NIGERIA'S SOCIETY-by Elisa Campos

NIGERIA’S SOCIETY

Demographic

Year	Million
1971	55
1980	71
1990	95
2000	125
2004	138
2008	151

 

Population in Nigeria increased from 1990 to 2008 by 57 million that is a 60% growth rate. Almost half of the country's population is 14 years old or younger. Nigeria is the 7^th most populated country. The United Nations estimates that the population in 2009 was at 154,729,000, with a population density of 167.5 people per square kilometer. Nigeria is so populated that on June 2012, President Goodluck Jonathan said that Nigerians should limit their number of children.

 

Ethnic groups

Nigeria has more than 250 ethnic groups, with varying languages and customs, creating a country of rich ethnic diversity. The largest ethnic groups are the Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo and Fulani.

Languages

The official language of Nigeria is English; this language was chosen to facilitate the cultural and linguistic unity of the country. However a large percentage of population also speaks French as they’ve been influenced by the French speakers from the countries nearby. Most of the population speaks English and their native indigenous language.

Many French speakers from surrounding countries have influenced the English spoken in the border regions of Nigeria and some Nigerian citizens have become fluent enough in French to work in the surrounding countries. The French spoken in Nigeria may be mixed with some native languages but is mostly spoken like the French spoken in Benin. French may also be mixed with English as it is in Cameroon.  

English is widely used for education, business and official purposes, but most ethnic groups prefer to communicate in their own languages

Religion

The religion in Nigeria is widely diverse as 50.4% of the population is Muslim, 48.2% of the population is Christian and the 1.4% left practice an indigenous religion.   

Health

Health, health care, and general living conditions in Nigeria are poor. Life expectancy is 52 years and only half of the population has access to drinkable water and appropriate sanitation.

Nigeria is also the only country in Africa to have never eradicated polio

Education

Education is provided free by the government, but the attendance rate for secondary education is only 29%. The nomads and the handicapped are not treated as equal. Unfortunately 32% of the population is illiterate.

The education system consists of:

• six years of primary school
• three years of junior secondary school
• three years of senior secondary school
• four years of university education
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Crime

One of the problems Nigerian Population has to deal with is Crime: In Nigeria there are various types of crimes, like organized crime (gangs), drug trafficking and corruption in the government and military. Of these, one of the most worrying is the corruption in the government as nothing can be done without bribing.