According to estimations from 2018, Nigeria's major ethnic groups are Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), and Fulani. Hausa people are estimated to make up 30 percent of the country's population. Hausa is an ethnic group of people speaking the Hausa language. The Hausa are mainly present in West Africa, most of them living between Nigeria and Niger. Another 30 percent of Nigeria's population is constituted by Yoruba and Igbo (Ibo), while about six percent of Nigerians are Fulani.

Nigeria's population structure reveals a youthful demographic, with those aged **** years comprising the largest age group compared to the total of those between the ages of 30 and 84 years. The majority of the young population are men. This demographic trend has significant implications for Nigeria's future, particularly in terms of economic development and social services. It has the potential to offer a large future workforce that could drive economic growth if it is adequately educated and employed. However, without sufficient investment in health, education, and job creation, this youth bulge could strain public resources and fuel unemployment and social unrest. Poverty challenges amid population growth Despite Nigeria's large youth population, the country faces substantial poverty challenges. This is largely due to its youth unemployment rate, which goes contrary to the expectation that the country’s large labor force would contribute to employment and the economic development of the nation. In 2022, an estimated **** million Nigerians lived in extreme poverty, defined as living on less than **** U.S. dollars a day. This number is expected to rise in the coming years, indicating a growing disparity between population growth and economic opportunities. The situation is particularly dire in rural areas, where **** million people live in extreme poverty compared to *** million in urban centers. Linguistic and ethnic diversity Nigeria's population is characterized by significant linguistic and ethnic diversity. Hausa is the most commonly spoken language at home, used by ** percent of the population, followed by Yoruba at ** percent and Igbo at ** percent. This linguistic variety reflects Nigeria's complex ethnic composition, with major groups including Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, and Fulani. English, the country's official language, serves as the primary language of instruction in schools, promoting literacy across diverse communities.

The primary languages spoken at home in Nigeria are Hausa, Yoruba, and English. In a survey conducted in 2022 around 32 percent of respondents declared that they mainly spoke Hausa at home. Some 17 percent, on the other hand, had Yoruba as their main family language. Igbo followed, with 13 percent of the respondents indicating it. Some other languages spoken in Nigerian households are English, Ibibio, Fulani, Tiv, Nupe, Pidgin English, and Ijaw.

One of the most diverse countries

There are over 500 languages in Nigeria. The country has only one official language, English. According to estimates from 2018, Nigeria's major ethnic groups are Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani, Tiv, Kanuri, and Beriberi. Hausa, the largest population, is an ethnic group of people speaking the Hausa language. The Hausa are mainly present in West Africa, most of them living between Nigeria and Niger.

English is the main language at school

The main language of instruction at school is generally English. However, for the first years of education, an indigenous or local language is also taught. As of 2019, around 72 percent of young women and 78 percent of young men in Nigeria were English language literates. This means they could understand, read, and write a short and simple statement in English, for instance, on their everyday life.