Nigeria is located in the central part of the African continent on its western coast. With a territory of 356,669 square miles, it has a population of almost 190 million people. This makes it the country with the largest population in Africa, and the seventh largest in the world. It has a coastline on the Atlantic Ocean and a diverse landscape that encompasses highlands, tropical forests, swamps, and river valleys.

A former British colony, Nigeria gained its independence in 1960. It has endured a civil war and a long period of military juntas. As of 1999, the country is a federal republic with a democratic regime and an elected president. Nigeria has more than 500 different African ethnic groups with diverse languages. There are small European and Asian communities, as well.

Nigeria has the top-performing economy on the continent. It’s rated as an emerging market with a mixed economy. The land is rich in natural resources, and the country is a major exporter of petroleum in different forms. It also exports large quantities of cocoa and rough wood.

Almost half of the Nigerian population inhabits urbanized areas. Lagos is home to more than 8 million people. It’s followed by Kano and Ibadan, both having a population of almost 3 million. There are at least five other cities with more than half a million citizens. Still, a large part of Nigerians live in rural areas and work in agriculture.

Young Nigerians in urban areas often turn to freelancing as a viable option to diversify their access to job opportunities. Remote work is also often taken up by Nigerians who have studied abroad. Typical services offered include marketing and content writing, sales, virtual assistance, customer support, IT, and web design.

Top Skills

English is established as the official language of Nigeria. There are 521 local languages, which belong to the Niger-Congo, Nilo-Saharan, and Afroasiatic groups. Business and education are conducted in English, with French having a significant popularity as well. The literacy rate in the country is 68%.

Education in Nigeria is free and supported by the government, but is not compulsory. Some tribal groups often don’t get access to it, partly due to their different lifestyles. There are more than 100 universities in the country. The top higher educational institutions include University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, and Obafemi Awolowo University. They offer high-level programs in engineering, law, agriculture, and IT.

Income Range

Nigeria is rated as belonging to the lower-middle income level. There can be huge differences between the average monthly salaries in different fields and areas of the country. The lowest start at 58,000 NGN ($190) in facilities and repairs. The maximum monthly income can reach up to 2,000,000 NGN ($6,500) for legal and executive positions. The average monthly income is 550,000 NGN, or $1,800.

Currency

The currency in Nigeria is the Nigerian naira (NGN). The exchange rate is 1 USD to 307 NGN.

Currency Exchange

You can make cross-border payments to Nigeria via most payment services, including PayPal, Payoneer, and Transferwise.