Nigeria
Nigeria is found in western Africa. The country has southwestern coastline along the Gulf of Guinea and shares land boundaries with Benin, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon. Nigeria’s geographical location is the basis for much of its economic activity. The country sits on a large oil reserve, and its economy depends heavily on exporting crude oil and gas.
Quick Facts
Population: 203.452 million
Ethnic Groups: Hausa (30%), Yoruba (15.5%), Igbo (Ibo) (15.2%), Fulani (6.0%), Tiv (2.4%), Kanuri/Beriberi (2.4%), Ibibio (1.8%), Ijaw/Izon (1.8%), Other (24.7%)
Languages: English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani, Indigenous languages
Religions: Muslim (53.5%), Roman Catholic (10.6%), Other Christian (35.3%), Other (0.6%)
Capital: Abuja
CIA: The World Factbook — Last Updated December 27, 2019
Nigerians in Canada
Nigerian Population in Canada
51,835
Useful Links
Nigeria is the eighth most populated country in the world and is home to more people than any other country in Africa. There are more than 520 ethnic groups in Nigeria. Nigeria is constitutionally a secular state with freedom of religion. However, shari’a law in the northern Muslim states has resulted in persecution against Christians and other religious minorities. Besides Muslims and Christians, there is also a significant portion of the Nigerian population that subscribes to indigenous beliefs. Indigenous beliefs in Nigeria hold that there is a supreme being who created the universe. Lesser gods and deities are believed to have special powers and intermediate between the supreme being and humans, so some Nigerians will pray and make sacrifices to these gods and deities.
- BBC News. (2014, May 20). Nigeria profile. Retrieved July 9, 2014, from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13949550
- Central Intelligence Agency. (2019, December 18). The World Factbook: Nigeria. Retrieved December 27, 2019, from https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/nigeria/
- Encyclopedia of the Nations. (n.d.). Nigeria. Retrieved July 9, 2014, from http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/Africa/Nigeria.html
- Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada. (2009, October 15). Cultural Information – Nigeria. Retrieved July 9, 2014, from https://www.international.gc.ca/cil-cai/country_insights-apercus_pays/culture-culture_ng.aspx?lang=eng
- Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada. (2011, December 15). Overview – Nigeria. Retrieved July 9, 2014, from https://www.international.gc.ca/cil-cai/country_insights-apercus_pays/overview-apercu_ng.aspx?lang=eng
- Mandryk, J. (2010). Operation World: The Definitive Prayer Guide to Every Nation (7th ed.). Colorado Springs: Biblica Publishing.
- Nigerians. (2009). In T. L. Gall & J. Hobby (Eds.), Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life (2nd ed., Vol. 1, pp. 420-425). Detroit: Gale. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
- Prayercast. (n.d.). Nigeria. Retrieved July 9, 2014, from https://www.prayercast.com/nigeria.html
- Statistics Canada. (2011, April 7). 2006 Census of Canada: Topic-based tabulations/Ethnic Origin, Single and Multiple Ethnic Origin Responses and Sex for the Population of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2006 Census – 20% Sample Data. Retrieved July 15, 2014, from http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement