Nigeria: Flag and Facts
Nigeria's flag is plain green, white, and green in three upright bands of equal width, with no emblem.
- Official name
- Federal Republic of Nigeria
- Capital
- Abuja
- Region
- Western Africa
- Population
- 244 million (2025)
- Languages
- English
- Currency
- Nigerian naira
- Area
- 923,768 km² (356,669 sq mi)
- People
- Nigerian
- Calling code
- +234
- Highest point
- Chappal Waddi 2,419 m
- Independence
- 1 October 1960 (from the UK)
- National symbols
- eagle
About Nigeria
Simple design, clear message. The green bands stand for forests and natural wealth, and the white center means peace and unity.
Long before the British arrived, the region held strong states: Borno, Kano, and the Sokoto Caliphate in the north, and the Benin and Oyo Empires in the west. Britain merged its northern and southern territories into one colony in 1914. Independence came on 1 October 1960, and Nigeria became a federal republic in 1963. Coups in 1966 led the Eastern Region to break away as the Republic of Biafra, and the civil war from 1967 to 1970 killed more than a million people, many from hunger. Today Nigeria has about 244 million people. Lagos alone holds about 15.9 million, and Kano, Ibadan, and the capital, Abuja, each top 3.8 million. Climate shifts from equatorial in the south to arid in the north.
Did you know?
- Chappal Waddi, Nigeria's top summit, rises to 2,419 meters.
- Nigeria's national symbol is the eagle.
- Nigeria could hold the state of Georgia six times over and is slightly over two Californias in size.
Want to test yourself? The random flag generator has a quiz mode, and the full flags of the world page shows every flag at once.
Questions about Nigeria
What is the capital of Nigeria?
Abuja is the capital, but Lagos is the largest city by far.
What is Nigeria's national anthem called?
It is called "Nigeria, We Hail Thee."
Sources
- CIA World Factbook, checked October 8, 2026
- REST Countries data (mledoze/countries), checked October 8, 2026
- Flag artwork: flag-icons (MIT), checked October 8, 2026
Facts are compiled from these open sources and rewritten in our own words. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.