Factbook
Histoire de Nigeria — Chronologie
Dates clés de l'histoire de Nigeria, d'après le Factbook Magna et l'Encyclopédie universelle.
1914In 1914, the British amalgamated their separately administered northern and southern territories into a Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria.
1960Independence: 1 October 1960 (from the UK).
1960Nigeria achieved independence from Britain in 1960 and transitioned to a federal republic with three constituent states in 1963 under President Nnamdi AZIKIWE.
1966This structure served to enflame regional and ethnic tension, contributing to a bloody coup led by predominately southeastern military officers in 1966 and a countercoup later that year masterminded by northern officers.
1967The ensuring civil war (1967-1970), resulted in more than a million deaths, many from starvation.
1975Wartime military leader Yakubu GOWON ruled until a bloodless coup by frustrated junior officers in 1975.
1999Military rule predominated until the first durable transition to civilian government and adoption of a new constitution in 1999.
2007The elections of 2007 marked the first civilian-to-civilian transfer of power in the country's history.
2011National and state elections in 2011 and 2015 were generally regarded as credible.
2015The 2015 election was also heralded for the fact that the then-umbrella opposition party, the All Progressives Congress, defeated the long-ruling (since 1999) People's Democratic Party and assumed the presidency, marking the first peaceful transfer of power from one party to another.
2018Languages: English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani, over 500 additional indigenous languages Religions: Muslim 53.5%, Roman Catholic 10.6%, other Christian 35.3%, other 0.6% (2018 est.) Urban population: 54.3% of total population (2023).
2019Presidential and legislative elections in 2019 and 2023 were deemed broadly free and fair despite voting irregularities, intimidation, and violence.
2023Generation mix — fossil fuels: 77.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); hydroelectricity: 22.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) Energy use: 7.993 million Btu/person (2023 est.).
2023Industries: crude oil, coal, tin, columbite; rubber products, wood; hides and skins, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food products, footwear, chemicals, fertilizer, printing, ceramics, steel Agriculture: cassava, yams, maize, oil palm fruit, rice, taro, bananas, vegetables, sorghum, groundnuts (2023) Electricity access: 60.5% (2022 est.).
2023Major urban areas: 15.946 million Lagos, 4.348 million Kano, 3.875 million Ibadan, 3.840 million ABUJA (capital), 3.480 million Port Harcourt, 1.905 million Benin City (2023) largest African market economy; enormous but mostly lower middle income labor force; major oil exporter; key telecommunications and finance industries; susceptible to global energy price shocks; regional leader in critical infrastructure; primarily agrarian employment Inflation: 33.2% (2024 est.).
2025Population: 244.3 million (2025 estimate).
