fertility
rate: 5.49 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 5.06% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 2.7 million (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: 250,000 (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Nigerian(s) adjective: Nigerian

Ethnic groups: Nigeria, which is Africa's most populous country, is
composed of more than 250 ethnic groups; the following are the most
populous and politically influential: Hausa and Fulani 29%, Yoruba 21%,
Igbo (Ibo) 18%, Ijaw 10%, Kanuri 4%, Ibibio 3.5%, Tiv 2.5%

Religions: Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous beliefs 10%

Languages: English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total
population: 57.1% male: 67.3% female: 47.3% (1995 est.)

Government Nigeria

Country name: conventional long form: Federal Republic of Nigeria
conventional short form: Nigeria

Government type: republic transitioning from military to civilian rule

Capital: Abuja; note - on 12 December 1991 the capital was officially
transferred from Lagos to Abuja; most federal government offices have
now made the move to Abuja

Administrative divisions: 36 states and 1 territory*; Abia, Abuja Federal
Capital Territory*, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue,
Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa,
Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nassarawa, Niger,
Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara

Independence: 1 October 1960 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day (National Day), 1 October (1960)

Constitution: new constitution adopted May 1999

Legal system: based on English common law, Islamic Shariah law (only
in some northern states), and traditional law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Olusegun OBASANJO (since
29 May 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head
of government head of government: President Olusegun OBASANJO (since 29
May 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government cabinet: for no more than two four-year terms; election last
held 27 February 1999 (next to be held NA March 2003) election results:
Olusegun OBASANJO elected president; percent of vote - Olusegun OBASANJO
(PDP) 62.8%, Olu FALAE (APP-AD) 37.2%

Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly consists of Senate (