Nigeria has somewhere over 220 million people — the exact figure is disputed, as censuses here have long been politically sensitive. It is by far the most populous country in Africa and among the ten most populous in the world. Lagos alone has an estimated 15 to 20 million inhabitants, making it one of the largest cities on earth.
The ethnic landscape is immensely complex. There are over 250 ethnic groups, but three dominate: the Hausa-Fulani in the north (predominantly Muslim), the Yoruba in the southwest (mixed Muslim and Christian), and the Igbo in the southeast (predominantly Christian). Together these three groups account for roughly two-thirds of the population. The remaining third includes the Ijaw, Tiv, Efik, Ibibio, Kanuri, Nupe, and hundreds of others, many of them in the "middle belt" running across the centre of the country.
Religion divides Nigeria roughly in half: the north is predominantly Muslim, the south predominantly Christian, with a significant minority practising traditional religions or a blend. The divide is not just spiritual — it shapes politics, law (Sharia courts operate in twelve northern states), and daily life. The tensions between communities are real and occasionally violent, but so is the daily coexistence in cities like Lagos and Abuja where people from every background live and work together.
English is the official language and is spoken as a common tongue throughout the country. It is taught in schools and used in government, media, and business. Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo are the major indigenous languages. Nigerian Pidgin English — a creole mixing English with words and structures from various Nigerian languages — is the true lingua franca of everyday life, spoken and understood almost everywhere.
Nigerians have a well-earned reputation for warmth, directness, and an entrepreneurial energy that seems to animate every interaction. The phrase "hustling" is used without apology. The culture places enormous value on education, family ties, and community belonging. Guest hospitality is taken seriously — if you are invited to someone's home or to share a meal, accept.