Capital of Nigeria: Abuja — Facts & 5-Question Quiz
The capital of Nigeria is Abuja. Nigeria sits in Africa, has a population of 218,541,212, and uses the NGN. Official languages include English.
Quick facts
- Capital: Abuja
- Continent: Africa
- Population: ~218,541,212
- Area: 923,768 km²
- Population density: 237 people per km²
- Official language: English
- Currency: NGN
- ISO code: NG
How big is Nigeria?
By population, Nigeria ranks 6th in the world, holding roughly 2.75% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 31st.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Nigeria has 237 people per square kilometre, which is about 4.0 times the world average of 59.4. It is more crowded than its size alone would suggest.
Within Africa, Nigeria is the most populous country of 54.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to Nigeria in population are Brazil (215,313,498) and Pakistan (235,824,862).
By land area, its closest counterparts are Venezuela (916,445 km²) and Tanzania (945,087 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
English is spoken officially in 58 countries in this dataset, including Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados and Belize, and 52 others.
Nigeria uses the NGN, and it is the only country that does, which makes the currency name a reliable one-to-one clue.
How to remember Nigeria
Abuja replaced Lagos as the capital on 12 December 1991. Lagos is still the biggest city, which makes it a common wrong answer. For the flag, picture a white road running between two green fields.
The flag of Nigeria: green and white
🇳🇬 The flag is three vertical stripes of green, white and green. Green stands for the country's forests and natural resources, and white for peace and unity. The flag was designed by Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi and first raised at independence on 1 October 1960.
Region and neighbours
Nigeria is a large country in West Africa, on the Gulf of Guinea, crossed by the Niger and Benue rivers, which meet in a Y-shape. It shares land borders with 4 countries: Benin, Niger, Chad and Cameroon.
- Benin 🇧🇯 — capital Porto-Novo
- Niger 🇳🇪 — capital Niamey
- Chad 🇹🇩 — capital N'Djamena
- Cameroon 🇨🇲 — capital Yaoundé
Three facts about Nigeria
- With more than 240 million people, Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and the sixth-most populous in the world.
- The Nigerian film industry, known as Nollywood, is the second-largest producer of films in the world.
- Nigeria became independent from the United Kingdom on 1 October 1960.
Sources: Wikipedia: Nigeria, Wikipedia: Flag of Nigeria, Wikipedia: Abuja, CIA World Factbook.
Quiz yourself on Nigeria
- African capitals quiz — match Nigeria to Abuja
- African flags quiz — spot the Nigeria flag among its neighbours
Nigeria capital quiz
What is the capital of Nigeria 🇳🇬?
- Praia
- Abuja
- Kampala
- Lomé
Show answer
Abuja
What is the capital of Ethiopia 🇪🇹?
- N'Djamena
- Nouakchott
- Addis Ababa
- Windhoek
Show answer
Addis Ababa
What is the capital of Egypt 🇪🇬?
- Cairo
- São Tomé
- Monrovia
- Brazzaville
Show answer
Cairo
What is the capital of Democratic Republic of the Congo 🇨🇩?
- Tripoli
- Moroni
- Port Louis
- Kinshasa
Show answer
Kinshasa
What is the capital of Tanzania 🇹🇿?
- Dodoma
- Libreville
- Banjul
- Gaborone
Show answer
Dodoma
Nigeria in Africa
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Ethiopia, Egypt, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Africa is the block Nigeria belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Nigeria.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Nigeria?
The capital of Nigeria is Abuja.
What is the population of Nigeria?
About 218,541,212, making it the 6th most populous country in the world.
How big is Nigeria?
923,768 square kilometres, ranking 31st by land area, at a density of 237 people per square kilometre.
What currency does Nigeria use?
The NGN, which no other country uses.
What are the colours of the Nigeria flag?
The flag of Nigeria is three vertical stripes of green, white and green. Green stands for the country's forests and natural resources, and white for peace and unity. The flag was designed by Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi and first raised at independence on 1 October 1960.
Which countries border Nigeria?
Nigeria shares land borders with Benin, Niger, Chad and Cameroon.
How can I remember the capital of Nigeria?
Abuja replaced Lagos as the capital on 12 December 1991. Lagos is still the biggest city, which makes it a common wrong answer. For the flag, picture a white road running between two green fields.
More capitals to learn
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