no permanent national government; transitional, parliamentary federal government
Independence date
1 October 1960 (from UK)
Religions
Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous beliefs 10%
Sunni Muslim
Languages
English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani
Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English
Exports
petroleum and petroleum products 95%, cocoa, rubber
External Debt
$10,430,000,000 $
Exchange Rate
nairas (NGN) per US dollar - 117.8 (2008 est.), 127.46 (2007), 127.38 (2006), 132.59 (2005), 132.89 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.500%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
4
0
Location
Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin and Cameroon
Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia
Area
923,768 km sq
637,657 km sq
Coastline
853 km
3,025 km
Climate
varies; equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in north
principally desert; northeast monsoon (December to February), moderate temperatures in north and hot in south; southwest monsoon (May to October), torrid in the north and hot in the south, irregular rainfall, hot and humid periods (tangambili) between monsoons
