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  • The value of transactions conducted over Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) in Nigeria in 2021 was ₦5.2 trillion, 73% higher than 2020 figures. The total transaction value dropped by ₦685 billion in 2022, a 13.3% decline. The transaction volume also witnessed a 6% decline.

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    In June 2023, Nigeria exported goods worth ₦3.026 trillion and imported goods worth ₦1.285 trillion, resulting in a trade surplus of ₦1.74 trillion. This came after a trade deficit of ₦653 billion in May 2023. Here is Nigeria's trade balance since July 2022.
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  • Only 10% of Nigerians earn above ₦100,000, according to the Nigerian Financial Services Market Report. This aligns with most reports about Nigeria, and it's in sharp contrast to the narratives online.
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    A Trend of Adult literacy rates of African countries

    Between 2018 and 2021, adult literacy rates across African nations exhibited significant disparities. Seychelles and South Africa led with literacy rates of 96% and 95%, respectively, indicating a high proportion of literate adults. Conversely, Chad had the lowest literacy rate during this period.

    These statistics underscore the uneven progress in educational attainment across Africa, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to improve literacy in lower-performing nations.

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  • The FAAC's revenue distribution from 2017 to August 2023 highlights the dominance of Delta, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Bayelsa states in allocations. Despite Lagos' economic prominence, it ranked fifth. Here is the distribution of revenue among states between 2017 and August 2023.

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    Africa's sanitation crisis is alarming, with 17 of the top 20 countries having the highest open defecation rates.

    Eritrea (67%), Niger (65%), and Chad (63%) lead, putting millions at risk of disease.

    Even Nigeria, the most populous African country, has 18% of its population practising it.

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    • The GDP contribution from the telecom sector increased from 14.13% in Q1 2023 to 16.36% in Q2 2024.
    • The highest contribution (16.36%) was seen in Q2 2024.
    • The telecom sector contributes significantly to GDP, maintaining values above 10% quarterly from Q1 2020 to Q3 2024.
    • The second quarter consistently contributed more to Nigeria’s GDP throughout the observed timeframe.
    • The first and second quarters of 2024 showed an improvement in the sector's contribution to GDP compared to the previous years.
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  • The 2024 Global Peace Index reveals a decline in peacefulness in 97 countries, the highest since the index began.

    Nigeria is among the nations affected by regional conflicts and rising violence. With a peace index score of 2.91, Nigeria is facing increasing challenges.

    A deteriorating peace score impacts foreign investment and economic stability. Global economic losses due to violence reached $19.1 trillion in 2023.

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  • Only 10% of Nigerians earn above ₦100,000, according to the Nigerian Financial Services Market Report. This aligns with most reports about Nigeria, and it's in sharp contrast to the narratives online.
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Other Insights
 
  • Africa has the youngest population globally, with a median age of 19.3 years.
  • Europe has the oldest population, with a median age of 42.8 years.
  • North America follows closely behind Europe, with a median age of 38.7 years.
  • Oceania’s median age stands at 33.4 years, slightly higher than Asia’s.
  • Asia’s population is relatively younger than Europe and North America, with a 32.5-year median age.
  • The age gap between Africa and Europe is over 23 years, showing the stark global demographic divide.
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  • Subscriptions peaked at 23.5 million in 2015 before a long decline.
  • The 2017 debt crisis and Etisalat UAE’s exit triggered sustained losses.
  • By mid-2025, active lines had plunged to 2.4 million, the steepest fall in the sector.
  • In August 2025, the firm rebranded as T2, unveiling a new plan to stabilise and grow again
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  • England tops the world women’s rugby ranking with 97.76 points, maintaining a clear lead over other nations.
  • Canada and New Zealand follow as the second and third-strongest women’s rugby teams globally.
  • South Africa ranks 12th and Kenya 20th, making them the only African nations in the global top 20.
  • Traditional rugby nations like France, Ireland, and Australia feature prominently in the top 10.
  • Asian teams such as Japan and Hong Kong highlight the growing spread of women’s rugby beyond traditional regions.
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  • South Africa leads the world rugby rankings with 92.78 points, ahead of New Zealand’s 92.06.
  • The gap between the first and second position is just 0.72 points, showing a close contest at the top.
  • Ireland remains the highest-ranked European team with 89.83 points.
  • France and England, with 87.82 and 87.64 points respectively, are in close competition for the fourth and fifth spots.
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  • Africa’s fertility rate in 2025 is estimated at 3.95, the highest in the world.
  • Europe’s fertility rate is the lowest in 2025 at just 1.41 children per woman.
  • Latin America and the Caribbean saw a steep drop from 5.83 in 1955 to 1.78 in 2025.
  • Asia’s fertility rate fell from 5.85 in 1955 to 1.87 in 2025.
  • Oceania’s fertility rate dropped from 6.58 in 1955 to 2.13 in 2025.
  • By 2025, all continents except Africa are at or below the replacement rate of 2.1.
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  • Gold bullion dominates exports, contributing ¢163.0B (55.3%) of total exports.

  • Petroleum oils follow distantly at ¢52.6B (17.8%).

  • Cocoa (beans, paste, butter) remains a vital sector, collectively worth ¢24.7B (8.4%).

  • Manganese, cashew, tuna, iron/steel, and shea oil are niche contributors, each under 2% of exports.

