NIGERIA IN NUMBERS; 20 interesting facts we bet you didn’t know
The term “Giant of Africa” was given to Nigeria mostly because it has the continent’s greatest population. This metaphor, however, may be used for more than just the population. Here are 20 other reasons.
1 . World Population: Nigeria is the sixth most populous country in the world. With a population of an estimated 216 million people, according to the UN, Nigeria places sixth behind China, India, the United States, Indonesia and Pakistan.
2 . Oil Production: While we are the largest oil-producing country in Africa, Nigeria is 11th in the world, producing about 2 million barrels daily.
3 . Oldest Dye-pit: Nigeria is home to the oldest dye pit in Africa: The ‘Kofar Mata’ is a 500-year-old dye pit in Kano used to create a beautiful tie and dye designs.
4 . Football Ranking: Nigeria is currently ranked 31st in world football, according to FIFA and 3rd in Africa behind Morocco and Senegal.
5 . International Study: Nigeria has the highest number of African International students studying in the United States.
6 . Language Diversity: With over 500 languages, Nigeria sits comfortably in third place amongst the most linguistically diverse countries in the world.
7 . Cultural Diversity: Culturally, Nigeria places 18th in the most culturally and ethnically diverse countries in the world, having over 250 known ethnic groups.
8 . Cocoa Production: Behind Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana and Indonesia, Nigeria is fourth among the world’s largest cocoa producers.
9 . Military Strength: The Nigerian Military is ranked the 4th strongest military in Africa and the 35th strongest worldwide.
10 . Entertainment: Nollywood, Nigeria’s film industry, is the second largest film producer in the world by volume.
11 . Economy: Nigeria boasts of having the largest economy in Africa.
12 . Sorghum Production: Sorghum is a gluten-free substitute for wheat, rye and barley. Just behind the United States, Nigeria ranks 2nd as the largest sorghum-producing country in the world, supplying about 11% of the world’s total sorghum.
13 . Pineapple Production: Nigeria is ranked as the 8th largest producer of pineapple in the world.
14 . Millet Production: Just behind India, Niger and China, Nigeria is the fourth largest millet-producing country in the world.
15 . Young Population: According to World Atlas, Nigeria is the 16th country with the most population under the age of 18. About 50.4% of the nation’s population is under 18.
16 . Wealth: Nigeria is home to the richest man in Africa and the richest black man in the world, Aliko Dangote, as well as the 3rd richest black woman in the world, Folorunsho Alakija.
17 . Infrastructure: Until 1996, the third mainland bridge was the longest in Africa. It now places second in Africa, behind the 6th October Bridge in Egypt.
18 . Music: The most successful African artiste in the world is from Nigeria! You probably guessed it- it’s Wizkid. With over 40 million career sales worldwide so far, the 32-year-old Nigerian is the best-selling African artiste in the world.
19 . Fintech: Nigeria is home to some of the biggest fintech giants in Africa, including Flutterwave and Opay.
20 . Agriculture: Nigeria boasts the largest agricultural output and the highest number of cattle in Africa.