Nigeria
Africa · Western Africa
Africa's largest economy: enormous potential, infrastructure challenges, high crime.
At a Glance
📈Nigeria's Human Development Index
0.548
Low human development#159 of 191 countries worldwide, #25 of 54 in Africa.
Higher than 17% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
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.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →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.
- Africa's largest economy — larger than all of East Africa combined.
- Nollywood is the world's second-largest film industry by output, after Bollywood.
- Has over 250 ethnic groups and more English speakers than the United Kingdom.
Quick Facts
Capital
Abuja
Language
English
Currency
₦ NGN
Area
910,770 km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
36Mbps
Mobile
50Mbps
GDP / Capita
$1K
PPP / Capita
$10K
Inflation
23.0%
Unemployment
3.1%
Innovation (GII)
21.1
GNI / Capita
$1K
FDI Inflows
1.4%
Education Spend
0.3%
Cost of Living
27.7
Price Level Index
100th pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 2003
0.449 → 0.548 (+0.099)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 20 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
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💬Quick answers
What is Nigeria's Human Development Index?
Nigeria's Human Development Index is 0.548 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #159 of 191 countries.
Is Nigeria safe?
Nigeria scores 2.75 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #141 of 160 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.