Nigeria/Society

Society in Nigeria

An overview of key social indicators. Select a category for detailed trends, charts, and insights.

Explore Social Domains

Demographics

Coming Soon
Population
227.9M(2023)
Population Growth
2.1%(2023)
Fertility Rate
4.48(2023)
Death Rate
11.7 per 1k(2023)
Net Migration
-35.2K(2024)

Public Health

Coming Soon
Life Expectancy
54.5 years(2023)
Under-5 Mortality
104.9 per 1k(2023)
Maternal Mortality
993 per 100k(2023)
Health Expenditure
4.3%(2022)

Education & Human Capital

Coming Soon
Literacy Rate
63.2%(2021)
Primary Enrollment
64.1%(2010)
Secondary Enrollment
47.2%(2021)
Tertiary Enrollment
11.8(2018)
Education Expenditure
0.3%(2022)

Infrastructure & Connectivity

Coming Soon
Internet Users
39.2%(2023)
Access to Electricity
61.2%(2023)
Access to Basic Drinking Water
79.6%(2022)
Urban Population
123.7M(2023)
Rural Population
104.2M(2023)

Current Social Overview of Nigeria

A summary based on key social and demographic indicators.

  • Nigeria has an estimated population of 227.9M
    2023
    The nation is experiencing rapid demographic expansion with an annual growth rate of 2.1%
    2023
    , indicative of a dynamic and youthful population structure and potential for a significant demographic dividend. The elevated fertility rate of 4.5 births per woman
    2023
    contributes to a young population, presenting both opportunities for future growth and demands on educational and health services. Net emigration is relatively minor, impacting the population by approximately 35K individuals annually (or -0.2 per 1,000 inhabitants)
    2024
    .
  • Regarding public health, The notably low life expectancy of 54.5 years
    2023
    underscores critical public health challenges that necessitate urgent and comprehensive interventions. Concurrently, Healthcare delivery faces significant systemic challenges, as evidenced by elevated child mortality (under 5 years) (104.9 per 1,000 live births
    2023
    and maternal mortality (993 per 100,000 live births
    2023
    ) rates, suggesting areas for critical intervention and resource allocation. These outcomes are supported by limited healthcare spending, at 4.3% of GDP
    2022
    , which may constrain comprehensive health system improvements and the attainment of higher health outcomes.
  • Basic literacy development shows promise at 63%
    2021
    , but substantial and targeted investment is required to expand educational access and improve outcomes comprehensively. Complementing this, educational access remains notably limited with 64% primary enrollment
    2010
    , pointing to fundamental infrastructure, accessibility, and retention barriers across the educational system. This educational framework is supported by limited educational investment, at 0.3% of GDP
    2022
    , which may constrain the scale and quality of future human capital development initiatives.
  • In terms of infrastructure and connectivity, a still balanced urban-rural distribution (54% urban population
    2023
    ) creates diverse economic opportunities but necessitates coordinated infrastructure development to bridge potential disparities. Furthermore, critical infrastructure gaps are evident, with electricity access at 61%
    2023
    and internet penetration at 39%
    2023
    severely limiting economic potential, hindering social development, and impeding digital integration.

Key Development Insights

Population Dynamics

A youthful, rapidly growing population presents a "demographic dividend" opportunity if met with sufficient investment in jobs and services.

Public Health System

Addressing critical gaps in the healthcare system is essential to improve lagging indicators like life expectancy and maternal mortality.

Human Capital Formation

Improving foundational literacy and secondary school completion is a critical priority for unlocking future economic potential.

Infrastructure & Connectivity

Expanding access to basic infrastructure, particularly electricity, remains a key bottleneck for broad-based development.

More About This Country

Neighbors & Regional Peers

Note: The information on this page has been compiled from authoritative sources. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, please note that some figures may not be current or entirely precise.