  • All other products still make up a significant 14.4% (¢42.4B), showing potential for export diversification.
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  • Petrol prices in Nigeria rose by 52% between August 2024 (₦830.5) and March 2025 (₦1,261.7).
  • The highest monthly increase was in September 2024 (+24.1%), while the sharpest drop came in April 2025 (-17.1%).
  • By July 2025, prices had eased to ₦1,025, still 23% higher than a year earlier.
  • NNPC retail outlets offered significantly lower prices than the national average, with Abuja as low as ₦880 at the March 2025 peak.
  • Dangote Refinery offered relatively competitive pricing, ranging from ₦840 to ₦899, creating an alternative supply option.
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  • France tops the world with 13 time zones, owing largely to its overseas territories spread across the globe.
  • The US and Russia follow closely, each spanning 11 time zones, reflecting their massive geographic spread.
  • In contrast, Africa remains highly unified, with just two countries, DR Congo and South Africa, operating two time zones each.
  • Most nations on the list, including Brazil, Mexico, and Spain, fall between 2–4 zones, underscoring how rare double-digit time zone coverage is.
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  • South Africa’s GDP per capita rose from $440 in 2000 to an all-time high of $2,692 in 2024.
  • Growth was relatively steady in the 2000s, with notable jumps after 2006 and again in the post-pandemic years.
  • Despite dips in 2008 (global financial crisis) and 2020 (COVID-19 shock), the economy showed resilience with quick rebounds.
  • By 2024, South Africa achieved its strongest per capita GDP on record, cementing its role as one of Africa’s leading middle-income economies.
  • The country recorded growth in 21 of the past 24 years.
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  • Algeria’s GDP per capita more than tripled in 25 years, rising from $1,772.9 in 2000 to $5,631.2 in 2024.
  • The 2000s boom saw rapid growth, peaking at $5,180.9 in 2008, fuelled by high oil and gas prices.
  • Between 2014 and 2016, GDP per capita fell from $6,094.7 to $4,425.0, reflecting oil price collapses and domestic fiscal strain.
  • After pandemic-era lows in 2020 ($3,743.5), Algeria rebounded to its second-highest level on record in 2024 ($5,631.2), regaining its regional standing.
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  • Egypt’s GDP per capita grew from $1,366 in 2000 to $3,339 in 2024, a 144% increase over 25 years.
  • The economy peaked at $4,233 in 2022, marking the highest point in the series before a two-year decline.
  • Sustained growth was driven by the 2000s and 2010s, with resilience after the 2008 financial crisis and Arab Spring disruptions.
  • The dip after 2022 reflects external pressures, currency adjustments, and inflationary challenges, though per capita levels remain well above early 2000s baselines.
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  • The United States dominates global natural gas production in 2024, contributing 1.03 trillion cubic metres (Tcm), nearly one-quarter of the world’s total.

  • Russia (0.63Tcm) and Iran (0.26Tcm) follow as the second and third largest producers.

  • China (0.25Tcm) and Canada (0.19Tcm) also feature strongly, rounding out the top five producers.

  • Collectively, these top five countries account for more than 50% of global production.

  • Emerging producers like Nigeria, Egypt, and Azerbaijan contribute significantly to the supply but remain far behind the leading nations.

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  • Debt service costs in South Africa overtook government health spending in 2020/21.
  • In South Africa's 2025 budget, debt service costs stand at R426.3B, compared to R296.1B for health.
  • Debt service costs grew at 11.3% CAGR (2017–2025), more than double the 5.0% CAGR of government health expenditure.
  • The gap between debt and health spending widened sharply after 2020/21, with debt consistently pulling ahead.
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  • The young-to-old dependency ratio stands at 14:1, showing that youth dependency overwhelmingly drives the total ratio.
  • The total dependency ratio declined from 88.2% in 1976 to 78.8% in 2024, showing slow but steady improvement.
  • The youth dependency ratio has dropped from 82.2% to 73.3% over the same period.
  • The old-age dependency ratio remained almost flat, averaging around 5–6% for nearly 50 years.
  • The highest total dependency ratio was 95.0% in 1988.
  • The ratio’s slight downward trend after 2012 reflects a growing working-age population entering the labour market.
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  • Oil exports continued to dominate, averaging over 88% of total exports in 2024 and remaining above 81% in the first half of 2025.
  • Non-oil exports rose gradually, from a low of 6.9% (February 2024) to a high of 18.1% (January 2025).
  • Peaks in non-oil export contributions occurred in July 2024 (16.4%) and January–April 2025 (13–18%), indicating progress toward diversification.
  • Total exports remained heavily oil-driven, though sustained double-digit non-oil shares in late 2024 and early 2025 show a slow shift.
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  • Non-oil exports rose to 14.3% of total exports in 2025, up from 8.7% in 2023.
  • Oil exports still represent 85.7% of total exports in 2025.
  • The non-oil share reached 13.1% in 2019 before dipping and rebounding by 2025.
  • Nigeria’s total exports expanded from ₦9.6 trillion in 2015 to ₦43.3 trillion in H1 2025, showing strong value growth.
  • The lowest non-oil share in the decade occurred in 2016 (4%), reflecting heavy oil dependence.
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  • Urban electricity access has remained between 80% and 89% since 1990, never crossing to 90%.
  • The inability to achieve universal access suggests that infrastructure expansion has struggled to keep pace with rapid urbanisation and population growth.
  • Periodic dips in access, such as in 2010 and 2015, point to challenges in maintaining consistent electricity supply rather than just extending connections.
  • Insufficient generation, outdated grids, and policy inefficiencies have constrained Nigeria’s ability to deliver reliable and universal electricity access even in its urban centres.
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  • Rural electricity access increased from just 4% in 1990 to about 33% in 2023, showing gradual progress over three decades.
  • The data reveals irregular jumps in certain years—such as 2003, 2011, and 2016—likely tied to temporary electrification programmes or revised data estimates. D
  • espite improvements, nearly two-thirds of rural Nigerians still lack electricity, underscoring a wide disparity in energy access across regions.
  • The slow rate of expansion highlights ongoing issues with investment, grid extension, and maintenance that continue to limit rural electrification efforts.
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