Nigeria Facts

Nigeria Facts for Kids

Here are some interesting Nigeria facts which were chosen and researched by kids especially for kids.

• Population: 221 million people (2023)
• Capital: Abuja with about 3.8 million inhabitants
• Name: The name originally comes from the Niger river which flows through the country
• Motto: ‘Unity and faith, peace and progress’
• Government: Federal Republic of Nigeria
• Languages: English (official language)
• Literacy: 63% of Nigerians age 15 and over can read and write
• Religion: Muslims 53%, Christians 45% and indigenous beliefs  
• Currency: 1 Naira = 100 Kobo 
• National Day: 1 October (Independence Day)
• National Animal: eagle
• National Colours: green and white
• National Anthem: ‘Arise – o Compatriots’ is sung in English.
• History: Long before the European settlers came to Africa, the Nok culture was already established in Nigeria. The Nok population dates back to 500 BC – 200 AD. Various kingdoms and city states were established by local indigenous people such as the Igbo or the Hausa. In the 16th century Portuguese explorers set foot on the southern shores of the country and trade with Europeans was established. The Fulani Empire or Sokoto caliphate was dominant in the northern parts of the country where the Muslim caliphate had its main centre. This caliphate also housed the largest slave population in the world in the 1890s, with about 2 million slaves. The region was one of the biggest slave trading centres of the continent until the British ruled parts of Nigeria from the 18th century onwards. Nigeria gained independence from the UK in October 1960.