Nigeria was the seventh most populous nation in the world in 2020, with 206.1 million people. Projected to reach a population of 401.3 million by 2050, Nigeria will rank third after India (1st) and China (2nd). According to Institut national d'études démographiques' projections, Nigeria, Ethiopia, DR Congo, Egypt, Tanzania, and Kenya will be among the world’s top 20 most populous countries by 2050.
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.
President Tinubu was recently elected to take over from President Umaro Embaló of Guinea-Bissau as ECOWAS Chairman, making him the 9th from Nigeria. Since its inception, new chairmen have emerged 36 times, with Nigeria producing the most chairmen. Four countries in the ECOWAS region have collectively produced more than half of the chairmen since the organisation's founding, with each contributing multiple chairmen. Cape Verde is the only member country yet to produce a chairman.
Since 2015, electricity revenue in Nigeria has been on the rise, with 8.7% in 2015 the lowest increase and 45% in 2021, the highest.
Of the ₦7.98 trillion generated in the last 8 years, 53% (₦4.2 trillion) was generated in the last 3 years (2020, 2021, and 2022) combined.Per several news sources, there was an increase in electricity tariff in 6 of Nigeria's 11 Distribution Companies in January 2022, resulting in an 8.8% increase in revenue despite a 6.6% decrease in electricity billed in the year.
In the last 5 years, the Nigerian Railway Corporation made ₦18.9b in revenue, 61% of which was generated in 2021 and 2022 combined. The highest revenue increase (197%) was recorded in 2021 before an 8% drop in 2022. Here are Nigerian Railway Corporation's revenues since 2018.
Between 2012 and 2021, more than 94,300 suspects were arrested for drug-related offences in Nigeria, 92.9% male and 7.1% female. 2021 recorded 12,306 arrests, the highest in the 10 year period. North West Nigeria leads in drug-related arrests compared to other regions between 2012 and 2021
Per data from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, countries in the Americas were the biggest military spenders in 2022, with a combined $961.1 billion in military expenditure — 43% of the global military spending — followed by Asia & Oceania with $574.9 billion. In Africa, Algeria has maintained its top position for years, spending as much as $10.4 billion in 2015. Nigeria's military spending saw a 56% growth in 2021 as it reached $4.5 billion. However, it dropped 44% in 2022, making the country Africa's fourth highest spender.
