainly in the south) 40%, and the rest holding traditional beliefs.

Language: English (official language), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo and more than 200 other languages and dialects.

Media: There are more than 100 national and regional newspapers, some state-owned, as well as Sunday papers, business weeklies and news magazines. Established titles with national distribution include The Guardian, New Nigerian (government-owned with Lagos and Kaduna editions), Newswatch (weekly), Post Express, The Punch, Tell (weekly), This Day (Lagos), Daily Times (Lagos), Daily Trust (Abuja) and Vanguard (Lagos).

Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) operates national and regional television stations.

Radio is a major means of accessing information for Nigerians; international radio broadcasters are widely listened to.

There are state-run radio stations in all 36 states and state-run TV in most.

There are 103 TV sets (2002), seven personal computers (2004) and 60 internet users (2006) per 1,000 people.

Education: There are six years of compulsory education starting at age six. Net enrolment ratios are 68% for primary and 27% for secondary (2005). The pupil–teacher ratio for primary is 37:1 and for secondary, 40:1 (2005). The school year starts in September.

About 10% of the relevant age group is enrolled in tertiary education (2005). As of 2003, there were 17 federal universities, 16 state universities, seven private universities, four federal universities of technology, three federal universities of agriculture, one national open university, and 27 state polytechnics. Illiteracy among people age 15–24 is 11.4% (9.3% for males and 13.5% for females, 2002).

Health: 48% of the population use an improved drinking water source and 53% in urban areas have access to adequate sanitation facilities (2004/2005). Infant mortality was 100 per 1,000 live births in 2005 (123 in 1960). At the end of 2005, 3.5% of people age 15 and over were HIV positive.

Communications: Country code 234. Mobile phone coverage is adequate and roaming agreements exist with some international mobile providers. Internet and e-mail services are available in internet cafes in Lagos.

There are 13 main telephone lines and 241 mobile phones per 1,000 people (2006).

Public holidays: New Year’s Day, Workers’ Day (1 May), National Day (1 October), Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Religious festivals whose dates vary from year to year include Mouloud (Prophet’s Birthday), Good Friday, Easter Monday, Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan, three days) and Eid al-Kabir (Feast of the Sacrifice).