GeoRealityMatch

The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to parts of the country, and all but essential travel to other areas. FCDO travel advice, read 29 October 2026.

A hiker stands on a hill overlooking a sprawling cityscape under a cloudy sky.Aerial view showcasing Zuma Rock surrounded by residential houses under a clear sky.

Nigeria

Africa · Western Africa

Low safetyVery affordable cost of livingMedium development

It is less peaceful than most countries.

vs Kenyavs Ghana
Safety

142nd most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
2.755lower is more peacefulLow safety
#142 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
15.7per 100,000 people a yearVery highUNODC / World Bank · 2023
Safety index
33.8Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferLowNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$1,360national income per person, US dollarsVery low
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
22.8New York = 100ExpensiveNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
93.7years of median income to buy a median flatVery expensiveNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person fell 23% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 22% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$5.0K$10K$9,532 PPP$1,224Inflation, % a year40%0200620102015202020252006, $1,600 a person, $4,975 at PPP, inflation 8.2%2007, $1,816 a person, $5,298 at PPP, inflation 5.4%2008, $2,154 a person, $5,607 at PPP, inflation 11.6%2009, $1,820 a person, $5,927 at PPP, inflation 12.5%2010, $2,202 a person, $6,301 at PPP, inflation 13.7%2011, $2,418 a person, $6,585 at PPP, inflation 10.8%2012, $2,633 a person, $6,671 at PPP, inflation 12.2%2013, $2,873 a person, $7,004 at PPP, inflation 8.5%2014, $3,089 a person, $7,396 at PPP, inflation 8%2015, $2,586 a person, $7,308 at PPP, inflation 9%2016, $2,070 a person, $7,072 at PPP, inflation 15.7%2017, $1,876 a person, $7,037 at PPP, inflation 16.5%2018, $2,058 a person, $7,158 at PPP, inflation 12.1%2019, $3,190 a person, $7,551 at PPP, inflation 11.4%2020, $2,797 a person, $7,415 at PPP, inflation 13.2%2021, $2,787 a person, $7,588 at PPP, inflation 17%2022, $2,899 a person, $8,304 at PPP, inflation 18.8%2023, $2,139 a person, $8,712 at PPP, inflation 24.7%2024, $1,084 a person, $9,100 at PPP, inflation 33.2%2025, $1,224 a person, $9,532 at PPP, inflation 23%$0$5.0K$10KInflation, % a year40%0200620102015202020252006, $1,600 a person, $4,975 at PPP, inflation 8.2%2007, $1,816 a person, $5,298 at PPP, inflation 5.4%2008, $2,154 a person, $5,607 at PPP, inflation 11.6%2009, $1,820 a person, $5,927 at PPP, inflation 12.5%2010, $2,202 a person, $6,301 at PPP, inflation 13.7%2011, $2,418 a person, $6,585 at PPP, inflation 10.8%2012, $2,633 a person, $6,671 at PPP, inflation 12.2%2013, $2,873 a person, $7,004 at PPP, inflation 8.5%2014, $3,089 a person, $7,396 at PPP, inflation 8%2015, $2,586 a person, $7,308 at PPP, inflation 9%2016, $2,070 a person, $7,072 at PPP, inflation 15.7%2017, $1,876 a person, $7,037 at PPP, inflation 16.5%2018, $2,058 a person, $7,158 at PPP, inflation 12.1%2019, $3,190 a person, $7,551 at PPP, inflation 11.4%2020, $2,797 a person, $7,415 at PPP, inflation 13.2%2021, $2,787 a person, $7,588 at PPP, inflation 17%2022, $2,899 a person, $8,304 at PPP, inflation 18.8%2023, $2,139 a person, $8,712 at PPP, inflation 24.7%2024, $1,084 a person, $9,100 at PPP, inflation 33.2%2025, $1,224 a person, $9,532 at PPP, inflation 23%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Among the shortest life expectancies

Life expectancy
54.6years, at birthVery low
#195 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
47WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very lowWHO · 2023
Air pollution
54.3PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageVery highWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Moderate home internet speeds

Unemployment rate
3.1%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
36 Mbpsmedian download speedModerateOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
568EF English Proficiency Index scoreHighEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet36 MbpsModerate
Mobile50 MbpsSlow

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Aerial view showcasing Zuma Rock surrounded by residential houses under a clear sky.
How it changed

Nigeria's Human Development Index

0.560Medium human development

164th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 29th of 54 in Africa.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #162Syria0.564
  2. #163Mauritania0.563
  3. #164Nigeria0.560
  4. #165Tanzania0.555
  5. #166Haiti0.554
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.379 in 1990 to 0.560 in 2023.

0.350.470.600.56019902000201020231990: 0.3791991: 0.3831992: 0.3881993: 0.3931994: 0.3971995: 0.4021996: 0.4081997: 0.4131998: 0.4191999: 0.4252000: 0.4352001: 0.4382002: 0.4512003: 0.4642004: 0.4772005: 0.4842006: 0.4892007: 0.4922008: 0.4972009: 0.4992010: 0.5022011: 0.5082012: 0.5122013: 0.5172014: 0.5242015: 0.5302016: 0.5322017: 0.5342018: 0.5372019: 0.5442020: 0.5472021: 0.5542022: 0.5572023: 0.5600.350.470.6019902000201020231990: 0.3791991: 0.3831992: 0.3881993: 0.3931994: 0.3971995: 0.4021996: 0.4081997: 0.4131998: 0.4191999: 0.4252000: 0.4352001: 0.4382002: 0.4512003: 0.4642004: 0.4772005: 0.4842006: 0.4892007: 0.4922008: 0.4972009: 0.4992010: 0.5022011: 0.5082012: 0.5122013: 0.5172014: 0.5242015: 0.5302016: 0.5322017: 0.5342018: 0.5372019: 0.5442020: 0.5472021: 0.5542022: 0.5572023: 0.560

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
54.6 years2024at birthUp 5.1 years from 49.5 years in 2005
Internet users
41%2024of people onlineUp 36 points from 6% in 2006
Urban population
64%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 15 points from 48% in 2006
Births per woman
4.382024births per womanDown 1.68 from 6.06 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
80%2021of energy usedDown 4 points from 84% in 2004
Access to electricity
63%2024of people with electricityUp 16 points from 47% in 2005
Infant mortality
702024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 10 from 80 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
0.6 t2024of CO2 per person a yearDown 0.1 t from 0.7 t in 2005
Forest area
23%2023of land under forestDown 3 points from 27% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Africa's largest economy: enormous potential, infrastructure challenges, high crime. The case against is a low peace ranking, low incomes and short lives.

About Nigeria

Nigeria is Africa's most populous country and its largest economy, with a cultural output in film, music, fashion, and food that is reshaping the continent's global identity. Lagos is one of the world's great megacities, chaotic and creative in equal measure, while the north has ancient Hausa cities and the southeast has the Igbo heartland. The country rewards those willing to engage on its own terms, and its people are among the most entrepreneurial and expressive in the world.

Practical facts

  • CapitalAbuja
  • LanguagesEnglish
  • CurrencyNigerian naira (NGN)
  • Area910,770 km²
  • Plug typeType G
  • Drives on theright
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Quick answers

What is Nigeria's Human Development Index?

Nigeria's Human Development Index is 0.560 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #164 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Nigeria safe?

Nigeria scores 2.75 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #142 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Nigeria?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Nigeria at 27.7 (New York = 100); that is #19 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Nigeria?

Life expectancy at birth in Nigeria is 54.6 yrs (World Bank), ranked #195 of 195 countries.

What is the quality of life in Nigeria?

Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Nigeria at 0.0, ranked #87 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.