Africa

Facts About Nigeria

1 surprising fact — verified and shareable

Whether you're planning a visit or just curious about the world, Nigeria is full of surprising details. Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa. SmartAss Facts collects the most interesting and shareable nigeria facts — each one verified and clearly labeled TRUE or FAKE. Browse the facts below and discover what makes Nigeria stand out from the rest.

Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, with over 210 million people, and has the largest economy on the continent by GDP. It is a federal republic of 36 states with extraordinary ethnic and linguistic diversity: over 500 languages are spoken within its borders, and three major ethnic groups — the Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba, and Igbo — each number in the tens of millions. Nigeria is the world's sixth-largest oil producer and Africa's largest oil producer, though oil revenue has been unequally distributed. The country has a rapidly growing population, a median age of approximately 18 years, and a large and internationally significant diaspora, particularly in the United Kingdom and United States.

Nigeria also has Africa's most developed film industry by output volume — Nollywood, centred in Lagos, produces approximately 2,500 films per year, second globally only to India's Bollywood and ahead of Hollywood by number of titles released. Nigerian cinema has a growing international distribution network and significant cultural influence across sub-Saharan Africa.

Nigeria is also the most populous black-majority nation in the world and has the largest diaspora of any African country. Lagos is the most populous city in Africa and one of the fastest-growing urban areas on the continent.