Land area

923,773 sq km

Population

143.3m (2007, US Census Bureau mid-year estimate)

Main towns

Population in millions (2001, Economist Intelligence Unit estimates)

Lagos: 10(a)

Abuja: 2

Climate

Tropical; with a long wet season in the south, particularly the south-east, and a shorter wet season in the north

Weather in Lagos (altitude 3 metres)

Hottest month, March, 26-32°C; coolest month, August, 23-28°C; driest month, December, 25 mm average rainfall; wettest month, June, 460 mm average rainfall

Languages

English (official), Hausa, Yoruba and Ibo; many other local languages are widely spoken

Measures

Metric system

Time

One hour ahead of GMT

Public holidays

January 1st; February 15th(b) (Mawlid al-Nabi); April 22nd-25th (Easter); May 1st (Workers' Day); May 29th (Democracy Day); August 30th(b) (Eid al-Fitr); November 6th(b) (Eid al-Adha); October 1st (Independence Day); December 25th-26th (Christmas)

9a) There are large variations in estimates of the size of Lagos and other cities in Nigeria, reflecting the weakness of population statistics in general and failure to agree over city boundaries. (b) The dates of official public holidays, to be confirmed by the government, may differ from those of the Muslim festivals given here.