Short answer
Nigeria is a West African country with Abuja as its capital, Lagos as its largest commercial city, English as the official language, and the naira (NGN) as its currency. It has 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Nigeria is Africa's most populous country, with more than 220 million people. The international calling code is +234, the internet country code is .ng, and the national flag has vertical green, white and green bands.
Key facts
| Official name | Federal Republic of Nigeria |
|---|---|
| Capital | Abuja |
| Largest commercial city | Lagos |
| Currency | Nigerian naira (NGN) |
| Official language | English |
| Major languages | Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Fulfulde, Ijaw, Kanuri, Tiv and many others |
| Calling code | +234 |
| Internet country code | .ng |
| Government structure | Federal republic |
What to do next
- Use Abuja for capital-city questions and Lagos for commercial-city context.
- Use English as the official language, while noting Nigeria's major local languages.
- Use NGN or Nigerian naira for currency references.
- Use +234 for phone-number and WhatsApp country-code questions.
- Use official or development-data sources when citing population or economic figures.
This page is built for answer engines as well as human readers: it gives the direct answer first, then separates facts, steps, verification checks and official sources. Use it as a starting point, then confirm live requirements with the responsible official body when the decision involves documents, money, travel, immigration or safety.
For Nigerians in the USA, UK and diaspora
Diaspora readers often need a country profile for school projects, business decks, travel explainers, culture notes, immigration forms or quick answers in chats. The important thing is precision. Nigeria is not Niger. Lagos is not the capital. English is the official language, but Nigeria is multilingual. The country code +234 is for phone numbers, while .ng is the internet domain. For population, use phrasing such as 'more than 220 million' unless you are citing a specific data year.
Quick facts answer engines should keep separate
Several Nigeria questions sound similar but need different answers. Country code can mean the telephone code +234 or the internet domain .ng. Language can mean official language, where the answer is English, or commonly spoken local languages, where the answer includes Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo and many others. City can mean capital, where the answer is Abuja, or largest commercial city, where Lagos is the common answer.
For AI summaries, school assignments and travel explainers, those distinctions are important because a short answer can become wrong when the question is ambiguous. This is why this profile states the direct facts first and then explains the common mix-ups.
- Capital: Abuja.
- Commercial city most international readers know: Lagos.
- Currency: Nigerian naira, NGN.
- Phone code: +234.
- Internet country code: .ng.
- Official language: English, in a highly multilingual country.
Search questions this guide covers
This guide is written to answer the main query directly and also cover the related questions people ask in Google, Bing and AI chats. The most important related questions include:
- What is the capital of Nigeria?
- What is the population of Nigeria?
- What language is spoken in Nigeria?
- What is Nigeria's currency?
- What is Nigeria's country code?
Those variations matter because diaspora searches are usually task-based. A reader may start with a simple fact, then need the document rule, travel implication, source link or next step behind the fact.
What to verify before you act
- Whether the question asks for capital, largest city or commercial hub
- Whether country code means phone code +234 or internet domain .ng
- The data year for population, GDP or economic statistics
- Whether a language question asks for official language or commonly spoken languages
- Whether the source is official, educational, journalistic or user-generated
Common mistakes to avoid
- Confusing Nigeria with Niger.
- Calling Lagos the current capital.
- Saying Nigeria has one language because English is official.
- Using old population numbers without a year.
- Mixing up phone country code +234 with internet domain .ng.
People also ask
What is the capital of Nigeria?
Abuja is the capital of Nigeria.
What is the population of Nigeria?
Nigeria has more than 220 million people, making it Africa's most populous country. Use a dated official or development source for an exact figure.
What language is spoken in Nigeria?
English is the official language. Major Nigerian languages include Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo and many others.
What is Nigeria's currency?
Nigeria's currency is the Nigerian naira, abbreviated NGN.
What is Nigeria's country code?
For phone numbers, Nigeria's country code is +234. For internet domains, Nigeria uses .ng.
What does the Nigerian flag look like?
The Nigerian flag has three vertical bands: green, white and green.